ChatterBank1 min ago
Should Elderly Drivers Be Periodically Tested For Their Ability To Drive Safely?
68 Answers
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Just because this particular pensioner was unfortunate enough to seriously injure five young school girls, why should all other elderly drivers be forced to take further driving tests?
Just because this particular pensioner was unfortunate enough to seriously injure five young school girls, why should all other elderly drivers be forced to take further driving tests?
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The problem to me, appears to be in a lot of cases, that people press the accelerator instead of the brake. Perhaps the car manufacturers might adapt automatic cars so that this couldn't happen.
I passed my Advanced test in 1983, and have had a voluntary assessment since, about 10 years ago. I would happily submit to a re-test, as I am now 75. I also hope that I would recognise when I am not fit to drive, but know a gentleman of 95 who resolutely refuses to give up driving despite having two cataract ops quite recently, and he drove right up to the dates of the ops! Who should report him? His family or me?
I passed my Advanced test in 1983, and have had a voluntary assessment since, about 10 years ago. I would happily submit to a re-test, as I am now 75. I also hope that I would recognise when I am not fit to drive, but know a gentleman of 95 who resolutely refuses to give up driving despite having two cataract ops quite recently, and he drove right up to the dates of the ops! Who should report him? His family or me?
This driver was 58......accidents happen to all ages
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It is an inescapable fact that with age comes a slowing down of reactions, deterioration in sight and hearing, and an increasing inability to deal with ever-busier traffic conditions.
It is also a fact that very few old people who are beyond levels of safe driving willingly relinquish their licences, as advised, it takes an accident to make them do so, often compelled by the courts.
My DIL is ninety this month, seriously deaf, shortsighted, and infirm, but he still insists on driving because he 'only goes local'. I am waiting for the inevitable accident which will lose his licence for him, the only way he will stop driving.
My daughter had her car hit by an eighty-plus woman coming off a car park who mistook her accelerator and brake pedals - she wrote off her own car, one van, and seriously damaged my daughter's car and gave her whiplash.
Most pilots fly safely year in year out, but would anyone not want them to take mandatory capability tests which they are required to do?
It is also a fact that very few old people who are beyond levels of safe driving willingly relinquish their licences, as advised, it takes an accident to make them do so, often compelled by the courts.
My DIL is ninety this month, seriously deaf, shortsighted, and infirm, but he still insists on driving because he 'only goes local'. I am waiting for the inevitable accident which will lose his licence for him, the only way he will stop driving.
My daughter had her car hit by an eighty-plus woman coming off a car park who mistook her accelerator and brake pedals - she wrote off her own car, one van, and seriously damaged my daughter's car and gave her whiplash.
Most pilots fly safely year in year out, but would anyone not want them to take mandatory capability tests which they are required to do?
/// There were 10,974 accidents involving drivers over the age of 70 in 2011, says the DfT. That compares with 11,946 accidents involving 17-to-19-year-old drivers and 24,007 accidents involving 20-to-24-year-old
drivers. ///
Why do you think that the insurance for older drivers is less than that of the young?
drivers. ///
Why do you think that the insurance for older drivers is less than that of the young?
Figures are meaningless, it's percentages that count:
'Of the 6,029 car drivers killed or seriously injured in 2012: 8% were aged 17 to 19; 25% were aged 20 to 29; 42% were aged 30 to 59; 9% were aged 60 to 69; and 13% were over 70. Although the legal minimum age for car drivers is seventeen, 5 young people aged under 17 were killed or seriously injured ‘behind the wheel’ during 2012 (Table 5).'
Part E:
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'Of the 6,029 car drivers killed or seriously injured in 2012: 8% were aged 17 to 19; 25% were aged 20 to 29; 42% were aged 30 to 59; 9% were aged 60 to 69; and 13% were over 70. Although the legal minimum age for car drivers is seventeen, 5 young people aged under 17 were killed or seriously injured ‘behind the wheel’ during 2012 (Table 5).'
Part E:
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I would be in favour of raising the driving test age to 21, and putting in annual tests up to 25, starting again at 70 - with any failures being made to take a long course of government-funded lessons and pass a rigorous re-test.
The fact that anyone can set up as a 'driving instructor' and people can take their test in a matter of weeks from starting to learn is farcical.
The money saved in emergency services resources would more than pay for the government to take over driving tuition and proper testing, and the carnage on our roads could be greatly reduced.
It will never happen, because it' a vote-loser.
The fact that anyone can set up as a 'driving instructor' and people can take their test in a matter of weeks from starting to learn is farcical.
The money saved in emergency services resources would more than pay for the government to take over driving tuition and proper testing, and the carnage on our roads could be greatly reduced.
It will never happen, because it' a vote-loser.
I have posted on this before. At the moment all that a person over 70 has to do to get their driving licence renewed is self certify that they meet the eye sight requirements. Many do not realize how much their sight has deteriorated, my Mum was could not even recognize her own car!
Instead of just a self signed declaration it should have to be signed by an optician or doctor after an examination. Poor eyesight is the main reason older drivers are unsafe.
Instead of just a self signed declaration it should have to be signed by an optician or doctor after an examination. Poor eyesight is the main reason older drivers are unsafe.
I agree with Eddie BUT all drivers should have to show they've had their eyes tested "recently" when they apply to renew their licence. Not perfect because some people will go a long time before needing to renew but it will catch anybody who moves house, has points removed and most newish drivers whose (photo) licence has to be renewed every 10 years.
Figures show that more young drivers are involved in serious road accidents. However, we need to take into account that young drivers drive more.
The figure that we should be looking at is 'number of accidents per 1000 miles driven' for each age group.
A boy racer who has one accident per year whilst driving 25,000 in a year is a safer driver than a 70 year old who has one accident per year whilst driving 10,000 per year.
Statistically speaking.
The figure that we should be looking at is 'number of accidents per 1000 miles driven' for each age group.
A boy racer who has one accident per year whilst driving 25,000 in a year is a safer driver than a 70 year old who has one accident per year whilst driving 10,000 per year.
Statistically speaking.
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