O/T Should old people have to retake their test

[Icy Gull]

Having just seen some horrendous cock up's made by old driver's on the tv programme Focus and from personal experience on the roads of Sussex, I can't believe the Government has been so slow to make retests obligatory.

A guy gets knocked off his motorbike by someone doing a u turn on dual carriagway. The motorcyclists ends up almost a paraplegic and the driver gets 5 points and a fine and gets to keep his licence.

A woman drives into the sea thinking it's the road home

Yes young people behave like arseholes on the road sometimes but are probably capable of driving properly whereas I reckon a large proportion of elderly driver's haven't actually got the ability anymore.

Is it ageist to expect them to have their wits about them and be capable of controlling a car?

 

[dougdeep]

Everyone should have a medical every 5 years, like us old Truckers have to.

 

[surrey jim]

In my experience its the 17yr old Schumachers (i was one once) who are the worst drivers - old people are just slow and irratating but not as dangerous

 

[The Great Cornholio]

Yes, yes, yes and yes. Didn't bother reading the blurb - just the title!

 

[Yorkie]

So, what age do you reckon old people turn into bad drivers?
The licence goes up to 70 at the moment.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

So, what age do you reckon old people turn into bad drivers?
The licence goes up to 70 at the moment.

It depends - but the test should be simple. If you can't drive at the speed limit, you are not fit to be in control of a machine that can kill.

 

[Yorkie]

I personally think everyone should re-take a test every 10 years combined with a medical and eye test.

I have been driving over 30 years without a single point or parking offence. I tend to drive over the limit on motorways and dual carriageways (when it is quiet) but keep strictly to the limit in built up areas.

As I am only 3 years off being a pensioner I was wondering if I suddenly become incapable on my 60th birthday

 

[Eddie the Seagull]

All old people & females should be banned.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

I personally think everyone should re-take a test every 10 years combined with a medical and eye test.

I have been driving over 30 years without a single point or parking offence. I tend to drive over the limit on motorways and dual carriageways (when it is quiet) but keep strictly to the limit in built up areas.

As I am only 3 years off being a pensioner I was wondering if I suddenly become incapable on my 60th birthday

No you wouldn't - but then you would pass your test!

Some of the most dangerous drivers are 80 year olds doing 15 miles an hour - they may not be the danger but they cause it when people try and overtake. The initial test should be made much harder as well. Too many kids pass with little or no knowledge of actual "driving". Who cares if they can turn round in 85 moves? Can they use proper lane discipline and maintain safe braking distances on a motorway - that's more important.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

In my opinion thats absolute rubbish. Old people need to have medical tests based along very strict guidelines to make sure they are still fit to drive, but the notion of retaking a driving test is ridiculous.

I'm 20 years old, been driving for 3 years and consider myself pretty good, no accidents of any magnitude to date. However, only 3 years after passing my test, there is NO WAY i would pass it if I was forced to take it now. I would have to have several lessons to learn all the little test-standard details, not to mention the precise manoevres that they want. It would probably cost me over 100 quid. I can do all these things absolutely perfectly and safely, but not the way they want it in the test. And without sounding big-headed, if I couldn't do it after just 3 years, theres no way the majority of motorists could. But it doesn't make them unfit to drive in any way.

Obligatory retests would just mean loads of us lost our licenses for no reasons, or at very least we'd have to fork out lots of money to keep driving.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

All old people & females should be banned.

Can I just say that the majority of the worst drivers (Those with no awareness of what is going on around them) are women. But, by the same token, a lot of the best drivers are women too. Probably because they have road awareness but not the machismo that makes males such agressive drivers.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

In my opinion thats absolute rubbish. Old people need to have medical tests based along very strict guidelines to make sure they are still fit to drive, but the notion of retaking a driving test is ridiculous.

