Unsafe elderly driver - how to protect the public

fatpiggy

This very subject came up on the One Show this week. The elderly gentleman in question had never taken a test but of course had umpteen years of experience. I have to say though that I didn't think his driving was particularly good. During the film he drove almost entirely with his left hand resting on the gear stick (which I was always told doesn't do your gearbox any good), didn't know what the speed limit of the road he was on was, and was clearly driving rather slowly alot of the time. He wasn't all that brilliant about reversing up his own driveway either - I wouldn't rate his chances on manoevres he didn't do often. I'm not saying he should hand in his licence, but he could certainly do with a refresher course.

sporedude

Test them again, If they fail, Take the license off them.

Inactive

sporedude wrote: »

Test them again, If they fail, Take the license off them.

Cannot take a " license " off of anyone, we only have a licence in the UK.

They are still far safer than the 17/25 year old male driving population.

Perhaps we should all take a retest every 5 years or so, you would all pass wouldn't you?

Jakg

Inactive wrote: »

They are still far safer than the 17/25 year old male driving population.

So someone who can't even reverse properly is safer than anyone who just happens to be young?

sporedude

Nice to see the forums full of Grammar Nazis. And anyway, Dont reflexes get worse as people get older?

Inactive

Jakg wrote: »

So someone who can't even reverse properly is safer than anyone who just happens to be young?

Statistically yes, ask any insurance company.

A lot of "young " people also cannot reverse properly.

cyclonebri1

sporedude wrote: »

Test them again, If they fail, Take the license off them.

I'd like to take your licence off you, and ram it where the sun don't shine:mad:. Nothing personnal, but don't refer to older drivers as "them", they are "you" in a few years time.

And don't forget "they" have been good enough drivers in "thier" youth to still be alive and still have a licence:T

terryya

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I'd like to take your licence off you, and ram it where the sun don't shine:mad:.

Is it a paper licence or a photocard one

sporedude

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I'd like to take your licence off you, and ram it where the sun don't shine:mad:. Nothing personnal, but don't refer to older drivers as "them", they are "you" in a few years time.

And don't forget "they" have been good enough drivers in "thier" youth to still be alive and still have a licence:T

A little touchy arent we? Haha.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I work in a petrol station. Sometimes there will be an elderly driver who has filled up. Makes his way slowly to pay and then can't put his pin number in because his hands are shaking so much.
I feel really sorry for anyone who has Parkinsons or a benign tremor, my mum did. She gave up driving after a slight stroke in her 60's. I managed to persuade her that she would be safer with a mobility scooter as she had got to the stage where if she had a long journey she would go by train.
I look at this elderly customer and my blood runs cold at the thought of him trying to negotiate the very very busy roundabout to leave the petrol station.