At what point do people give up driving
Discussion
Now this isn't being age'ist nor am I saying that if you are 80+ then why aren't you in Switzerland already but for the first time i worried about someone's driving so much so I warned a person parking next to the car from what can only be described as someone who shouldn't be driving.
The chap who struggled to get out of the car had a fairly newish MPV.
To describe the scene he first buried the front end into the bush parking diagonally. As he shuffled off I sat there looking at the scraps, dents and what once we're his alloys (his passenger wheel had a huge knock in it to the point where I'd be changing under safety concerns)
So as I now sit waiting for my wife I've begun to feel guilty that I didn't go further and call the police.
What would you have done, did I go to far in warning a fellow shopper and car person (had a nice TT) or did I fall short and should have passed details on?
The chap who struggled to get out of the car had a fairly newish MPV.
To describe the scene he first buried the front end into the bush parking diagonally. As he shuffled off I sat there looking at the scraps, dents and what once we're his alloys (his passenger wheel had a huge knock in it to the point where I'd be changing under safety concerns)
So as I now sit waiting for my wife I've begun to feel guilty that I didn't go further and call the police.
What would you have done, did I go to far in warning a fellow shopper and car person (had a nice TT) or did I fall short and should have passed details on?
Mandatory retests are the answer, after a certain age. Although having said that, I doubt I'd pass the modern driving test and I'm 40.
I'm not sure what you could have done. Normally it takes an accident for people (or their families) to realise that they're unsafe, you just have to hope that nobody gets hurt.
As a vulnerable road user - I'm on a motorbike quite often, it scares me rigid that there are people like this still on the road.
I'm not sure what you could have done. Normally it takes an accident for people (or their families) to realise that they're unsafe, you just have to hope that nobody gets hurt.
As a vulnerable road user - I'm on a motorbike quite often, it scares me rigid that there are people like this still on the road.
Edited by cbmotorsport on Friday 26th May 15:47
well over 10 years ago an old guy bought a car from me; he had written his last car off as he had passed out at the wheel and had his licence suspended, however he got the all clear from the Drs so got his licence back.
Upon getting out of his hire car he had to literally hang on to the side to hold himself up whilst shuffling along to the back door to get his walking frame, once he had his walking frame he shuffled into the showroom.
Anyway he bought a car and the day he collected it he drove away, almost causing an accident, he just didn't look to his right as he pulled onto the road.
A few weeks later I was down at our bodyshop and I happened to notice a familiar number plate, yes it was this guys car with the front all stoved in.
Upon getting out of his hire car he had to literally hang on to the side to hold himself up whilst shuffling along to the back door to get his walking frame, once he had his walking frame he shuffled into the showroom.
Anyway he bought a car and the day he collected it he drove away, almost causing an accident, he just didn't look to his right as he pulled onto the road.
A few weeks later I was down at our bodyshop and I happened to notice a familiar number plate, yes it was this guys car with the front all stoved in.
cbmotorsport said:
Mandatory retests are the answer, after a certain age. Although having said that, I doubt I'd pass the modern driving test and I'm 40.
I'm not sure what you could have done. Normally it takes an accident for people (or their families) to realise that they're unsafe, you just have to hope that nobody gets hurt.
As a vulnerable road user - I'm on a motorbike quite often, it scares me rigid that there are people like this still on the road.
That's not a bad thing though, it would be good if people were brought up to today's standards of driving. A few refresher lessons before the retest and that would be it. You'd be able to do 90% of it, most of it would just be all the changes in theory and having to do a hazard perception test.I'm not sure what you could have done. Normally it takes an accident for people (or their families) to realise that they're unsafe, you just have to hope that nobody gets hurt.
As a vulnerable road user - I'm on a motorbike quite often, it scares me rigid that there are people like this still on the road.
Edited by cbmotorsport on Friday 26th May 15:47
Anecdotally, I find that young drivers are much much better than even when I passed 10 years ago. Slower but that's fine, they understand what a roundabout is and how you use it, they stay in lanes more often, they're less full of rage etc. Obviously the ones on a death mission in their chariots are the exceptions but in general, a much better standard from the under 25s imo.
I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I was cut up/sworn at/tailgated by someone under the age of 25. It's a daily thing with people between 30 and 50 on a roundabout I have to cross to get to work. Large 4 lane, spiral roundabout. You'd think they'd never seen one before but they're just being d
heads cutting all the lanes up to skip 6 cars forward in a queue, sitting in their car taking their day out on random people, running red lights, not looking when changing lanes etc.We'll never lower road deaths any further until we have retests/stop handing licences out like it's a basic human right. It'll get the unsafe oldies that can't give it up off the road and hopefully keep the psychotic nature of most of our roads users at bay if they have to keep sitting a test every 5 years. Considering cars can be a deadly weapon in the wrong hands, it's quite unnerving the people they let loose in them.
