100 Year Old Drivers....

[ToraToraTora]

Anyone see the TV program last night? there are apparently nearly 200 drivers on the road over 100 and about 10000 over 90! eek Now I'm not one to say they should be stopped at some arbitary age but I think they should have to have some sort of test. The ones last night, even the one that had a driving assesment, look down right dangerous to me. Stilll I can see the freeedom it gives them and to be fair they are no worse than a lot of youngsters. Gawd knows how they get insurance!

[McMouse]

There are numerous drivers under the age of 20 around here who are infinitely more dangerous.

[SirOracle]

They get insurance because they have been insured for years without making claims !!!

[TWR]

We are all going in that direction T.T.T but I think with respect to the very elderly, I think they had better call it a day.

[kvalidir]

Some real old sweeties on there, and I'd hate to be the one to take their freedom away but I do know what you mean, a few were wandering all over the road a bit. Still I hope I make it to 100 and I hope I'm still as awesome as some of these oldies, I think they were great.

[carrust]

The guy on my neighbouring allotment is 96 & still driving. I followed him a couple of weeks ago & his driving was perfect. I think some drivers on the road should have lessons off him!

[Retrochic]

Considering that most if not all will never have taken a driving test I think they are a danger to the roads, just as bad, if not worse than youngsters. Loacally a 86 year old women was responsible for a major accident in which two children were seriously injured. Her children had begged her to give up her car to no avail. She hit the family head on on a straight dry road with good visibility, no one knows why.

[TWR]

Was that the one in Accrington Retro?

[ladybirder]

I watched it with great interest. The day I have to stop driving is the day i reckon I'll just give up on life. I wonder how many of those calling for the elderly to be taken off the roads will change their minds when they are old themselves. Me, I'm a better more careful driver now, not in such a hurry to get where I'm going as in my younger days. And my observations are that it's not the oldies who are driving around whilst on their mobile phones.

[Retrochic]

TWR - No

[Retrochic]

ladybirder, you've hit the nail on the head -'not in such a hurry' -doddering around (not directed at you personally) at 40 mph everywhere with lines of vehicles behind them oblivious to the fact its no longer 1955

[TWR]

Lady, are you saying, If you know you are a danger to other road users / Pedestrians, you would STILL DRIVE?

[BlueToffee]

My friend was left tetraplegic after being knocked off her bicycle by and 89 year old. There should be vigorous annual tests for over 75s.

I turned 70 this year and am in the process of organising an assessment with the IAM, fingers crossed I pass!

[ladybirder]

No retro I meant not breaking the speed limit as I have been known to do in the past.

[ladybirder]

@TWR, No of course I'm not.

[agchristie]

TTT - I posted a thread about this programme last night in Media/TV 0:)

[TWR]

Lady, the person's in that program do not realise the effects it has on following drivers! I have seen this in my own HGV Driving days " Impatient" Drivers cause accidents, this CAN be caused by the person in front especially person's like the one's in that program last night, did you notice the build up of traffic behind one of the drivers?

[Old_Geezer]

Going to lock them up when caught for driving with no insurance, tax, etc ? That'll learn 'em.

Anyway I thought oldies did have to take tests every now & again, don't they ?

No I didn't watch the programme, it doesn't sound like entertainment.

[hc4361]

In 2012 there were 3,768,699 drivers over 70 in the UK.

If these were to have a driving test every year there would be 10,325 driving tests every day of the year, including Christmas Day.

It is, simply, impossible.

Even if we test the over 80s, there were 1,012,399 drivers on the same date. That would be 2,774 tests every day.

In the year 2012 there were 1.43 million practical car tests so to test every over 80 driver would almost double the number of driving tests a year. To test every over 70 would more than treble the number.

Can't be done.

[hc4361]

OG, no, over 70s do not have take tests even when they reach 100. They just self certificate that they are fit to drive.

[Old_Geezer]

But one could pull over those who are apparently not coping well and hand those few an obligatory test requirement.