How to report an elderly driver that is clearly unable to drive properly

photome

welshbookworm wrote: »

Not that one but there's these
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2186576/Retired-doctor-killed-man-car-crash-wrong-road-escapes-jail.html
http://www.wfaa.com/news/investigates/Drive-On-218019431.html
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/elderly-driver-smashes-into-chemist-shop-20130807-2rg7f.html

And 2 out of the 3 (poss all 3) escaped punishment.

Put a teen behind the wheel in all 3 incidents and would they have escaped punishment?

spacey2012

Insurance companies know how to judge risks and who is a "better driver".
They are the absolute undisputed experts at it.
Bets on who pays the least insurance out of him and you ?

McKneff

Would someone define 'Old' please....

alastairq

as long as they drive to the conditions and the speed limits as my post above

Oh how people try to use the above to justify what they do, and what others don't do?

When you walk down a busy pavement, do you walk as fast as the 'conditions' allow? Or, do you really care about me trying to get past, when you feel like having an amble, perhaps dong some window shopping?

It is, after all, a Public Highway...whether one is on foot, or in charge of a motor vehicle.

Remember, my ' road conditions' may be vastly different to yours.

Drivers tend to make the false assumption that, what they can see, what they would do, applies equally to those in front or behind.

Well, that is definitely not the case!

Your 'conditions' may not be those perceived by others.

Which doesn't make their assessments 'wrong'...might be your judgement of conditions that is awry?


Your do not 'see' what they do....nor are you driving their vehicle, or have their intentions !

Yes..a slower vehicle is a nuisance at times.

But it is a public highway....and they have as much in the way of 'rights' as any other road user.

Tolerance is the key.

Exercise tolerance on the roads with them.....and I will return the compliment for you.


Start pushing & shoving with them, and the likes of me might just return the compliment with you?


'Tis simple really?

Mojisola

spacey2012 wrote: »

Insurance companies know how to judge risks and who is a "better driver".
They are the absolute undisputed experts at it.
Bets on who pays the least insurance out of him and you ?

But that's because they are working on averages. If one person in that group isn't a safe driver, he should be allowed to carry on driving because his peer group is safer than younger drivers?

It's very difficult when someone of any age has to stop driving through ill health or incapacity. It takes away a lot of freedom and can restrict your life a lot.

On the other hand, knowing that you are responsible for someone else's injuries because you carried on driving when you shouldn't have is even worse.

We have a police officer who looks after our area - if in the same position, I would have a talk with her and explain the worries about this driver.

alastairq

Great isn't it? your kids get squashed by an incompetent old fool and all record of it disappears.

Great , isn't it?

It doesn't matter whether one is 'old' or 'young'...or an inbetweeny....poor driver skills should be dealt with equitably...and..if they get to Court, are done so.[In the eyes of the Law, if not yours?]

So, given the views expressed on here, will every one of you, once you get past the age of 45....or 50, or 55, or 60, or 70, or 80, even...kindly surrender your licenses?

I definitely think you will all take a very different view once you achieve those ages!

Learn some tolerance and understanding, before it's too late....and remember, your own driver skills are unlikely to be any 'better' when you're a pensioner, than they are now.

fed_up_and_stressed

alastairq wrote: »

Nothing 'wrong' with slow drivers..or slow vehicles.

What is 'wrong' is the inability of [faster???} drivers to cope with those slow vehicles.

And, in my jaundiced [and ageing] eyes, it is that inability to cope that is far more worrying as a risk, than any slow driver.

I think the recent events in Kent only go to hilite this inability amongst far too many drivers out there?

Being able to drive quickly is a luxury to be enjoyed, not a 'right'..on the Public Highway.

And as an oldie, I'm willing to bet everyone on this forum is more likely to get in MY way, than the other way around?

So, if anyone reading this has issues with 'slow' vehicles, try looking to your own driver abilities first?

Because, in those 'abilities' may lie the solution..and the 'slow' vehicle will cease to be a problem?

Of course, if those abilities are in reality quite inadequate..then the answer isn't to vilify the slow vehicle driver...but to seek help in improving one's own capabilities?


