Brunstrom again. Roadside tests for older drivers
Discussion
Today's Daily Mail, page 15, Dick Brunstrom wants all older drivers to be subjected to random roadside checks using an "impairment meter".
Any who fail to show quick enough reaction times (who sets the times?) could face fines or even life-time bans.
So, how long before this would apply to all drivers?
It is becoming increasingly clear that Brunstrom is either under political instruction or has taken it upon himself to remove as many driving licences as possible, as quickly as possible.
Any who fail to show quick enough reaction times (who sets the times?) could face fines or even life-time bans.
So, how long before this would apply to all drivers?
It is becoming increasingly clear that Brunstrom is either under political instruction or has taken it upon himself to remove as many driving licences as possible, as quickly as possible.
ers on the road...How are they going to test reaction times on old people? Is the copper going to say '2 and 7 twenty seven' and see how long the old dear takes to shout 'house'?
We'll all be old one day. Can't wait to have an excuse to be a miserable contankorous old bar steward and moan that I can remember when a pint only cost £3.
We'll all be old one day. Can't wait to have an excuse to be a miserable contankorous old bar steward and moan that I can remember when a pint only cost £3.
Well, being Brainstorm it's bound to be a bit dodgy, but I'm all for the underlying idea.
It's just unfortunate that it's him that's bringing it to peoples attention, because he'll always go ott to get the headlines.
The funniest example of this sort of thing I've come across was an old woman in Salisbury (where I lived as a kid) who , when attempting a parallel park, wrote of the car in front of the space, the car behind the space and knocked over a lamp post in the process.
It's just unfortunate that it's him that's bringing it to peoples attention, because he'll always go ott to get the headlines.
The funniest example of this sort of thing I've come across was an old woman in Salisbury (where I lived as a kid) who , when attempting a parallel park, wrote of the car in front of the space, the car behind the space and knocked over a lamp post in the process.
I'm afraid I have to agree in principle with this idea.
It's about time this sort of thing get a bit of press.
How many drivers are on the road, old or young that have terrible eyesight or don't wear the correct glasses?
I hope they extend this into driver awareness though. Excuse me sir did you realise that by signalling a little bit earlier the guy behind would'nt have been so close to the backend of your car - etc, etc.
It's about time this sort of thing get a bit of press.
How many drivers are on the road, old or young that have terrible eyesight or don't wear the correct glasses?
I hope they extend this into driver awareness though. Excuse me sir did you realise that by signalling a little bit earlier the guy behind would'nt have been so close to the backend of your car - etc, etc.
lucozade said:
I'm afraid I have to agree in principle with this idea.
It's about time this sort of thing get a bit of press.
How many drivers are on the road, old or young that have terrible eyesight or don't wear the correct glasses?
I hope they extend this into driver awareness though.
Excuse me sir did you realise that by signalling a little bit earlier the guy behind would'nt have been so close to the backend of your car - etc, etc.
Don't fall for the spin. There was no mention of glasses in the report. This is another hoop for the driver to jump through.
It is nothing to do with road safety and everything to do with removing your licence, whatever age you are.
Imagine a 50 year old who had never played a computer game in his life trying this test - which is to take 10 minutes to complete. His 6 year old computer-whizz-kid-grandson belted up in the back could probably pass it with ease, as could the cop giving the test, having practised it for weeks. Driver fail, go to jail? Well perhaps not 'straight' to jail but certainly one could lose a licence due to this.
One roadside side test currently in use, supposedly to check sobriety, involves standing on one leg with our eyes closed, putting our heads back and touching our nose.
A Challenge. Try it and see how see how long it takes to topple. If you topple you could be accused of DUI.
So it may be down to 'Grey Power' to finally remove that to55er from his position. It's true that in the Police (and elsewhere) you continue to get promoted until you reach a point at which you are incompetent and that's where you stay. Very true in Brainstorm's case.
I'm 62 and willing to take any test they want, but others may have a very different view.
We should all be re-tested regularly. When I was a semi-professional pilot and a flying instructor we had regular categorisation tests and medicals, which included reaction tests. Why not formalise these for eveeryone, irrespective of age?. It would be much better and more acceptable than random roadside stops which just delay you so that you then have to hurry and thus provide more revenue via the scam£ras.
I'm 62 and willing to take any test they want, but others may have a very different view.
We should all be re-tested regularly. When I was a semi-professional pilot and a flying instructor we had regular categorisation tests and medicals, which included reaction tests. Why not formalise these for eveeryone, irrespective of age?. It would be much better and more acceptable than random roadside stops which just delay you so that you then have to hurry and thus provide more revenue via the scam£ras.
Cooperman said:
So it may be down to 'Grey Power' to finally remove that to55er from his position. It's true that in the Police (and elsewhere) you continue to get promoted until you reach a point at which you are incompetent and that's where you stay. Very true in Brainstorm's case.
I'm 62 and willing to take any test they want, but others may have a very different view.
We should all be re-tested regularly. When I was a semi-professional pilot and a flying instructor we had regular categorisation tests and medicals, which included reaction tests. Why not formalise these for eveeryone, irrespective of age?. It would be much better and more acceptable than random roadside stops which just delay you so that you then have to hurry and thus provide more revenue via the scam£ras.
But this talk of need for a re-test is spurious. The UK already has the safest roads in the world according to the International Road Traffic Accident database. The real aim must be to remove our licences, however good a driver we think we are.
Brunstrom talks of "carnage on our roads" but ignores many other causes of accidental deaths with up to 16 times greater death rates. How about over 4000 killed in their own homes every year in accidents?
Third party deaths? What about 800 babies under the age of 6 weeks killed by substandard care in the NHS? (Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
And the biggie is over 54,000 a year of all ages killed, yes killed by accidents or "adverse events" within the NHS. How many even knew that figure??
5,000 people a year die in our hospitals from MRSA
(superbug) and other infections caught in the hospital.
Others go in with a cut foot and come out with no legs.
Hardly a word is mentioned.
See here for more on Iatrogenic deaths.
www.guide-information.org.uk/guide/dr_legal.htm
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