Should there be a "refresher test" for OAP's
Discussion
Just thinking about this after an experience today, driving through my local area, varying speed limits from 30 - 40 and in the middle of the day so i stick to them like a good boy. But id pulled out just behind an old Micra with an old lady in it. She proceeded to drive without any exageration (sp) between 10 and 15 mph the whole journey, braking at odd times and very sharply. I kept my distance but she honestly seemed to have no idea of the road around her, leaving her indicator on for a good 2 or 3 minutes without noticing it. I didnt overtake as it was a 30 road so people could be crossing or coming out of a side turning but i noticed the bloke behind me moving out to overtake.
Surely this is more dangerous than other "hazards" as people get frustrated and do silly things. Anyone agree or am i just a boy racer
Surely this is more dangerous than other "hazards" as people get frustrated and do silly things. Anyone agree or am i just a boy racer
ben_london said:
Just thinking about this after an experience today, driving through my local area, varying speed limits from 30 - 40 and in the middle of the day so i stick to them like a good boy. But id pulled out just behind an old Micra with an old lady in it. She proceeded to drive without any exageration (sp) between 10 and 15 mph the whole journey, braking at odd times and very sharply. I kept my distance but she honestly seemed to have no idea of the road around her, leaving her indicator on for a good 2 or 3 minutes without noticing it. I didnt overtake as it was a 30 road so people could be crossing or coming out of a side turning but i noticed the bloke behind me moving out to overtake.
Surely this is more dangerous than other "hazards" as people get frustrated and do silly things. Anyone agree or am i just a boy racer
agree totally - i see so many micra/metro piloted accidents waiting to happen its just not funny. id go further though and say we should ALL be retested every 5 years or so. id be happy to pay the price if it meant that people who really shouldnt be on the road, arent.
The only problem with that would be bad habits, its fair enough testing someone on their competence. But you cant be expected to do a 3 point turn / bay park perfectly including observations and mirrors 15 years after you learn it. I dont think i could do it only 18 months after learning.
It's a tough one. Elderly people lose a great deal of their independence when they have to give up driving. The worst of them certainly need to be taken off the road for their own sake as well as ours, but we shouldn't be too hasty to do it. With luck more frequent testing would help them drive better for longer. One thing to consider is that if you insisted on testing everyone every 5 years, which seems like a reasonable period, you'd need to invest to increase the number of examiners by a factor of at least 10.
Hiya Ben! How's the driving going?
Know what you mean, had one about 3 months ago on a lane on my way home from work.
Pulled out from the left forcing me to brake hard, little white old man and woman returning from village shop. He then proceeded to drive in front of me between 15-20mph braking as you say, now and again for nothing, erratically wandering over the white line. After some time I decided I could get past (quicker the better) and he leant heavily on me as I past him and nearly forced me into the hedge on the right hand side!
It's not all age related though! many people of all ages have no road sense either, and somehow I think some never will.
Edited to say, should read:"white HAIRED old man and woman"
Sorry!
Keep safe 'till your prob' period is up and your insurance comes down! Cheers!
>> Edited by 8Pack on Wednesday 5th May 02:05
Know what you mean, had one about 3 months ago on a lane on my way home from work.
Pulled out from the left forcing me to brake hard, little white old man and woman returning from village shop. He then proceeded to drive in front of me between 15-20mph braking as you say, now and again for nothing, erratically wandering over the white line. After some time I decided I could get past (quicker the better) and he leant heavily on me as I past him and nearly forced me into the hedge on the right hand side!
It's not all age related though! many people of all ages have no road sense either, and somehow I think some never will.
Edited to say, should read:"white HAIRED old man and woman"
Sorry! Keep safe 'till your prob' period is up and your insurance comes down! Cheers!
>> Edited by 8Pack on Wednesday 5th May 02:05
Had a fatal accident nearhere about a year ago when an old woman lost concentration, and drove straight into the front of an oncoming car (both cars doing about 30 grandaughter killed in her car). Since then they've reduced the speed limit from nsl to a 30 and 40. Two weeks ago, two cars both with elderly passengers, same thing lost concentration and drove head on into oncoming car. Luckily nobody seriously injured in that one.
Something does need to be done, but I agree with with the other poster that to take licenses away willy nilly will drastically effect the independence of most of the local community (south Devon, no public transport to speak of).
Sadly we are all human, and therefore make mistakes, but it does strike me that the magistrates are keener to take away certain driving licenses than others.
Philthy
Something does need to be done, but I agree with with the other poster that to take licenses away willy nilly will drastically effect the independence of most of the local community (south Devon, no public transport to speak of).
Sadly we are all human, and therefore make mistakes, but it does strike me that the magistrates are keener to take away certain driving licenses than others.
Philthy
But surely with the increase of well spent money on public transport, within a few years no one will need cars anyway?
