OAP drivers

savvyme_4

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Perhaps another way of looking at people driving far too slowly is the corresponding problems this caused to emergency vehicles. A line of 30 cars stuck behind a slow OAP because of double white centre lines will cause a huge problem for emergency vehicles travelling in the same direction.

Speed of itself does not cause accidents. Driving badly for the road conditions does, whatever your speed.

Modern brakes are a lot better at stopping vehicles well within the listed stopping distances. Except perhaps Chelsea Tractors.

It is up to the emergency services how they deal with getting past slow traffic, they have had extensive training, we have not. We can however help the situation by being aware, observing everything around us and driving safely within the speed limit.

Leory

melancholly wrote: »

it makes a point. if anyone having a go thinks that they are magically able to stop faster than the rules of physics, then there's nothing anyone can say.

When thinking distance and reaction time is all part of the process Its obviously not just physics is it?
Some people think they have faster reactions and therefore can drive faster, this doesnt prove that they are wrong, so yes, pathetic

The reaction (thinking) arc is huge. Some people CAN process what is happening a lot quicker than others. As stated in the highway code -
216 Older drivers. Their reactions may be slower than other drivers. Make allowance for this.

Going back to my physics days here when i first looked at this, so excuse me if these are out slightly -

* A 30 yr old with average reaction time for age, driving at 30 mph, would react (first part of thinking) in 9.5 feet.

* A 30 yr old with average reaction time for age, driving at 30 mph, would react (first part of thinking) in 16.5 feet.

Now, the 'simulator' gives a distance of 29 feet to stop, which includes reaction time.
Can you not now see how flawed it is? The first part of the THINKING phase of breaking distance is reaction to what is happening. It takes a 60 yr old nearly twice as far to process, and therefore overall breaking distance is increased by AT LEAST 7 foot longer
So to get back to my original point, yes, it is pathetic.

I nearly also got it back on topic, but only used 60yr old as stats, not OAPS.

PS I dont condone speeding, and i dont intentionally do it myself.
I just have an issue with crap stats

melancholly

sorry, i'm not discussing the age thing - more the poster going on about how speeding is what everyone does and doesn't have any consequences.

fwiw, an OAP/60 year old's average RT will not be as slow as someone fiddling with their radio or texting or not looking at the road. it's not 'pathetic' - it isn't a put in every detail of your age, then do some example RT tests to get a good average, then make some allowance for driver experience on the road, or the type of car, whether your tyres are at the right level, what brakes the car has and how new they are, what the road surface is like, what the visibiltiy is or the weather impacting on friction coefficients or any of that type of simulator! what it does show that you if go above 30, you are far more likely to hit a child. it's a simple message.... it's not 'crap' stats. it's taking an average and proving a point.

darkpool

so using your argument all cars should be limited to 10mph? after all if it makes the roads safer it has to be a good thing?

melancholly

darkpool wrote: »

so using your argument all cars should be limited to 10mph? after all if it makes the roads safer it has to be a good thing?

i must remember to explain things at a pre school level.

i'm not saying that. i'm saying that speed limits are in place for a reason and anyone who things that they are such an amazing driver that the limits don't apply to them is a moron.

since you boasted that you always drive at 10mph over a speedlimit, it's worth knowing the extra risk *you* are adding to a situation and the increased chance you have of killing someone from your attitude.

darkpool

so let's get this right, you've never broken a speed limit?

i drive up to 10mph over the limit. i certainly don't drive at 10mph over the limit in every situation.

from my experience it's the drivers that are going under the limit that are the dangerous ones. usually someone drives slow if they have just started driving, are senior citizens or they don't know the roads. they are the ones likely to change lane at the last minute etc.

is one of the big causes of accidents not overtaking? if you have a stream of cars on a single carriageway doing a steady 50mph it's a relatively safe situation. you get one driver that's going slow and everyone else gets frustated and overtakes.

as a matter of interest do you actually drive?

I'll agree excessive speed does cause accidents, but other factors are likely to cause more accidents.

i drive as safe as i can by keeping space between me and other cars and being able to stop in the distance i can see ahead. your fixation on sticking to 29mph suggests to me you consider this the main factor in keeping you safe? i can assure you that your car doesn't explode if you do 31mph in a thirty.

i've been driving for 15 years, i've never been stopped by the police and have no points on my licence.

trumpton

One of the reasons we have speed limits (or I guess any other 'laws' for that matter) is because people cannot always be trusted to decide when something is appropriate or not. You might think it appropriate to drive 10mph over the limit, someone else thinks 20 over is ok. What's the point of laws if we are going to decide which ones we will keep to or when we will ignore them?

POPPYOSCAR

darkpool wrote: »

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.

I would much rather be stuck behind one of them than some teenager who thinks he is a racing driver or some idiot who just can't put their mobile phone down for just one minute.

tesuhoha

Does anyone think that Jeremy Clarkson is a silly old fart?

SHIPSHAPE

tesuhoha wrote: »

Does anyone think that Jeremy Clarkson is a silly old fart?

Yes, I absolutely hate the guy and the other pair of tits on that show.

Clarkson appears to be nothing more than a huge head and gangly legs.

I'd love to slap him.