OAP drivers

no-oneknowsme

This is a bit of a generalisation against the older driver dont you think ?

Its a bit like saying that all young male drivers are a danger on the road...

The roads contain a mixture of drivers and its unfair to label people as being doddly or dangerous just because of their age !

I have seen old people make mistakes on the road....I have seen young new drivers make mistakes on the road but I have also seen everyone else in between these two catagories make mistakes too !

My Dad is 65 and I would still class him as being a good driver . Where driving is concerned I dont really fully believe that age comes into it .

Azari

no-oneknowsme wrote: »

My Dad is 65 and I would still class him as being a good driver . Where driving is concerned I dont really fully believe that age comes into it .

I wish I could agree with you but from my experience older drivers - and by that I mean 70+ - do have some fairly serious problems with reaction times. Probably not all of them, but a lot.

A typical encounter with such a driver will be progressing along an open road and some way in the distance a car approaches a T junction on the left. You see the vehicle approach the junction and think: "OK, he's got masses of time to turn out and accelerate up to speed; not a problem.

But then the car stops at the junction and ... nothing. Still plenty of time to turn and get up to speed ... you get closer and maybe ease off the accelerator a little ... still nothing ... you get closer and just when you arrive at the point where you think only a suicidal lunatic would pull out - yup, out comes our septuagenarian.

It takes them so long to decide that the road is clear and so long to action the 'pull out' decision once they have made it that they then undertake a dangerous manoeuvre.

Not a problem to an experienced driver who knows that a car that waits at a junction for no reason is likely to pull out directly in front of them but a potential disaster for newly qualified drivers who are not aware of this danger.

margaretclare

DH and I are in our mid-70s although we don't call ourselves OAPs - horrible demeaning term.

We've both in recent years, re-done the Advanced Driving Test. There is a special version for the over-55s. We've both, in recent years, had our eyes done - cataract surgery has also sorted out short sight, so that we can see better than we ever did.

Over Christmas we drove down to the Belgian Ardennes in a snowstorm, passing numerous crashes on the way, with police and 'pompiers' busy.

DH's pet hate is drivers 'up his a**se' as he colourfully puts it. We see masses of examples of terrible driving habits within 5 minutes of where we live. Driving with mobile phone glued to ear. Driving with one headlight out. Undertaking - and no, we weren't crawling along, we were keeping to the speed limit. Sitting at a junction with brake lights on, or in a marked lane with indicator going - no need, when nothing to indicate! If you're already in the lane you don't need to indicate that you're going there.

A few days ago we drew up at a junction near us, in the right-hand lane to turn on to the main road. A young lady to our left was busy eating and drinking her McD's breakfast, and also texting. OK, the traffic was stationary at that point. But she wasn't paying attention, watching for change in the lights.
Mainly it's failing to pay attention, and that's what we dislike most. Distraction can be anything - not only phoning and texting, but gossiping with passengers (especially those in the rear seats), changing CDs, over-confidence, arrogance, impatience, you name it.

Mostly, older drivers are aware of their limitations and you do NOT find them eating a McD's breakfast and texting while waiting at a junction!

It is not foregone that reaction times deteriorate. DH's as are good as ever they were - we shouldn't be alive now if they weren't!

PZH

One of the things that I personally think should be checked as a requirement is eye-sight.

Yes, the vast majority of people do visit the optitions - but this is not compulsary. Bad vision is only checked for AFTER and accident and then only if the police suspect it may have a contributing factor.

Drivers should be forced to take eyetests every 2 years and provide proof that they have actually purchased any correcting lenses required.

Similar to this is medication - how many people take medication that states "Do not drive whilst taking" and then totally ignore the advice?

no-oneknowsme

Well I personally have nothing against the older drivers.....yes , I have witnessed them make "silly" errors on the road but nothing that I havent witnessed drivers of other ages making...

My main gripe from personal experience would have to be the younger drivers. In my opinion I see more of the younger new drivers driving way too fast , tailgating (people who are sticking to the limit for the road) , using their phones , showing off because they have a car load of friends with them......

This isnt a generalisation though , I witness plenty of young drivers driving perfectly well . I guess its down to the individual behind the wheel and not their age or length of driving.

I do however agree with the poster who said that eye sight tests should be compulsary drivers.

fluffnutter

Statistically the second most likely group to have an accident (after young males) is older women. Many of these passed their tests many years ago (or perhaps didn't even sit a test) and have been driven by their husbands for decades. The husband dies or becomes to frail to drive, and the woman gets behind the wheel possibly not having driven for years. Chaos ensues.

Everyone thinks they're a great driver and that everyone else is a halfwit! I'm not immune to this and my own personal bugbear is people who pay no attention to the speed limit. There's a long road I drive down that moves through a number of different speed zones, from 30 through to NSL. It's very common for people to drive the length of this road (6 - 7 miles) at a steady 32 mph. Why? Pay attention!

pulliptears

Can't believe you all fell for Dark troll again, wind em up and watch em go.

Errata

I am retired. I am a rubbish driver. That should make at least one person on this thread happy. Enjoy!

beckythemadcow

I am a young driver (23), and know my own faults. I'm very impatient, and often running late!

Because of these flaws, I find slow drivers to be the most irritating. I usually drive at the speed limit (or 10% over, naughty I know). I don't mind if people choose to drive more slowly, but if they drive at the same speed as someone in the left lane, but block me getting past, I get mad! :mad:

And I'm glad there was confusion as to which is he outside lane! I've never had a clue! Have we decided it is the overtaking lane?

Azari

beckythemadcow wrote: »

And I'm glad there was confusion as to which is he outside lane! I've never had a clue! Have we decided it is the overtaking lane?

Yes.

Glad you didn't call it the 'fast' lane.