Pensioners and automatic cars

[sigma]

The other day yet another pensioner (70) driving an automatic car caused a serious accident by ploughing into pedestrians and market stalls in Shropshire. Should they have to surrender their license on reaching 65, banned from driving automatics or what ?.

[northernmonkey]

if cant even drive automatic you expect finding manual no problem?

[milliezoe]

No they should not be banned a test at that age should be compulsory including an eye sight test if ok then they should be allowed to carry on I am about to reach that age and would not have a problem with that I can still run a mile in 8 minutes !!!!!

[SlackAlice]

A somewhat sweeping statement as Roaldom says.

Do agree that a compulsory medical at 65 and every 5 yrs thereafter is a good idea. With particular attention to eyesight requirements.

I'm 62+ and have to renew my PCV licence every 5yrs, subject to a Medical which is quite stringent and exceeds the standard eyesight test for a normal licence.

My driving is assessed at least 3 times a year by independant assessors, more if they think I need it.

[derekpara]

You simply cannot generalise like that. I think I'm right in saying that young drivers (17-25) are involved in more accidents that elderly (60-80) drivers.

I am over seventy and drive both manual and automatic cars. Last year I passed the IAM test and intend to take refresher tests every two years.

However, everyone makes mistakes and some of them result in tragedy.

D

[sandyRoe]

You'd let them drive 'til they were 65? That's far too old. They'd be going deaf, have failing eyesight, and might even be losing their marbles. Stop anybody driving after the age of 50, is what I say.

[beso]

My Dad drove until the was 82 just a year before his death. He was not involved in a vehicle accident in his whole life. As a professional driver during much of his working life his skill avoided several potential accident situations set up by other drivers.

He also ran three full marathons in his sixty ninth year and was still jogging at 80. He was still sharp as a tack until the day cancer took him from us.

[R1Geezer]

The system is fine as it is, it's not fair to impose arbitrary limits. Accidents happen an old people are regularly assesses after 70.

[webbo3]

this happened in Bristol, she was in her 70s driving an automatic.

http://www.thisisbris...9-detail/article.html


Dave.

[Skids]

Every driver in the US has to have an eye-test every 5 years before their licence will be re-issued. We've all seen the films or The Simpsons where there are massive queues at the local DMV office (Patty and Selma regularly turn people down). Obviously that's just eye-tests. What's wrong with us also doing the hazard perception and written test every ten years or so?

[sigma]

The question was posted as" Here is the problem, what's the solution?"

[woofgang]

easy....ban cars!

[TWR]

I would certainly be in favour of the eye, hearing, & ability to drive both, manual/Auto, I am getting to the age myself & on several occasions see the standard of driving by the elderly, they may not be tear ars's like the young, but with respect to elderly many have never taken a test.

[sigma]

This type of accident is usually caused by the foot "slipping" off the brake onto the accelerator and the driver not being able to respond quick enough. It's got nothing to do with eye sight, hazard perception or whether they can run a marathon or not.

[TWR]

Respond Quick enough sigma! 2 weeks ago within our Lancashire area, an elderly person was not quick enough to respond in-turn cost a child & mother to loose their lives, I still stand by what i have stated.