Elderly Drivers

Shirleyr

Shirleyr

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Shirley
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My sister bought herself a brand new car back in August and she was so thrilled with it, a sort of pick me up as she had lost her husband a couple years ago.
Just been on the photo with her, yesterday a lady of 93 had smashed into my sisters car having failed to stop at a roundabout.
Fortunately neither of them were hurt and the elderly lady admitted fault and there were plently of witnesses, so the police were not called.
My sister has her son close by and he has taken photos of the car and will be there when its taken off on a low loader.
I said that she should have called the police but she said everything happened at once and I just wanted to get home. Also I said at the end of the day I still have my one and only sister and the car can be mended.
So, the old lady who clearly should not be driving could be back on the road this very minute.
 
Many people are on the road that shouldn't be. At least she was insured ;)
 
It's not only elders, many people don't stop or just purposefully force priority. I am riding bikes and very often I am glad that it weights only 220kg and brakes are good enough.

Not being disrespectful to elderly folks, but the system is messed up. You will get done for few miles over the speed limit, but are perfectly allowed to drive/ride while endangering other road users. And don't even get me started on some chavian t***s or ladies made in charity shops who try to run down pedesterians. It happens very often that some arse is turning into side road without any indication whatsoever and if anyone happens to be crossing said road, it's instantly their fault if driver had to suddenly stop etc. They think that waving hands behind the wheel will sort anything, but message that they drive like utter c***s seems to hit sensitive spots....
 
Major said:
It's not only elders, many people don't stop or just purposefully force priority. I am riding bikes and very often I am glad that it weights only 220kg and brakes are good enough.

Not being disrespectful to elderly folks, but the system is messed up. You will get done for few miles over the speed limit, but are perfectly allowed to drive/ride while endangering other road users. And don't even get me started on some chavian t***s or ladies made in charity shops who try to run down pedesterians. It happens very often that some arse is turning into side road without any indication whatsoever and if anyone happens to be crossing said road, it's instantly their fault if driver had to suddenly stop etc. They think that waving hands behind the wheel will sort anything, but message that they drive like utter c***s seems to hit sensitive spots....
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At my speed awareness course it was quite funny. The old folk there had no idea whatsoever what the various speed limits were. Sure I was speeding but I knew I was speeding I was totally aware of that fact. The amount of times around where I live that I see old people do 40 in a national speed limit area, and continue to do 40 when they are in an urban area. Then continue to do 40 when the speed goes to 20. And continue to do 40 when the national speed limit is back in effect. Totally unaware. I've given permission to my children to shoot me if I ever get like that.
 
How do you know if age was in any way a factor?
And no, with no injuries and an admission of blame, the police shouldn't have been called, so your sister made the correct decision there.
 
Not to try and cause any arguments, but at this age vast majority of drivers should stay at home or be in the car as passengers...
 
Major said:
Not to try and cause any arguments, but at this age vast majority of drivers should stay at home or be in the car as passengers...
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So should a lot of young drivers and idiots in BMWs
It is the reason I always have older cars, a couple of days ago, parked in a car park, came backjand found a car parked very close and yes
a scratch on my door:banghead:
 
Shirleyr said:
My sister bought herself a brand new car back in August and she was so thrilled with it, a sort of pick me up as she had lost her husband a couple years ago.
Just been on the photo with her, yesterday a lady of 93 had smashed into my sisters car having failed to stop at a roundabout.
Fortunately neither of them were hurt and the elderly lady admitted fault and there were plently of witnesses, so the police were not called.
My sister has her son close by and he has taken photos of the car and will be there when its taken off on a low loader.
I said that she should have called the police but she said everything happened at once and I just wanted to get home. Also I said at the end of the day I still have my one and only sister and the car can be mended.
So, the old lady who clearly should not be driving could be back on the road this very minute.
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Sorry to hear about your sister, but your attitude is rather out of order. "The police" called for some elderly lady's accident? Would you say you are a perfect driver and have never had a near miss? If so, heartfelt congratulations, and I am entirely misjudged. I would say many of the Oder generation are better drivers than the younger generation today - accidents are caused by a berth if things and situations, age probably least! My grandmother is a fantastic driver and is mid 70s and drives a large m Mercedes.
 
How safe is anyone over 90years at the wheel of a car. Should a special test be taken?
 
