Driving at 101, Safe or not? - Page 2

garinda · 02-02-2006, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnboy

Because half of the old folk on the road today dont have a clue wot day it is let alone wot is around them on the road, right young people do have a lot of accidents but there is a lot more of them and at least we have a sense of direction!!!!

It's Thursday...the 2nd of Febuary......1968.

Ernie · 02-02-2006, 18:10

I speak as a professional driver in my early fifties and it has been my opinion for a long time that a persons ability to drive has little to do with wether an individual is young, old, male, female, fat, thin, etc. I think it is unfair to pidgeon hole people into fit/unfit categories purely because of age. The ability to control the vehicle to the required standard and the reactions in the case of emergency is what counts. What I will say is with age sometimes comes infirmity in both mind and body and if this is the case with the individual then he/she should not be driving on these crowded roads today, I hope to be alive when I am 100, and if I am I hope that I will also be able to drive but if I am not fit then I won't drive.

harwood red · 02-02-2006, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnboy

Because half of the old folk on the road today dont have a clue wot day it is let alone wot is around them on the road, right young people do have a lot of accidents but there is a lot more of them and at least we have a sense of direction!!!!

I think that is rather too much of a sweeping statement to actually mean anything.

Yeah I have been frustrated at times being stuck behind an older person driving really slow, oh but then they were sticking to the speed limit!!

I have also been frustrated by a young un stuck to my tail light impatient to get past and I'm not exactly a slouch on the road.

I would rather be stuck behind an older person, damn sight safer... as long as you keep your distance though

chav1 · 02-02-2006, 19:26

i got stuck behind some dithering idiot doing 15 mph in a 40 limit area , at first i thought it was some young pratt acting daft as there were no safe points to overtake with it been a country lane

only when i eventualy found a place to overtake and was flipping the finger at the pillock did i realise it was infact an elderly driver with less awareness to his surroundings than Mr McGoo

stick them in a simulator and if they fail to get into the top ten on the scoreboard take their licenses of them

matakoj · 02-02-2006, 19:29

they should be made to give up driving when they reach the age of 70

panther · 02-02-2006, 19:34

driving at 101 years?!?, No they should not be!
why?.....
After age 80, there is a sharp decline in driving ability, although many drivers continue driving safely. Drivers over 80 are more than twice as likely to be at fault in a fatal collision than the average driver
there reactions would be too slow

there eyesight will be nearly gone
they probably have the shakes

more chance of having a heart attack at the wheel...killing other people (i know you can have a heart attack at any age but 101 you more chance!)
they dont look left and right anymore just straight ahead, oblivious of anyone else around
and probably deaf as a bat! and have there hearing aid switched off cuz of nagging wife!, if still around that is!)
and probably many more reasons .............

Neil · 02-02-2006, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by chav1

only when i eventualy found a place to overtake and was flipping the finger at the pillock did i realise it was infact an elderly driver with less awareness to his surroundings than Mr McGoo

Our Chav the voice of reason, passed his test a few weeks ago and is trying to loose his license for road rage already

I am sorry to pigeon hole people but experiance counts for a lot. Someone who has only been driving for a couple of years, johnboy, is unlikely to be as competant a driver as someone who has been driving for 10 or 20 years.

Debbie J · 02-02-2006, 19:51

For those who didn't see Granada Reports the gentleman in question said he had never done a driving test. He also managed an emergency stop when a white van pulled straight out in frnt of him. I think this man would be the exception rather than the rule when it comes to driving licences

chav1 · 02-02-2006, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Our Chav the voice of reason, passed his test a few weeks ago and is trying to loose his license for road rage already

I am sorry to pigeon hole people but experiance counts for a lot. Someone who has only been driving for a couple of years, johnboy, is unlikely to be as competant a driver as someone who has been driving for 10 or 20 years.

