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

photome

alastairq wrote: »

I drive along at 45 mph in a NSL because, I want to.

Not because I cannot cope!

In the same way, I drive along at 60 mph in a NSL because I Want to.



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Which I think is classed as inconsiderate driving if it is perfectly safe to drive to the speed limit.

I get by your respnses that you dont really care about anyone else around you as long as you are happy

photome

alastairq wrote: »

Yet,Dad signed a legal document.

In this case , the State rather assumes the individual is a responsible person?

But, the form still has to be completed [with penalties if incorrect]...a lot more often than someone of 40 year of age.

I also know someone who signed the form when their eyesight was not up to it and he eventually lost his license due to poor eyesight, but that was many yaers later

The state may assume that the person is responsible but in reality very few people would voluntarily hand their license in

Strider590

alastairq wrote: »

There are no 'good' drivers....one is only as good a driver as one is, at the hour, on the day.

Well it's hard to define "good", because "good" would imply always following the highway code, which we all know is not possible at all times in every day driving.

If I had to define a good driver, it would be someone who treats the responsibility of driving, with the respect it deserves. They scan not only the road immediately ahead, but also look for potential issues in the distance.

A bad driver has tunnel vision, fixed 5m in front of their car, they're someone who gets in their car and treats it like an extension of their living room, drinking, eating, playing with the mobile phone, etc etc. All whilst doing the bare minimum required by the highway code, like (for example) indicating out of habit and not actually using the mirrors.

A stupid driver just drives like a bloody lunatic and over estimates their control of their vehicle. They're paying more attention, but they're still doing all the "bad driver" things on top.

borkid

alastairq wrote: »

No..they are not dangerous..at all! No more so than a tractor driver, or an LGV complying with their speed limit.









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I've noticed since moving to Norfolk that tractor drivers actually pull over to let other vehicles pass as soon as they are able. Older people driving slowly seem to drive down the middle of the road and only pull to one side if another vehicle is approaching. We have a lot of narrow country lanes around here.

arcon5

photome wrote: »

Lots of old people are a menace on the road for that exact reason. many roads in norfolk have variable limits, one I can think of goes from 60 to 40 to 30, 20 ,30, to 40 and then back to 60 in the space of about 2 to 3 miles, yet many times I will follow and old person who is doing 40 ish in the 60 and then contionues to do exact same speed through all the limits!!!!!

I get help up in the 60 and then they disappear in the lower limits only for me to catch up again in the 60.

How can anyone say this type of driver isnt a danger, they clearly have no concept of the speed they are doing

No more dangerous than the type of driver that will happily sit at 30-40 through all these lower speed limits then happily sit at 70+ in a 60. Only difference is this type of driver doesn't feel comfortable at the higher speeds.

This is another example of blaming the slow driver when the idiot decides to perform dangerous maneuvers and cause accidents.

I don't like drivers that drive 40 in a 60 by the way, in fact I find it very very frustrating. But if I pull in to the path of an oncoming motorist or overtake too close to a blind bend then I don't blame the slow driver!

alastairq

Which I think is classed as inconsiderate driving if it is perfectly safe to drive to the speed limit.

I get by your responses that you don't really care about anyone else around you as long as you are happy

Well...do you?

Again, you make an assumption based upon your own perspectives......

if it is perfectly safe to drive to the speed limit.

You may well feel it is safe to do that....in your car, from your viewpoint?

But that may not be the case with other drivers.

Do you question your own judgment in this matter? Perhaps you should? Perhaps that other driver has seen something you haven't?

We travel at whatever speed we chose, because, we want to.

We ignore the speed limits...because we want to.

If I travel at 45mph in a [rural] NSL.....I am not going to 'prevent' you from overtaking.

So how is my speed 'inconsiderate?'

''Inconsiderate driving'' isn't about preventing others from fulfilling their own wishes.

A car driver doing 45 in a rural NSL is but a vehicle 'in one's way'....just like a LGV who is complying with their own speed limit.

ANd probably a darned sight easier to overtake to boot?

Instead of judging others, simply cope with them.

arcon5

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

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.

My partner often drives 45-50 in a 60 with the child in the back. Whether it's safe or not based on your perception is irrelevant, she wants that few extra seconds in case something happens - knowing the child is much more vulnerable in lighter incidents than you or me as adults.

I guess she's just a bad driver.

That's not even to mention many motorists may do the same route every day, and that one person going slower may never have been on this stretch of road before - therefore doesn't know what twists and bends are coming, doesn't know if there are any pubs or shops or a car boot or event on that day, therefore doesn't know of the potential hazards that could be posed if say somebody is pulling out of a car park or waiting on a band to make a right turn or anything else once the motorist approaches the end of the blind bend.

We're not all the same and this one size fits all view of motoring is absurd!

alastairq

borkid wrote: »

I've noticed since moving to Norfolk that tractor drivers actually pull over to let other vehicles pass as soon as they are able. Older people driving slowly seem to drive down the middle of the road and only pull to one side if another vehicle is approaching. We have a lot of narrow country lanes around here.

And in that post, you raise a valid point.

But..on a narrow[er] road, which has no centre line marking, a driver can [and should, I hasten to add] use the whole width of tarmac if they feel the need.....just ensuring they meet oncoming vehicles correctly [right-side to-right -side?]

Because, without a centre line road marking, who is to say where the 'centre' of the carriageway actually lies?

Perhaps, when you come across a driver doing as you say, why not let them know you are there? I do!......[& I don't care what badge their car carries on its boot......even if it says 'Police'...] It's what one's hooter and headlight flasher are for?

toot toot...

alastairq

as arcon says..time is everything....run out of time, and one runs out of luck!

Johno100

This thread appears to have hit a raw nerve with some posters.

To the OP, can you get this chaps registration number? If so I'd phone 101 and ask for your local roads policing unit and advise them of your concerns. Hopefully they will pay a visit and if appropriate report their concerns to DVLA who may revoke his licence.