Major said:
Not to try and cause any arguments, but at this age vast majority of drivers should stay at home or be in the car as passengers...
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I feel the same way about a lot of drivers under 20, and anyone between the ages of birth to 120 driving a BMW.
 
Ok, but how reaction times compare between 20 yo and 93 yo drivers?? Let's not lie to ourselves - most folks don't even live that long....
 
Major said:
Ok, but how reaction times compare between 20 yo and 93 yo drivers?? Let's not lie to ourselves - most folks don't even live that long....
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And how does common sense and experience compare between 20 yo and 93 yo?
 
Regardless of the age, it was driving without due care and attention... what if it was a cyclist or a close family member? or if it happens again?

My late father was told to stop at 86, my mum lost count of wing mirror prangs
 
welshwizard645 said:
Regardless of the age, it was driving without due care
and attention... what if it was a cyclist or a close family member? or if it happens again?

My late father was told to stop at 86, my mum lost count of wing mirror prangs
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Indeed, but why should age be automatically assumed to be the cause?
People of all ages exercise DWODCAA daily.
 
Ruth, I'm not attacking elders, all I say is that at this age most struggle with simplest tasks and sadly suffer some bad effects of said age. Being young and irresponsible is not the same thing as being old and barely able to control the vehicle.

BTW, common sense is not related to age. You either have it or you don't.
 
Major said:
.

BTW, common sense is not related to age. You either have it or you don't.
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I know, but it seems to become less common with each successive generation.
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
Lots of people, of all ages fail to stop at roundabouts.
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It seems like I encounter most of them. They just don't look and don't even acknowledge I am there, even after they have done it.
 
Shirleyr said:
How safe is anyone over 90years at the wheel of a car. Should a special test be taken?
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YES at 79 yrs old a test every 2 years from 79th birthday, for basic lane discipline,reversing around a corner, roundabout use, traffic sign recognition, speed awareness and eye sight at the very least imho
 
LASTOLITE said:
YES at 79 yrs old a test every 2 years from 79th birthday, for basic lane discipline,reversing around a corner, roundabout use, traffic sign recognition, speed awareness and eye sight at the very least imho
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I would like such a test to be indiscriminate of age - we all can do with it. Would make the roads a lot better. And I'd go one further, include a theory test as well.
 
That is the answer a test but a lot of them wouldn't pass the theory test because their eye sight is poor. The younger generation most of them are good drivers or they wouldn't passed the driving test, one thing that goes against them is showing off to their friends and a lack of experience which in time will come. I know lots of very good young drivers, its just one or two of them which are driving cars which sound as though they have a hole in the exhaust pipe and are a bit heavy on the excelarator. The insurance for 18 to 20 year olds is terrible, I surprise that most can afford to drive. I remember driving my Dads car when passing my driving test I was over the moon, drove from town by my self thrilled I was, the car was a Volvo, like an army tank heavy to handle, turned into the gate couldn't wait to tell Dad, third child I was, the only one to pass my test the first time, turned a bit sharp and opps, too sharp and before I could stop scratched the side of the car. The hardest past was telling Dad but learnt a lesson and never ever have I hit a gate since (touch wood).
 
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thats why I stopped going in a car with my granddad ,his judgement was bloody awful,he took off a few wing-mirrors many a time when i was with him, the arguments we had over his driving was some-thing to be desired, ( I was driving before you was born!!! ) "yes"but there was only ten cars then, in all of the uk..
god bless him, been dead many years now, not driving related either..
(he didn't sit his test, there wasn't any when he started driving) but he taught many to drive, including myself.
 
Shirleyr said:
The insurance for 18 to 20 year olds is terrible, I surprise that most can afford to drive. .
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There is a very good reason for that, it's called risk assessment and it means they cost the insurance companies more then older drivers, sadly
everyone is penalised for the mistakes others make.
Locally a few years back 3 17/18 y/o were killed in vehicles driven by friends of a similar age in a matter of weeks, one a friends son, plus others
seriously injured in similar incidents and I do mean life changing injuries.
I have to say that I am far more often cut up on roundabouts, traffic lights etc. by youngsters who seem to think every journey is a race.
 
