84 yr old wrong way on motorway

AdrianC

A._Badger wrote: »

If road safety advocates were really serious the first thing they would do is ban motorcyclists, who are in the highest risk category.

You do know that the majority of death and serious injury collisions involving motorcycles are NOT the fault of the motorcyclist, right?

Oh, and in terms of deaths and serious injuries relative to distance travelled, I believe pedal cycles are considerably higher.

Richard53

60 sounds very old when you are a youngster, but it isn't really. I'm 62, been driving 45 years, one accident in 1981 (other guy's fault), probably close on a million miles in car/van/bus or on motorbike. My driving style is best described as 'progressive', although I have slowed down somewhat in the last few years. IAM member for car and bike. My vision is good, my reactions are still fairly quick, and my planning and observation is better than it ever was. I'm aware that my faculties are not as good as they were when I was 18, and I am driving accordingly. I think most people do the same as they get older.


The worry I have is where people continue to drive with signs of dementia. I was nearly taken off the bike by a neighbour who pulled out of a junction into oncoming traffic. I knew the guy quite well - nearly 90, mentally confused, and very doddery. I mentioned it to his wife (who was in the car when he nearly hit me) and gently suggested it might be time for him to hang up his keys. She reacted very badly - first she said it didn't happen and then refused to discuss it. I'm not sure I know the answer to that one. (He went into a decline a few days later and died, so I didn't have to think about it further.)


I have to say, though, that I feel far less at risk from elderly drivers than I do from angry sales reps in company BMWs

Richard53

A._Badger wrote: »

If road safety advocates were really serious the first thing they would do is ban motorcyclists, who are in the highest risk category.

Classic victim-blaming.

rich13348

SailorSam wrote: »

Whether it's two seconds, or even less. If anyone wants to start a new thread it should be them that googles to find the link. Don't leave it to the rest of us.

I read it on the news not a surprise to me.

Just because you are too lazy to either read the news or fact check posts is your problem.
There is no rule in the forum rules says all posts must be fact checked with links to independent links.

arcon5

AdrianC wrote: »

You do know that the majority of death and serious injury collisions involving motorcycles are NOT the fault of the motorcyclist, right?

Oh, and in terms of deaths and serious injuries relative to distance travelled, I believe pedal cycles are considerably higher.

Post up some stats

A._Badger

Richard53 wrote: »

Classic victim-blaming.

Would you care to expand on that, please? Read one way it implies that you have misunderstood the point I was making.

A._Badger

AdrianC wrote: »

You do know that the majority of death and serious injury collisions involving motorcycles are NOT the fault of the motorcyclist, right?

Oh, and in terms of deaths and serious injuries relative to distance travelled, I believe pedal cycles are considerably higher.

The claim of most road safety advocates is that they wish to reduce the number of deaths and injuries. I am simply pointing out that if this is the case the logical place to start is with the group involved in the most accidents. Who is to blame for those accidents is quite beside the point. If you want road deaths and injuries down quickest, that is the logical way to do it.

I'm not advocating it, just pointing out a flaw in reasoning. Colin Chapman did the same when he pointed out (perfectly logically) that seat belts wouldn't be needed if a sharp, pointed stick were to be placed in the centre of every steering wheel. I recall that suggestion didn't go down too well, either.

George_Michael

AdrianC wrote: »

You do know that the majority of death and serious injury collisions involving motorcycles are NOT the fault of the motorcyclist, right?

As with just about anything involving many factors, it's extremely easy to find statistics to prove or disprove any argument.

http://begin-motorcycling.co.uk/useful-info/rospa-report/rospa-motorcycle-accidents-casualties/

3.20 The Booth report, published in 1989, assessed nearly 10,000 motorcycle accidents in the Metropolitan Police area. It concluded that nearly two-thirds (62%) of motorcycle accidents were primarily caused by the other road user.

On the other hand:

3.21 In contrast, the analysis of motorcycle accidents in rural Cheshire found that 67% of motorcycle accidents were due to rider error, with losing control on a bend and overtaking featuring strongly.

SailorSam

rich13348 wrote: »

Just because you are too lazy to either read the news or fact check posts is your problem.

I see a 24yr old woman drove through the middle of Manchester topping speeds over 115mph.........
It must be true 'cos i'm posting it. I don't need to give you the link do i, you can always search for it yourself if you don't believe me.

molerat

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/londoner-arrested-after-cannabis-car-driven-wrong-way-up-m6-motorway-for-five-miles-a3310436.html
Age 27

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/woman-tells-how-cheated-death-8246121 Age 29

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/687655/JAILED-Motorist-driver-police-110mph-driving-WRONG-way-motorway Age 34

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/latest/Motorist-drove-wrong-way-down-motorway-in-Cumbria-934ede93-57e1-435f-9f8e-d345e2fa9638-ds Age 43

http://www.solihullupdates.com/burglary-suspect-arrested-despite-wrong-way-escape-bid/ Age 32

So at what age are we going to start re testing ?