Should there be one? Seems 2 people died this morning. An 87 year old drivetr of a car and a passenger in a van. If i have read it correctly the car was driving the wrong way down the mototway. So should there be a cut off age for driving? Hope i have read the story right. Its just come on sky web.
No age limit for me but re-testing needs to be done on a more frequent basis when the old get to a certain age. I would say a re-test at 65 and then another test every 2 years, its shocking watching some of the old drivers pottering around and they haven't got a clue but on the other hand there are those that are better drivers than a lot of others. There are so many things that could influence taking a licence away like hearing issues, sight, reactions etc. the list could go on. Who on here thinks they would pass their driving test now if they were to retake it again??
Good point, I bet a lot of us would be surprised at our standard (and disappointed at failing!) I think re test every 2 tears for elderly, and re test and safety education every 5 years for everyone
I've become a ' impatient grumpy old git' nowadays as I'm driving in my early 50's and see it getting worse as I steadily age ... come 65 I reckon I'll need to retake my test before I become a public nuisance
I very much doubt I would pass a test now. Having said that, I dare say there would be quite a high proportion of people who, after driving for a couple of years will have picked up enough bad habits to fail.
It does say an 87 year old driver of a car and a passenger in a van, it doesn't say if the the 87 year old was the driver of the car going the wrong way though. Both deaths could have been in cars that were going the right way and then hit. I don't think there should be a definite age limit, but I do think regular testing over a certain age would be a good idea. I also don't think I could pass my test now, and it was only 10 or so years ago.
Something needs to change, i remember my grandparents making the decision to stop driving after they caused two accidents in 2 months a few years back, fortunately nobody was hurt but it could have been worse. see a lot of bad driving from the elderly down here, turning right when you can't, getting confused with road signs etc. Reaction times are the biggest issue though, Agreed with the majority that re-tests need to be conducted after a certain age, people just become a liability
The story is vague at present. I just picked up on the.87 year old was driving a mazda car. A car was driving southbound the wrong way. Not van. No mention of third party. Maybe im miss interpating it.
i'm still learning to be a driving instructor and failed my final part 3 times now so I have to start all over again. When I get a pupil to test stage I say to them to expect the unexpected as there are so many bad and impatient drivers on the road now. In this instance I know I would pass my test again as I've already done it but I know my misses would fail as she is ****ing awful, scares that **** out of me she does
It is very difficult getting many elderly drivers to accept that the standard of their driving has dropped significantly and to make their own decision to stop driving. We have a minimum driving age so I feel that there should be a maximum (maybe 80) to take the decision out of their hands. Retesting everyone regularly would be costly and an administrative nightmare.
Good point smiffy. The test centres would be a nightmare. All the young uns shouting get ya zimmet frame out me way. No idea how old the limit should be. You mentioned 80. Maybe even lower. I dont know. But i do think there should be one.
Cant see it being any more costly than taking a normal test and the only admin side would be sending out test times for those involved, obviously they would have to pay for their test like everyone else. Feels a little harsh to say there should be a maximum age as we all age differently, i'm 52 now and we have a 76 year old working in engineering who is absolutely fantastic for his age, got all his marbles and is so switched on its a pleasure to work with him, be sad to take someone's licence away when they are perfectly fit to drive etc.
No more harsh than having a minimum driving age. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were better drivers than 99% of us long before they were legally allowed to drive on the roads at 17. Their skills didn't come into it.
Sometimes its the lack of common sense that shocks me on the roads these days and age isn't therefore a factor here. I'd hate to be taking my driving test every couple of years when I retire so just shush with that @crumble bungle !! Don't give the politicians any ideas!!!
I'm 77 and haven't driven for 10 years. It's common sense for me as your reflexes go down hill fast as you pass 70. My hand-eye co-ordination is nowhere near what it was when I was a young man. It's all right saying that you can handle a car in old age as good as you could when you were younger but the hard truth is that it is our reflexes that let you down. There are exceptions of course (hence a regular testing suggestion) but a child runs across the road in front of you and that fraction of delay in your reflex action could result in a tragedy. I'm all for regular testing in retirement as there are also health problems too. It's hard for some to accept the fact that they are growing old but you cannot escape it.
I don't know why it is 17, if I am right I think you can have a disabled licence at 16? Maybe something to do with being a mature and responsible person. But where do you draw the line, what is the difference in maturity between 16 years and 364 days and 17 years, apart from the obvious 1 day
Thats the plain common sense attitude to have. The roads these days are ridiculously crowded compared to even just 10 or 20 years ago and one's own response times are bound to diminish wirh age. I'll hate it when that happens. I still love driving and I hate being a passenger. I still have "trust issues"