I'm 20 years old, been driving for 3 years and consider myself pretty good, no accidents of any magnitude to date. However, only 3 years after passing my test, there is NO WAY i would pass it if I was forced to take it now. I would have to have several lessons to learn all the little test-standard details, not to mention the precise manoevres that they want. It would probably cost me over 100 quid. I can do all these things absolutely perfectly and safely, but not the way they want it in the test. And without sounding big-headed, if I couldn't do it after just 3 years, theres no way the majority of motorists could. But it doesn't make them unfit to drive in any way.

Obligatory retests would just mean loads of us lost our licenses for no reasons, or at very least we'd have to fork out lots of money to keep driving.

If you can't pass the test - you shouldn't be on the road. End of story. Motor Vehicles are deadly weapons and passing a test once and subsequently forgetting all the good habits is not good enough.

I have had 2 advanced AA driving courses and it opens your eyes to habits you get into and the appaling road sense of other road users.

 

[Yorkie]

Can I just say that the majority of the worst drivers (Those with no awareness of what is going on around them) are women. But, by the same token, a lot of the best drivers are women too. Probably because they have road awareness but not the machismo that makes males such agressive drivers.

Ned will readily admit that I am the better driver of the two of us.
Then again I had a lot of experience of motorway driving at rush hour.
I think the problem with a lot of women drivers is confidence, which is not helped by men even in their own families.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I know of 2 blokes of 70 who are perfectly fine behind a wheel and at least 5 years away from needing a mandatory test.

I also think that the quality of driving in this country is generally better than any other country I've been to.

What older drivers do need to be reminded of is a few manners - they are, without doubt, the rudest drivers on the roads. Typically, 50-60%of drivers will thank you for waiting but with the wrinklies you'll be lucky to get 1 in 4 raising even a hand in acknowledgement.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

If you can't pass the test - you shouldn't be on the road. End of story. Motor Vehicles are deadly weapons and passing a test once and subsequently forgetting all the good habits is not good enough.

I have had 2 advanced AA driving courses and it opens your eyes to habits you get into and the appaling road sense of other road users.

I can see your point, but you must realise you would be in the minority of those that would pass first time.

Its not through losing the bad habits as such, and I totally agree that all mirror checks and that sort are incredibly important, but the hardest part of a test is the manoevres, its where a huge amount of people fail. For example, I can reverse park (i think) very well, but I have no recollection of how I was taught to do it. I perform all necessary observations and have complete awareness and control of the car, but I definitely don't do it in the way the test requires.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

Ned will readily admit that I am the better driver of the two of us.
Then again I had a lot of experience of motorway driving at rush hour.
I think the problem with a lot of women drivers is confidence, which is not helped by men even in their own families.

I think it is more practice than confidence. The worst offenders are the mothers dropping their kids off in their 4x4's. They don't signal, pull out in front without looking and park wherever the hell they feel like.

You can anticipate the actions of a boy racer and drive defensively - it's harder when it it is someone as unpredictable as a 4x4 mother or an old biddy in their Rover with their driving gloves on.

If only my job didn't pay so well I would give it up tomorrow. Driving 30000 miles a year is very, very stressful and I detest it. I used to enjoy driving too.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Taxis are as bad as anyone at poor driving. Another bugbear of mine is white van drivers doing 90 plus on the motorway in all weathers...

 

[Bwian]

Current crop of 20 something female drivers are, without a doubt, THE most aggressive, discourteous, lacking basic driving skills, always making a motorway a clogged dual carriageway, phone using useless people behind a wheel I have ever encountered. And because they're female they get huge discounts on their insurance....something not right somewhere. Do they know that the white line means KEEP TO YOUR SIDE OF THE f***ing ROAD?

And now the flavour of the month is for older people to re-take their test? Oy Vay!

I love threads like this

 

[Pavilionaire]

Indeed Bwian, I often find it amazing the speeds some of these girls get up to in cars that are barely 1.2 engine, there must be some beaten up Corsa and Ford Kas out there!

 

[Juan Albion]

Nuns are the worst.