old drivers?

Question

opinions please

Answer 1

They scare the sh*t out of me!
My nan is 85 and still goes out in her Vauxhall Nova. We have now banned her since she has been diagnosed with cataracts!
I think you should hand your license in at 70, you get a free bus pass anyway!

Answer 2

Unfortunately we will all be old one day,and hopefully still fit and able to drive.
I admit i have seen some dangerous driving by older drivers,and have had a couple of near misses from a few.
Mostly due to old age you lose some of your perseption of speed,and your reflexes are drastically slower than when younger.
They tend to pull out when not appropriate to do so,change lanes without warning and drive well below the limit for the area.
These are all just symptoms of old age ,and the body and mind slowing down.
I think everyone has the right to drive young or old,as long as there driving does'nt endanger themselves or others.
I have believed for sometime that there should be so sort of course to be taken every say 5 yrs after you turn 60.
This should not be a driving test,but more of a competance review.
Just say 30mins in your own car with a instructor,just to check your driving is safe and your comfortable with driving in traffic.
This should be say no more than 10 pound,so it is affordable to everyone on any income.
If the instructor is happy then you get a certificate that is valid for 5yrs,on which you will need to retake the course.
If he is'nt happy then then you get a fail sheet,and are requested to stop driving as you pose a danger to other road users.
On this you can take a more complete course,similar to those you take if involved in an accident i believe.
These cost about 130 pounds,if you pass this your back on the road,if you fail you cannot drive until you pass.
I am in no way trying to pick on older drivers,but have seen and heard of what are minor driving incidents that have been fatal.Twice in a city car park ,the wrong gear was selected and they ran over and killed there own partner.
A friend of the family had 3 accidents in 1 week,one he drove through a showroom window whilst a family was stood behind it.
I wish we could all be perfect drivers all of the time,but unfortunately were not and old age adds even more imperfections.

Answer 3

Some are good, some are appalling..... but that goes for drivers of any age. However, I believe in the UK at a certain age 70 possibly, that they have to retake their test.

I think that it should be compulsory for everyone to have a retest every 5 - 10 years or at least some form of reminder/coaching of correct driving. That would lower insurance premiums and help with a lot of accidents. However very old people have a lot slower reactions than younger people and this is an issue. Also older people tend to drive automatics more and as we all know this is where a lot of accidents happen when they stamp on the accellerator instead of the brake.....

My pet hate however is people who don't bother using indicators!!!

Answer 4

Something needs to be done by the goverment it anoys me that the OAPs and middle age get better incurance because they are supposed to have more experiance NOT.

When OAPs were young technology just starting. They cant control the cars we have now cos they are too fast and confusing for them. They drive off in second gear, rev the hell out of the car, cant reverse, some cant bloddy see cos they have not gone to the opticians at all or for a long time, dont look, think they are setting an example by driving very slow and not letting u past attaching F*£king caravans which they cant control (caravans is anouther story), If they do someting wrong they blame you, pulling out in front of you, cant park, so frail some of them you wonder if they can consintrate or evevn have a quick responce (scary), the list can go on and on Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

They are not the safests drivers come to think of it since driving i cant find one role model for young drivers. Some young drivers are cocky and full of S*£T. Some older people are no better and OAPs are the worst.

I am lucky i was driving since I was 12 off road of course and passed my test first time. Since driving there is so many crazy people you have to look out for number one. i dont want to be a sheep and turn in to bad driver but a good one and feel young for years to come experiance new things so i dont turn in to a bad tempred, geriatric old fart.

I have seen a lot of scary stuff since driving but the most i have seen is from middle age and OAPs that have bad at driving. I recon age limit to practise should be reduced and stop the incurance companys seeing young drivers as high risk.

I know not all OAPs and other age groups are bad drivers but there is a lot of them that ARE, they are out there and are a risk to people. Some of these's people think they are safe and reliable drivers dut they are not.

I think this question is all about finding different views not necessarily condeming all OAPs as bad drivers. The proof is in the pudding that the majority feel OAPs are a risk to others presumably by pearsonal experiance. We are expressing an opinion about there driving and not disrespecting them by expressing that fact and I bet some OAPs amit they are bad drivers which i have heard from the horses mouth.

Age group capabilities is a very touchy subject anyway.

Answer 5

Well all I can say is I absolutely refuse to be a passenger when my 80 year old grandfather is driving.I am being completely honest - I have feared for my life about 4 times while he was driving the car. The last time was when he was trying to cross a six lane road and pulled out in front of a semi truck going 50 mph. He NARROWLY avoided being hit and that is when I said that is it I will never drive with this crazy old man ever again. I know I will be old one day but I just hope and pray that I will know it is time to give up my license.

Answer 6

If an area has a lot of old people living there and few young people most accidents will involve old people. So do not take statistics (or everone knows too seriously. I notice someone complaning about 40mph on the motorway. I think that is well above the minumum speed limit for a motorway.
So coat hanger man slow down a lot I

Answer 7

Regardless of the many commemts to the contrary. The statistics say that younger drivers are more likely to have an accident than older drivers. This is reflected in insurance premiums. It is also why Saga make a good profit from providing cheap insurance to older drivers.

Answer 8

Old or young, we are all individuals with different abilities ( you should not `stereo-type` people). Some old drivers are a` real pain`, as are some young ones. I know a 70 year old woman who still drives am MGB.GT. sports car she bought in 1979, she is one of the best drivers that I know.

Answer 9

You'll get a lot of wise (and wise assed) opinions on this one. It effects each and everyone of us.
Most ppl agree that older drivers are more experienced, calmer and more apt to know how to get out of a bad situation.
Others will say teenagers are better drivers simply because they are teenagers and feel invincible.
Ive been driving 33 years now and have never been involved in an accident....my fault or theirs.

Answer 10

Mixed feelings. My beloved father-in-law (dead now) kept driving until he was 92, but he was always having minor accidents. However, he lived in a remote, rural place and needed to get out from time to time. I remember being driven by him once and he said 'Look at those beautiful trees' and we both looked, and of course he went off the road. Now when I drive behind elderly people, I think of him. Old people cannot cope with speed, they still think they are driving in the 1950s, motorways are sheer madness to them. Let us respect old people. Let us NOT think that they should stay indoors all day (or take the bus).

Answer 11

What do you mean old drivers? these drivers need the respect and politeness they deserve, they have probably brought each and everyone of us up, so before you post this question think about the affect it would have on people and don’t be disrespectful