Elderly Drivers...

ACG

Have a read...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24204489

What are your thoughts?

I do agree older drivers are not that great. They tend to dither.

I know its part of growing old, and i do include relatives in that statement but driving is dangerous.

I dont think they are any worse than aggressive drivers (or my pet hate people who do not indicate) but they passed their test in a different era where roads were not as busy.

jase1

I don't think it is fair to single out drivers solely on grounds of age. There are crap drivers of all ages.

Which is why I believe in 10-yearly retests for all drivers, regardless of age. It would filter out those drivers who really are past their best, and also make it more difficult for the duff drivers to retain their licences -- all done so in a non-discriminatory manner.

Moto2

There's a recent thread with plenty of discussion on the subject

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4761654

photome

Moto2 wrote: »

There's a recent thread with plenty of discussion on the subject

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4761654

I was going to link to that.

I am not getting involved this time tho:T

oliverr

It totally depends on the person, classing all elderly drivers as dangerous is totally wrong. I know loads of people in their 20s and 30s who are much worse drivers than my grandfather who's still driving at 86 (admittedly he doesn't drive much but at least once a week).

Lum

photome wrote: »

I was going to link to that.

I am not getting involved this time tho:T

Let me guess, the arguments were:

"I've been driving for 40 years and never had an accident"
"Yeah, but I bed you've seen plenty in your rear view mirror"
"Young people are worse, they should raise the driving age to (arbitrary number)"
And then it drifted off topic into a discussion of tailgating, MLMs and/or the 40-everywhere crew.

Am I close?

hgotsparkle

I think its more the elderly drivers who can't see properly, yet get wound up when it is pointed out to them.There are good elderly drivers, yesterday I was driving in Norwich and a car had pulled over and then started moving out onto the road with its hazards on, and would have gone into my front passenger door had I not quickly noticed and moved over. Then once we got the the big roundabout and stuck at the lights the elderly gentlemen put his window down and apologized profusely, I was stunned. Someone had actually admitted they did something wrong!

alastairq

From the recent article , I found the most telling comment referred to the fact that if a driver of any age has..let's say, no more than basic driver skills....then they will take those mediocre [basic] skills with them into old age.

A well skilled driver in middle age will still be a well-skilled driver in old age.

And will drive in a manner that displays a full awareness of the physical limitations old age brings to us all.

When I observe the appalling attitudes of drivers in the 40-something age bracket, I don't hold out much hope for the rest of the world,, when they reach old age.

arcon5

Many drivers of differing ages can't see properly, but nothing to do with their eye sight deteriorating.


Seems to me some peoples biggest problem with elderly drivers is their speed (or lack off) - usually by those who often speed.

photome

didn't think Alastairq would be able to stay away

Retrogamer

I think there are dangerous drivers of all ages, but i've noticed it seems to be the elderly that tend to slow down to join the motorway rather than speed up.
It's not so bad if they slow down then pull behind me, or speed up and get in front of me but please don't slow down then pull out in front of me