Or..maybe take a pop at the inadequate ability of het driver right behind that slow vehicle..because it is often they who make matters worse for you....not the slow vehicle.

Sorry but the inability to drive in a way in which you are not creating a HAZARD to road users by driving at appropriate speeds for the road conditions is dangerous... And if say 30 people can drive safely and appropritely at 58 in a 60 limit and the older person can only do say 42 in a 60 and feel safe then it strongly suggests which of them does ot have the driving skill of a resonably competant road user and as such WHO needs to take a long hard look at their driving (ie the older person)..and preferably take some advanced motoring lessons.

It is aout having the SKILLS to cope with Varying speeds which are required or varying road conditions. If you are driving "slow" in optimum driving conditions (and aren't driving a vehicle capable of doing any more than 30 ) than it suggests you don't have the skills to cope.

Inappropriate speed is dangerous (that is striaght out of my advanced police motorcyclists theory book).

I think ROSPA advanced driving lessons are superb (and know a few members who could be classed as ahem older people ) and they all know to drive at appropraite speeds for the conditions.

photome

alastairq wrote: »

Oh how people try to use the above to justify what they do, and what others don't do?

When you walk down a busy pavement, do you walk as fast as the 'conditions' allow? Or, do you really care about me trying to get past, when you feel like having an amble, perhaps dong some window shopping?

It is, after all, a Public Highway...whether one is on foot, or in charge of a motor vehicle.

Remember, my ' road conditions' may be vastly different to yours.

Drivers tend to make the false assumption that, what they can see, what they would do, applies equally to those in front or behind.

Well, that is definitely not the case!

Your 'conditions' may not be those perceived by others.

Which doesn't make their assessments 'wrong'...might be your judgement of conditions that is awry?


Your do not 'see' what they do....nor are you driving their vehicle, or have their intentions !

Yes..a slower vehicle is a nuisance at times.

But it is a public highway....and they have as much in the way of 'rights' as any other road user.

Tolerance is the key.

Exercise tolerance on the roads with them.....and I will return the compliment for you.


Start pushing & shoving with them, and the likes of me might just return the compliment with you?


'Tis simple really?

In my example where the elderly driver drives at the same speed regardless of the speed limits, I assume in your view that is perfectly acceptable despite the fact they maybe 20 miles below the allowed limit which can be an offence and maybe more than double the limit in the 20 zone which of course is disqualification, but hey ho it doesnt matter because they are old and slow and their perception of the road conditions are different to mine

alastairq

But that's because they are working on averages. If one person in that group isn't a safe driver, he should be allowed to carry on driving because his peer group is safer than younger drivers?

The same sentiment can be applied across all age groups.

Young, new drivers apparently are more likely to have collisions..and repeat them, than over -25s.

So..let's 'ban' young drivers?

Problem solved?

Well, not really!

It just shifts the problem further up the age chain.

Aged drivers are seen to be a higher risk, anyway.....which is reflected in their premiums.

But, what seems to be forgotten is....aged drivers also have to prove they are fit to hold a driver's licence a lot more often than someone of the age of 40!

So, eyesight [including assisted]....etc have to be at the required standard..the same standard as that of a new driver?

So, if physical fitness is a strong criteria for having one's licence re-newed, why should 40-somethings be allowed to get away with it?

It is a pity that psychological fitness to hold a licence isn't assessed.

Because it is driver attitude that is at the root of nearly all that we complain about, or suffer.

alastairq

In my example where the elderly driver drives at the same speed regardless of the speed limits, I assume in your view that is perfectly acceptable despite the fact they maybe 20 miles below the allowed limit which can be an offence and maybe more than double the limit in the 20 zone which of course is disqualification, but hey ho it doesnt matter because they are old and slow and their perception of the road conditions are different to mine

You use the word 'acceptable?'

I use the word 'tolerance'!

I posted elsewhere this below

Yes..a slower vehicle is a nuisance at times.

The difference is, you apply an emotive view of the matter., as in my quote.

Really your view as a good driver should be objective!


Age is irrelevant.....what you describe applies to all ages of driver, not just 'old' ones.