Elderly Drivers. Should they be banned?

Question

Does anyone feel the same as me when they stuck behind an elderly person doggedly sticking to 35mph on the open road.
I think that their licences should be taken off them when they turn 75

Answer 1

The only really BIG accident I avoided getting involved in, was with a very old man turning right without signalling, when I was overtaking him. I followed him right and avoided a big shunt. He remained totally unaware of what he had done.

That's one story......

The other concerns the 82 year old gentleman I knew, who used to race his much treasured 1930's Bugatti P3, probably worth well over a £1 million. He wasn't slow, and he was right on the ball.

The fact is, some people are in a bad state at 65, and others are sprightly at the age of 90, and simply using blanket laws isn't going to make things any better.

A GOOD driver doesn't worry about it, and makes due allowance for the potential mistakes of others OF ANY AGE.

Answer 2

ahhh, the old 'lets ban the elderly' rubbish.
as i understand it, they need a doctors report to say they are fit to drive....something the kids dont need, yet the kids drive with drugs in them a lot....and some drink driving as well.
i am not elderly but i drive at what i think is a safe speed for the type of road and the conditions, if there are parked cars in a built up area i will drop my speed to well below 30 yet i see some idiots racing through built up areas as if their lives depended on it.
THIS IS NOT safe driving, speed kills.
i drove for a living for over 5 years recently and the amount of idiots i saw on a daily basis are what made me rethink my driving habits, i was never a boy racer but these people made my mind up about driving.
most of these 'drivers; would fit into the young and into the sales rep categories, many times coming close to an accident then blaming someone else for it.
women and make up while driving are nothing, when you have seen a sales rep driving in the middle lane of the A1 while using his laptop, or another with a full size map spread over his/her steering wheel in the outside lane, people that cut in at the very last second at slip roads, force other drivers to pull over by giving them little choice, taking the wrong lane at roundabouts/junctions because the other lane has one less car in the queue then making people brake as they try to jump back to the lane they should be in.....and sooooo many other stupid antics you would not believe how many and how often they occur, it is thanks to the safer drivers that there are a lot less accidents than there would be if everyone drove like the idiots
whilst i have to agree at some point and to some small degree, as long as they are fit and capable of driving then they have as much right as everyone else.
most only complain because whenever they do 60 or 70 in a 30 zone they get stuck begind some older guy doing 30.
remember, these people have been driving for many years, there is a reason they drive safely.....think about it and get a brain.

Answer 3

I personally dont think they should be banned, but I would like to implement a driving course, not a test, as to see if they are still capable to conform to the eye test and the new perseptive capabilities as to all the new driving regulations. I have seen the elderly stutter at the new roundabouts and they do not know who has the right of way.I would therefore encourage them to learn the new rules of the road, by taking a course of new driving techniques. If then they fail, yes take away their driving licence, and I would implement this at 70

Answer 4

possibly. I know that sounds a cop out but it isn't. I would prefer that all drivers had to have refresher training and re sit their driving test at least every ten years ideally every five. Though there would be a major cost issue in the long run it would save lives and money . Bear in mind that for every single road related death the overall cost is between £800,000 and £1000,000 in direct losses and lost tax revenues etc . I believe that the average cost of a non fatal (injury only) incident is between £10000 and £300, 000 depending on circumstances . So in the long run improving driver standards irrespective of age is the way to go in my opinion.

Answer 5

While I don't think the problem is with the speed elders drive, the problem with elders driving do exist, whether we admit it or not. Drivers who lost their mental and physical abilities due to the age do crash the cars and injure and kill other people.

However I don't agree to one-fits-all approach of banning everybody older than certain age. It's a huge psychological trauma for the banned person, and such a decision should be taken on a case-by-case basis after careful consideration. I think a mandatory yearly driving test after certain age with the possibility of appeal would be a right way to go here.

Answer 6

It amazes me the number of young people that seem to forget they too will be elderly some day. I pity you and feel sorry for your arrogance. As long as a person of any age is capable of passing the driving test...even at the speed of 35mph then he/she should be allowed to drive. Or let's do this....make the age for getting a driver's license 35 so that all the young people won't be able to drive and have accidents and drive insurance rates up! How's that grab ya, Darlin'?

Answer 7

I understand your frustration, however, the speed limits posted are MAXIMUM speeds, except on freeways, I have never seen a minimum speed posted. Certainly, there are elderly drivers that should be off the road, but there are just as many if not more drivers of all ages and genders who should never have been given a license. I strongly disagree that driver's licenses should be revoked solely based on a persons age.

Answer 8

Not banned, but maybe have health assessments or something every 12 months.

This will become an increasing problem, as people are living longer and still want an active life.

Perhaps younger drivers (myself included) should perhaps show a little more consideration and understanding, rather than bullying others off the road.

Answer 9

I personally think all drivers under 21 should be band because when I'm stuck behind a driver doing 35 on an open road it;s usually inexperience teen driver that go past me doing 90 mph

Answer 10

Think you'll find the highest insurance risks are those who've had a licence a few years,stick sports exhausts on their dinkies, and think they're brilliant. There may be an argument for medicals after a certain age,or even regular re-tests for everyone