Edited by DoYouEvenBoost on Friday 26th May 16:07
DoYouEvenBoost said:
We'll never lower road deaths any further until we have retests/stop handing licences out like it's a basic human right. It'll get the unsafe oldies that can't give it up off the road and hopefully keep the psychotic nature of most of our roads users at bay if they have to keep sitting a test every 5 years.
I doubt it'll help with the nutters, in a controlled test they'll probably be able to keep themselves under control.I know it's an unpopular view, but I'm right behind retests for everyone. Driving is a skill and learning just enough to pass the test and then throwing that all out the window from there on in is all too common. Since bad habits are harder to "unlearn" than picking up new skills in the first place, if people are encouraged to keep their driving up to a certain standard rather than risk failing the retest that can only be a good thing.
DoYouEvenBoost said:
Anecdotally, I find that young drivers are much much better than even when I passed 10 years ago. Slower but that's fine, they understand what a roundabout is and how you use it, they stay in lanes more often, they're less full of rage etc. Obviously the ones on a death mission in their chariots are the exceptions but in general, a much better standard from the under 25s imo.
My 18 yo daughter passed recently and has an old KA, I have to say that I have been very impressed with the standard of her driving, she is very confident and I feel very safe when out with her, she can even reverse park.My eldest (24) passed recently too, however (and I wouldn't tell her this) her driving isn't as good as her younger sisters, it is fine, she just lacks the confidence that her sister has, it doesn't help that she is a natural worrier.
Difficult question, as it's all too easy to generalise. I know a few people in their 70s and 80s and driving standards vary, but not to the point I think they are unsafe. But then a few years ago we had a neighbour in her 80's. When we first moved in she had something quite nice (can't remember what, but fairly new and decent condition). Over the next year I noticed it slowly deteriorate as it picked up a few dents and scrapes. Eventually written off as she pulled a U turn on the road outside the house without looking properly. Next car was a bit of a shed, and not long after she got it she did pretty much the same thing, another U turn and another written off car. Followed that up with a proper heap (Austin Metro IIRC) which leaked various fluids over the pavement (where she parked), luckily that didn't last long as it rarely started, ended up getting scrapped. It was only at that point she decided to give up driving.
When it comes down to it you rarely notice the well driven cars, but something driven poorly tends to stand out. So you only notice the old dodderers, Audi pricks and boy racers, rather than the vast majority of perfectly capable "oldies", Audi drivers and youngsters.
When it comes down to it you rarely notice the well driven cars, but something driven poorly tends to stand out. So you only notice the old dodderers, Audi pricks and boy racers, rather than the vast majority of perfectly capable "oldies", Audi drivers and youngsters.
cbmotorsport said:
Although having said that, I doubt I'd pass the modern driving test and I'm 40.
I assume this is from the angle of it being hoop-jumping bks, and you would fail for stuff that isn't actually unsafe, rather than you declaring yourself to be rubbish?I think anyone who's been driving a while would need to keep a close eye on themselves to make sure they drove "to spec" in order to pass, which is why I'm always in two minds about it. I mean, any competent driver should be able to put themselves in that "test mode" and put up with it, but when the purpose is to assess if an existing, experienced driver is safe, I think you really have to disregard nonsense stuff and concentrate on that one question.
mybrainhurts said:
CooperS said:
At what point do people give up driving
When the DVLA medical branch revokes their licences because they look a bit funny.My FIL just turned 90 and he still drives. He is pretty scary in terms of pulling out in front of other cars etc, but it's nothing new, he's always driven in a very arrogant way.
I still cringe remembering when we got our first house, he drove over the lawn of our neighbour because it was in his way! He then told them to bugger off when they remonstrated with him.
I still cringe remembering when we got our first house, he drove over the lawn of our neighbour because it was in his way! He then told them to bugger off when they remonstrated with him.
BFleming said:
My Dad has been told to expect €2000+ annual insurance renewal premiums when he hits 80 in 18 months. He currently pays €300ish. It won't put him off the road mostly as he lives in a rural area, but he will moan for the remainder of his life about it!
€..what country are you in> It's not like that in the UK.. It goes up for sure, but nothing like that amount. My mates dad pays £850 in London for a Honda Jazz and he's 92.He's a pretty good driver as it goes.
alangtt said:
Serious question and I'm not being the pH driving God here. But why are old people generally slower on the roads, does the brain slow down or reaction times or something like that.
Can't see me when I'm that age driving like that.
Mostly we are retired and have no where to be with any urgency, plus on a pension mpg is more important the mph Can't see me when I'm that age driving like that.
I'm in the 70+ category, and I admit to driving fast, but as James May says- only WHen THE OCCASION DEMANDS. Most times, I'm holding back, waiting for yobbo in car in front to make a critical mistake. After 50 + years, you can feel it in water/ see it about to happen, and I don't want to be part of their accident going somewhere to happen.
That's driving BY experience.
That's driving BY experience.
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