I think this is the route of the problem, people need to get from A to B, if public transport is expensive/unrealiable/non exsistent then what choice does everybody have?
Every other civilised country I have been to been to (which is quite a few) shames our public transport yet Brit is supposidly very sucessful and rolling in money at the moment!
I think this is the route of the problem, people need to get from A to B, if public transport is expensive/unrealiable/non exsistent then what choice does everybody have?
Every other civilised country I have been to been to (which is quite a few) shames our public transport yet Brit is supposidly very sucessful and rolling in money at the moment!
Well, I'm 63 now and still rallying (and sometimes winning) in my Historic Cooper 'S'. (East Anglian Classic this weekend, hope we can win).
Yes, of course there should be a total re-test to be taken, and passed, between the ages of 60 and 65. Give us old folk a five year window in which to re-confirm our ability to cope with modern traffic conditions and make any re-training affordable, that's most important.
When I was a pilot it was necessary to take re-tests and checks, including the stringent medicals, at regular intervals. Indeed, if you went for more than a set time without flying, or you had not flown a specific type for a while, a check flight was mandatory. Why should driving be different?
I do, however, resent the attitude of some PHers that if you are over 60 you must be incompetent and should be banned from the roads. Although I may not be the most tolerant person, I and many others in my age group, do like to make progress on a journey. It just may be that the sheer 'need for speed' we had when younger has been tempered by experience a little.
If you want to avoid the camera risk, drive in the lanes at night as quickly as you like with minimal risk. That sorts the men from the boys.
Yes, of course there should be a total re-test to be taken, and passed, between the ages of 60 and 65. Give us old folk a five year window in which to re-confirm our ability to cope with modern traffic conditions and make any re-training affordable, that's most important.
When I was a pilot it was necessary to take re-tests and checks, including the stringent medicals, at regular intervals. Indeed, if you went for more than a set time without flying, or you had not flown a specific type for a while, a check flight was mandatory. Why should driving be different?
I do, however, resent the attitude of some PHers that if you are over 60 you must be incompetent and should be banned from the roads. Although I may not be the most tolerant person, I and many others in my age group, do like to make progress on a journey. It just may be that the sheer 'need for speed' we had when younger has been tempered by experience a little.
If you want to avoid the camera risk, drive in the lanes at night as quickly as you like with minimal risk. That sorts the men from the boys.
As with most people posting so far I think regular testing should be introduced.
If i'm right when you turn 60 you get useful things like Bus passes and free taxi tokens. How about we offer to exchange a few free taxi tokens, for driving lessons. That way you can choose between using taxi's and busses, or your own car. Theres no point just whipping away peoples licenses for a few bad habbits that can be removed with a few hours instruction.
If i'm right when you turn 60 you get useful things like Bus passes and free taxi tokens. How about we offer to exchange a few free taxi tokens, for driving lessons. That way you can choose between using taxi's and busses, or your own car. Theres no point just whipping away peoples licenses for a few bad habbits that can be removed with a few hours instruction.
Agree with the general consensus here but any retesting should take the form of advanced driver training. People don't need testing on 3-point turns after they've been driving for years but should be tested on things like observation, defensive driving, car control etc etc
Perosnally though, I'd like to see the first test shaken up a bit first before we look at retesting - Yes Johnny 17 Year Old can parallel park a Micra without hitting anything... does that really make him competant to take daddy's M3 down the twisties at 60?
Perosnally though, I'd like to see the first test shaken up a bit first before we look at retesting - Yes Johnny 17 Year Old can parallel park a Micra without hitting anything... does that really make him competant to take daddy's M3 down the twisties at 60?
da_murphster said:
Why are M'ways not included in the first test? In fact why are learners not allowed on M'ways? They are our safest roads, so it can't be safety. The majority of most peoples driving is done on M'ways yet their is no formal training/testing to prepare for them. Maddness.
To keep the carrot crunchers happy in parts of the country with no m-ways!
I'd say most 60-75 ish deivers are still ok. Its like tarnishing all 17-25 year olds as boy racers , its not like that in the real world. The problem's are when they refuse to wear their glasses or haven't been to the optician for a while or don't take medication prescribed. I'm blind as a bat without my glasses or lenses and have my prescription checked every year and a lens check every six months. I consider not been able to see a problem a error that could cost somebody their life.
Maybe re-testing within, say, 6 months of a potential ban, instead of a ban, would be a better system under the 'totting-up' rules. It could be an extended test covering all types of driving. Instead of the individual losing their licence, and probably their job and all that results from that, they could have 6 months in which to re-affirm their fitness to be on the road. The carrying of a special plate, like an 'L' plate but, say, a red 'O' (for Offender) plate would have the desired effect. If they did not pass within 6 months they could then take the ban or further training as appropriate.
Not for D-D I hasten to add.
It there any mileage in this?
Not for D-D I hasten to add.
It there any mileage in this?
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