DUNKS Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 (edited) Program on the box tonight on old drivers. What are your thoughts? I fall into that class but am very safe, I rarely drive above thirty mph so when I do hit things it's only gently. Trucks are a bit scary when they overtake me on the motorway. I always stop at islands and apply the handbrake also when joining a motorway. I can also easily read a clean number plate at ten yards. Seriously though what are your thoughts and are we dangerous. From what I see I think a mini driving test for over 70s would be a good idea. An eye test at present is not compulsory and I suspect many old folk dont get tested even though it's free. Edited November 23, 2023 by DUNKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 Why do you apply the handbrake when joining the motorway? That is very dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 dont think a test is needed.............just a letter from the doctor saying you can see and havnt got dementia or some other brain desease...and your arms and legs work if we go down that road of testing everything ...they will apply it to ownership of firearms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriss Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 define old your only as old as you feel. im 70 and imho drive a lot safer than some of the clowns on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 (edited) 32 minutes ago, ditchman said: dont think a test is needed.............just a letter from the doctor saying you can see and havnt got dementia or some other brain desease...and your arms and legs work if we go down that road of testing everything ...they will apply it to ownership of firearms And a letter to say, you dont come fae Nurfuk! Edited November 23, 2023 by billytheghillie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted November 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 37 minutes ago, billytheghillie said: And a letter to say, you dont come fae Nurfuk! Now that's not nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countryman Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 No more restrictions we have enough, it’s the young drivers that are more of a problem than the older ones, or the driver of the lorry that nearly took me out driving way to fast on a narrow road yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 Many drivers don't have the knowledge us older drivers have. I make a big thing of leaving enough room for following cars to pass me on the inside by being just left of centre when turning right from a single carriageway road. I must have done that at least 50 times but not once has anyone taken advantage of it, seem they cannot comprehend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armsid Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 Ditchie is correct having more testing of our health will lead to coming into gun ownership revocation by the back door back on topic how many crashes are caused by older drivers compared to young ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 2 minutes ago, armsid said: Ditchie is correct having more testing of our health will lead to coming into gun ownership revocation by the back door back on topic how many crashes are caused by older drivers compared to young ones? I would say there is more fatal crashes by the younger generation, just my thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted November 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 26 minutes ago, billytheghillie said: I would say there is more fatal crashes by the younger generation, just my thoughts. Perhaps but the insurance companies are taking advantage of whatever figures and doubled my insurance as I am over 84. On a recent renewal I got quotes from 15 difference companies. All were within a few pounds of each other and astronomical. Two refused to quote. I have never had a claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 Insurance companies think the biggest risks are younger drivers, but no-one clamours for a retest after a year's driving, to see if they are still up to scratch. Nonsense like the TV programme is just grabbing a cheap headline. It would be interesting to analyse accidents and motoring offences, including speeding, due care and attention, dangerous driving, drink / drug driving. TV programmes like Police Interceptors rarely feature older drivers - mainly scrotes with no licence or higher powered car drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 I watched my late father continue driving until the end of his life ......... with some concern. However, he did tailor his driving to his (undoubtedly declining) abilities in a sensible way, notably; He stopped driving at night; although eyesight remained fairly good (and easily legal), he got dazzled more easily. He only drove locally on roads he knew. We swapped him to a small automatic (Honda Civic) which he found easier. It worked out fine, but we (family) knew that it should be watched and dreaded having to 'make him' give up. We offered to drive him longer distances (mainly for funerals!) which he was happy to accept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robden Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 (edited) I'm an old f**t but must be a very safe driver. When I look in the rear view mirror, I see lots of accidents that I've just missed due to my safe driving. 🤔 Edited November 24, 2023 by Robden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 (edited) Dunks is a very good, safe driver. It’s his temper that’s dangerous! They don’t call him “Grumpydunks” for nothing! Edited November 24, 2023 by London Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 My late father was one of the wartime generation that was given his licence without taking a test. If you drove whilst in the services, that was deemed good enough. His driving skills were consequently suspect, however that didn't stop him driving until his late 80s. After he ploughed into parked cars on two occasions, we suggested that he got a mobility scooter instead. Surprisingly, he agreed. My late father-in-law, same wartime scenario, was actually a very steady driver, but, in his late 80s, rammed his far garage wall on two occasions on the same date exactly a year apart and subsequently hit a car as he went straight across a mini roundabout that had not been there the last time that he had driven that road. He did give up driving after the police had had a few words. It seems that the late 80s are a good time to have a reality check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 I knew an old lady who treated herself to a new Daimler Double Six V12 for her 90th birthday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 7 minutes ago, London Best said: I knew an old lady who treated herself to a new Daimler Double Six V12 for her 90th birthday! I bet her Chauffer loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 Just now, TIGHTCHOKE said: I bet her Chauffer loved it. Nope, drove it herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellors Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 5 hours ago, Robden said: I'm an old f**t but must be a very safe driver. When I look in the rear view mirror, I see lots of accidents that I've just missed due to my safe driving. 🤔 I'm the same. You get a good feeling knowing you taken them safely to where your going then its up to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 There was an old lady locally (friend of my parents) who drove a 1950(ish) Rolls Royce Wraith limousine right up until she died in her late 80's or 90s. Used to do a lot of driving disabled and OAPs around for charity events, hospital visits etc. Car was immaculately maintained and I heard local RR dealership gave her sponsorship/special rates as the car was used for so much 'good causes' work. She always wore a uniform when driving for good causes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 When I am driving at the LEGAL speed limit, it is NEVER an OAP that is crawling all over my back bumper. Usually its a young Female driver. My weekly entertainment is sitting in the Supermarket car park and watching some of the clowns trying to park. What I find worrying is, they are also driving on the roads ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 11 hours ago, JohnfromUK said: I watched my late father continue driving until the end of his life ......... with some concern. However, he did tailor his driving to his (undoubtedly declining) abilities in a sensible way, notably; He stopped driving at night; although eyesight remained fairly good (and easily legal), he got dazzled more easily. He only drove locally on roads he knew. We swapped him to a small automatic (Honda Civic) which he found easier. It worked out fine, but we (family) knew that it should be watched and dreaded having to 'make him' give up. We offered to drive him longer distances (mainly for funerals!) which he was happy to accept. My mum is still driving at 86. She thinks she is fine but is most definitely not. We have taken her to the doctors for review thing that would decide ir and she is still driving. Her eye sight is ok but her reactions have slowed. Often she forgets where she is going. She is an accident waiting to happen even if it will be at low speeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 Young drivers should restricted to low HP vehicles. Too many high performance cars driven by low performance brains. As for older drivers if they are medically fit then why not ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 42 minutes ago, Dougy said: Young drivers should restricted to low HP vehicles. Too many high performance cars driven by low performance brains. As for older drivers if they are medically fit then why not ? Sounds good to me but they should be properly acessed to make sure they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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