Should he be driving !!!!

margaretclare

I don't agree with automatic age-limits and I agree that older drivers are often safer than teenagers. We've recently had a few fatal accidents around here involving teenagers who'd only just passed, had passengers not wearing seat-belts, etc etc....

That said, if a driver has had repeated bumps I would want to ask the question 'why'? There has to be a reason, not just age.

I've recently observed at close quarters the trauma that was caused by a man in his late 70s who caused the death of a young woman and the serious injury of her mother, in broad daylight, on a dry road, on a pelican crossing! The young woman in question was crossing the road near where she lived - she was the niece of our church minister who is also a good friend. That man was driving a Toyota Land-Cruiser and apparently had no sight in one eye and only impaired vision in the other. How he failed to see the women crossing in front of him - well, he couldn't see a damned thing, and he continued to drive afterwards, only escaping justice by dying before he came to trial.

So, anyone having repeated bumps should certainly be asking himself the question 'why'. There is no excuse for anyone not having eye tests - they are free to anyone over 60!

Please do whatever you feel appropriate, before there is another fatal crash like the one that killed poor Natalie Wade and seriously injured her mother.

terryya

I don't agree with automatice age limits as as every indiviual is different. I also don't think that saying that old people are saver than young drivers is anything to brag about! It is a bit like saying you are more attractive than Lisa Riley.

hardpressed

You can always contact the DVLA yourself and report that he is not safe to drive. They treat all reports in confidence and will not disclose who reported him.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

You know, regardless of the good intentions of the OP, if I were that age and being nagged by a load of people into giving up something I enjoy, I'd probably stick two fingers up at everyone, just as he is doing.

If he wants to drive, let him. There's nothing you can do to stop him, and if he has all of his marbles then eventually he'll decide what he wants to do of his own accord. He's 85, he's earned the right.

Ms_Chocaholic

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

If he wants to drive, let him. There's nothing you can do to stop him, and if he has all of his marbles then eventually he'll decide what he wants to do of his own accord. He's 85, he's earned the right.

I would imagine you wouldn't be saying that if he lived near you and knocked down and killed one of your dearly beloved.

I agree with the OP entirely, she should do whatever she can to help prevent this occurring.

Inactive

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

I would imagine you wouldn't be saying that if he lived near you and knocked down and killed one of your dearly beloved.

I agree with the OP entirely, she should do whatever she can to help prevent this occurring.

Perhaps the OP may like to report all of the yobs in illegal modded cars, driving around very badly as well.

The OP needs to learn to mind her/his own business.

Volcano

Inactive wrote: »

Perhaps the OP may like to report all of the yobs in illegal modded cars, driving around very badly as well.

The OP needs to learn to mind her/his own business.

Didn't you read the post above you?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

I would imagine you wouldn't be saying that if he lived near you and knocked down and killed one of your dearly beloved.

I agree with the OP entirely, she should do whatever she can to help prevent this occurring.

Oh look, its the 'think of the children' argument. How predictable.

For your information if one of my 'dearly beloved' was killed by such a person then I would expect to have absolutely no say whatsoever in the matter, as things should be.

neet87

Geoffo_M wrote: »

I bet he's still safer than most twenty year-olds!

The twenty year olds who the majority of which have spent six months plus learning and taken an increasingly difficult test? The twenty year olds who generally have much older, less safe cars that have little or no safety equipment? Yes they dont have as many miles under their belts but this is a very unfair statement. I personally think that we should have compulsory retests every 10 years and see how many older people can pass the driving test nowadays

I think the elderly who drive incredibly slowly, causing a lot of road rage and prompting people to make unsafe overtakes are just as bad as 20 year olds who drive too quickly... and lets not forget that todays speed limits were set using the braking distance of a ford anglia.

WolfSong2000

most older people on the roads nowadays would have problems passing the current driving test...having said that, the fact that the test has gotten more stringent can only be seen as a good thing, I guess...