Shirleyr said:
The younger generation most of them are good drivers or they wouldn't passed the driving test, one thing that goes against them is showing off to their friends and a lack of experience which in time will come.
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All you have to do to pass the test is to meet a minimum standard. There is no way most young drivers are good drivers. Every new driver is taught just enough to pass the test which in my opinion isn't even half as rigorous as it should be. For a start they're not given any practical experience of motorway driving. A few years of experience and, if there suitably motivated, they will improve and become better drivers but by then they're not young drivers anymore . However, in my experience, for a lot of people I see, passing the test represented the peak of their driving prowess and from there they just got progressively worse.
 
My mother died after being hit by a car whilst crossing a road on her mobility scooter.
It happened because either her eyesight or spatial awareness failed her at a critical moment. The accident was captured on cctv, painful to watch, but she misjudged the gap available for her to cross.
This occurred mainly because of her advancing years (88) and she could have conceivably been driving a car, so yes age does play a part in competency to drive.

We have had two fatal accidents in the town which I live involving drivers over 90, one where the driver didn't stop at a lollipop lady and killed a boy (stated he didn't see her stood in the road)
Second incident was a woman crossing on a pelican crossing, driver accelerated instead of braking and squashed the pedestrian into a bus stopped at the lights in the opposite lane
(Stated he hit the accelerator instead of the brake)

Make your own mind up, but I tend to think being very elderly played a part in both incidents, reaction time, awareness and eyesight all deteriorate with age.
 
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mark richards said:
thats why I stopped going in a car with my granddad ,his judgement was bloody awful,he took off a few wing-mirrors many a time when i was with him, the arguments we had over his driving was some-thing to be desired, ( I was driving before you was born!!! ) "yes"but there was only ten cars then, in all of the uk..
god bless him, been dead many years now, not driving related either..
(he didn't sit his test, there wasn't any when he started driving) but he taught many to drive, including myself.
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Sounds like we are brothers Mark, I could of written that word for word.:thinking:
 
tijuana taxi said:
My mother died after being hit by a car whilst crossing a road on her mobility scooter.
It happened because either her eyesight or spatial awareness failed her at a critical moment. The accident was captured on cctv, painful to watch, but she misjudged the gap available for her to cross.
This occurred mainly because of her advancing years (88) and she could have conceivably been driving a car, so yes age does play a part in competency to drive.

We have had two fatal accidents in the town which I live involving drivers over 90, one where the driver didn't stop at a lollipop lady and killed a boy (stated he didn't see her stood in the road)
Second incident was a woman crossing on a pelican crossing, driver accelerated instead of braking and squashed the pedestrian into a bus stopped at the lights in the opposite lane
(Stated he hit the accelerator instead of the brake)

Make your own mind up, but I tend to think being very elderly played a part in both incidents, reaction time, awareness and eyesight all deteriorate with age.
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I'm so sorry to read about your Mum, that's terrible. As your avatar reads you drive a taxi, well you must see so many bad drivers. Many years ago I was a passenger with another lady driver and she drove through red traffic lights driving a Mercedes I tried to put the handbrake on and dam it was on the other side of the wheel, police saw and she got a fine and points. She said shall I tell him I have a cataract, the reply was oh! g**.
 
I've just told a lie, I just remember when I used to work on a farm and had to fetch the van which had a huge sheep trailor on the back, turn too sharp again and got the trailor hitched onto the gate and was stuck. Had to go to the farmer and said I've fetched the van, its over there, slightly stuck. Some men just don't have a sense of humour. Has anyone ever taken a car with a small trailor into a sheep market and then try to back it, big time nightmare, someone shouted just follow it, not as easy as it sounds. My Dad used to say let me out before you start its too embarrassing, see no sense of humour.
 
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That's one great improvement to the driving licence, you now hae to take a separate test to tow a trailer (y)
 
Gupster said:
All you have to do to pass the test is to meet a minimum standard. There is no way most young drivers are good drivers. Every new driver is taught just enough to pass the test which in my opinion isn't even half as rigorous as it should be. For a start they're not given any practical experience of motorway driving. A few years of experience and, if there suitably motivated, they will improve and become better drivers but by then they're not young drivers anymore . However, in my experience, for a lot of people I see, passing the test represented the peak of their driving prowess and from there they just got progressively worse.
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Once a new driver passes their test they can go on a Pass Plus course for such things and it will provide a discount on insurance. But aside from that, there is little difference between driving on a motorway or a dual carriageway.
 
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