OAP drivers

darkpool

I've been stuck behind an OAP driver once too often. They have to be amongst the worst drivers on the road.

In all honesty I think after a certain age people should have to re sit the driving test. I think it's a fact older people have slower reaction times. They are a danger to themselves and others.

seafarers_wife

personally i think everyone should have to resit their driving test every 5 or 10 years as my parents both admit they wouldnt pass the test if they took it today. they have both been driving for around 20 years.

shaun_from_Africa

The problem with having resits is the chaos and delays it would cause.
Looking at various websites, it apears that the current waiting time for a practical driving test can be anything up to 12 weeks depending on where in the UK you live.

If you were to then add on the millions of registered drivers retaking tests every 5 or 10 years, the whole system would probably collapse.

harrys_nan

I understand what you are saying about older drivers but I think there is an awful lot of bad drivers on the roads regardless off their ages or sex.
Some of the things i have seen make me wonder how they pass a test. There are good and bad and very bad drivers in all age groups

daveyjp

What additional training have you done Darkpool since passing your test?

hoyles10

seafarers_wife wrote: »

personally i think everyone should have to resit their driving test every 5 or 10 years as my parents both admit they wouldnt pass the test if they took it today. they have both been driving for around 20 years.

I agree with the above. There are that many bad drivers on the road that I think everyone should have to take a test every 5 years or so, or even every 10 years when it comes to updating your licence.

davidlizard

Having had my garden wall demolished by an OAP driver who selected the wrong gear whilst trying a 3-point turn (or about a 11 point turn according to witnesses!) I agree with most of the above.

I would have it so:

a) The original driving test to be more comprehensive. Should include night driving, motorway driving, navigating across town and the like (i.e. a test of real world driving). And skid pans.

b) Drivers should be restricted to the number of attempts to pass the test, say 3 attempts in 7 years. Someone who needs 10+ attempts to pass a test is clearly not competent, and will eventually pass by luck rather than skill.

c) Have resits every 5 years - nothing too severe, just to make sure they are still competent.

d) Allow the police to stop anyone driving like a numpty and ask them 10 random highway code questions - get 3 or more wrong and its resit test time!

e) Have a special, optional, advanced test where people who pass can display a gold star. This will mark them as an excellent driver, and their reward will be things like being able to drive at whatever speed they see fit given their brilliant driving abilities and assessment of the conditions.

gordikin

Statiscally who causes most carnage? Teenage males or OAP'S? So who should we test more?

dmg24

I am intrigued as to what constitutes an OAP ... Is it determined by age, employment ... appearance?

j2011

I am an OAP and what !!!!es me off are the drivers in their 20's who drive right up my !!!! when I am hammering along at 70 in the outside lane of the motorway when they can easily pass me in the other 2 empty lanes.

paddedjohn

tootling along at 25 in a 30 zone, 30 in a 50 and 35ish in a 60, stopping 5 car lengths away from the lights, useing all the road to turn right, slowing to 5mph when approaching lights incase they change to red, parking 2ft away from the kerb, driving along with a periscope so they can see over the wheel.....yep it must be pension day