most people who have passed their test 10 - 20 years ago would probably not pass a driving test today

infact i would lay good odds that a recently passed driver would do better on a driving test than someone with 20 years experience driving

am i an angel on the road - am i hell i have adapted to every day driving by picking up the same habbits as all you more experienced drivers have although i am finding it hard to get rid of the push and pull method on the steering wheel but i have no doubt within a few weeks i will be turning corners one handed using the palm of my hand on the steering wheel just like everyone else

a tip to anyone learning to drive

once you pass throw the rule book out the window because no one else abides by it and the only way to survive is to do as they do , especialy as there are no police to pull up speeders , people parked on yellow lines at traffic lights , driving with headlights out or brake lights , the list goes on

as my driving instructer said its a mean place and the road is full of people trying to kill you

Neil · 02-02-2006, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by chav1

infact i would lay good odds that a recently passed driver would do better on a driving test than someone with 20 years experience driving

True, but does that make them bad drivers?

West Ender · 02-02-2006, 21:06

I've been driving for 40 years, up and down the motorways all over this country and abroad, and I take a pride in my driving. I've driven everything from a Mini to a 3 litre Jaguar (and a small removal van once but it's a long story) and I'm a member of the IAM.

I'm in my early 60s. I'm pretty confident that I'll still be a good driver in 10 years time but, in the interests of your safety and my own, I would be happy to be rigorously tested when I reach 70. If they told me I shouldn't drive any more, so be it.

I've known some elderly drivers who should have been taken off the roads years ago and I've known some who were extremely good. I've known a lot of young people who considered themselves brilliant drivers. Some were, but with others it just meant they took stupid, aggressive risks and got away with it. I knew one who didn't get away with it and I went to his funeral 3 years ago. He was 21.

I believe all drivers should be tested for competence and common sense at least every 10 years and people over 70 should be tested every 3 years because, let's face it, we all start to slow down at some point when we get older; some are later than others but it's Life, isn't it?

If the 101 year old is competent, good luck to him, but he should be tested to make sure.

WillowTheWhisp · 02-02-2006, 22:49

Well said West Ender. Everyone is an individual and we can't lump age groups together and judge all the same. A re-test as we get older is an excellent idea, every 10 years wouldn't be bad, maybe with advancing years every 5 would then be better.

I've also seen some very reckless youngsters on the roads who think they are good drivers.

entwisi · 03-02-2006, 09:11

Nice to westender that someone else agrees with me. Testing every few years should be compulsory for all. It should include eyesight, reactions as well as just driving.

Passing your test does not quantify you as a good driver, just someone who should be safe on the road unaccompanied. I also find it unbelieveable that you are not tested on Motorways at all. I drive over 100 miles a day to work, mainly on motorways and the standard of some drivers is disgraceful.

There is an article in this months 'Bike' magazine where a survey was taken of drivers showing a load of road signs. The only one taht got 100% recognition was Speed Cameras! Even such as uneven road surface only got 23% recognition. Side winds got 8%, minimum speed limit had 0, yes, ZERO%

The only way to improve this and driving standards is regular testing.

Neil · 03-02-2006, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

I also find it unbelieveable that you are not tested on Motorways at all.

So do I. You pass your tast around town at 30mph (if your lucky in Blackburn) then jump straight on the M65 back home to Accy. Stupid isn't it.

johnboy · 03-02-2006, 18:36

I agree that everyone should carry out some kind of test every 10 years or so to determine wether they are fit to drive, but just because someone is young does not mean they are bad drivers. Almost every young lad on the road these days gets tared with the same stick and are branded as a "Boy Racer", infact this is not true.
I agree there are a lot of young, stupid drivers out there but please dont automatically asume that all young drivers are stupid, and wreckless because i for one aint one of them.
I also agree that there are some old people out there who are good drivers and dont fall under the catogry "Bad Drivers" but there are some out there who are useless and shouldnt be on the road, as for the one doing 101 mph, well he/she shouldnt be doing that speed in the first place and if they was one that was unfit to be on the road well the result could have been devastating, for them and some poor soul who was unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time!!!!!