RANT - Old people on our roads

[DDXR6T]

It is widely documented that P platers are a major trouble on our roads, but it seems the media is fast to ignore another major problem which is old people. Before I get flamed, I'm not talking about all old people, I'm referring to the ones who probably don't remember to wear underwear or how to use a toilet properly.

I work in an area where there are pensioners-a-plenty, and some of the ridiculous acts I have seen pulled. Some just plod along, completely oblivious to their mistakes/incompetence and their surroundings. It is very frequent I follow them, at varying speeds ... 50 - 30 - back to 50 - 25. Not to mention the amount of times I have seen an ambo, lights blazing, being held up by a 108 year old in the right lane on a 2 lane road.

The worst one I saw was a few days ago, a old coot sideswiped a new mondeo on a two lane road (was not lane changing, just merely drifted over), the recipient of the swipe tried to avoid this and was clipped by an oncoming car (not overly fast speeds, nothing major). Worst of all, the old lady was completely oblivious to what she had done, and continued along her merry way. I've seen them back into cars, use cars as parking markers, mount kerbs for no reason at all, run red lights (both intersection and pedestrian).

Who thinks people over a certain age should be made to perform a licence review test after a couple of years or so. As they get older, their vision is impaired, their brain begins to go bye bye ... surely having them on the roads is not a safe option. While some people will agree 'P' platers are also a trouble group, Im sure most will agree old people are not focussed upon as much as they should be.

Your thoughts?

[kenz]

I heard on some program a couple years ago the fact that, per capita older drivers have more accidents then the younger crowd its just that there are less of them so it never gets any mention

[snappy]

Originally Posted by kenz

I heard on some program a couple years ago the fact that, per capita older drivers have more accidents then the younger crowd its just that there are less of them so it never gets any mention

Ive heard that as well ,But i think the contributing factor is the fraility of ther bodies some minor accidents can be fatal for them.

It is a touchy subject though i thnk there should be somthing better in place . But in the end it's up to there doctor's to make that decsion. I think older people should be respected even if the only thing they have done is get old.
I think the families of these elderly people need to be more responsible or more acertive if there parents driving is a danger to society.

But i hate to think of the day i would be told i can't drive anymore .

[atec77]

Originally Posted by kenz

I heard on some program a couple years ago the fact that, per capita older drivers have more accidents then the younger crowd its just that there are less of them so it never gets any mention

I suspect you heard wrong , fact is the young are self culling and the old are all to often the young that missed the cull , how about we all have mandatory retraining on tickets ( that's traffic school) and mandatory retraining and testing on two tickets with 5 years and none of the points rubbish but importantly proper supervision of the traffic police.. seems to me certain coppers have a complex...
I recently drove Brisbane to west of Maryborough and back in under 6 hours averaging 100k+ an hour and people were passing me on the straights when I was over the limit.. just how fast do they need to go ?
saw several radar hidden and a lot of colour cars all lit up as they busted the people passing just ahead of me ....

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by kenz

I heard on some program a couple years ago the fact that, per capita older drivers have more accidents then the younger crowd its just that there are less of them so it never gets any mention

Actually, it's because older people don't die as often as the younger crowd.
As young inexperienced drivers overestimate their driving ability as well as the traction of their car, older people simply make smaller mistakes which are a bloody nuisance. This is like the lady across the road who drives her blue Ford Laser at 20km/h down my street and when she reaches the roundabout at the bottom, gives way to cars on her left, and takes 5 minutes to figure out which way she is heading.

Older people need to have routine tests to test judgement, eyesight, concentration, awareness, as well as reaction time.

My mother said that when she reaches a certain age, she reckons she'll just hand her license in, as she finds driving stressful, and would prefer somebody younger (i.e. me or my older brother (feck my twin -he can't even use the oven)) to drive her around when she's older.

My Dad is already a pain in the on the road at 66. His concentration span is abysmal as he is easily distracted by things on the side of the road, or in conversation. As a result, he often veers across into other lanes, misses turnoffs, which as a reaction he slams on the breaks and then takes his foot off, or almost ploughs into the back of the car in front of him.

So I am a big supporter of routine tests for all drivers over 65 at least, as this is the age bracket apparently most involved in motor accidents.

[Supercharged]

Originally Posted by kenz

I heard on some program a couple years ago the fact that, per capita older drivers have more accidents then the younger crowd its just that there are less of them so it never gets any mention

Correct but it is per kilometre traveled, their accident rate is 3 times that of a driver under 65.

[Riksta]

I think that everyone over 70/75ish should be made to sit some sort of "Fitness to Drive" test most definitely.

I also think that EVERYBODY with a licence should be subject to random testing - a half hour to an hour test just to make sure they are up on their rules and stuff.

On Brighton Rd on my way home from work tonight, there was a woman driving, she was probably at least 80 in a small Daewoo, as I passed I saw the difficulty she was having while driving - I think she was looking between the steering wheel and the dash to see where she was going. Definitely not the safest option if you can't see totally clearly out the windscreen!

[DOC]

If i see an older person i back of similar to driving in the rain and give them the respect they deserve. We will all get there.

[DDXR6T]

Originally Posted by DOC

If i see an older person i back of similar to driving in the rain and give them the respect they deserve. We will all get there.

As do I. But can't say it's completely out of respect unfortunately. I know I will get there someday, But still does not mean I want my pride and joy damaged by someone who clearly should not be on our roads. Not for everyone elses safety, but even for their own. I'm sure loved ones wouldn't want their 80 year old grandmother to die in a horrific accident.

[GT0132]

In the two accidents I've had it was an over 55yo that hit me.

My wife had a prang at a roundabout a few years ago...Hit by a P plater at a roundabout. It was her fault as she didn't give way. She was 40 at the time. ...Poor innocent P plater was 18 ....so go figure.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by DOC

If i see an older person i back of similar to driving in the rain and give them the respect they deserve. We will all get there.

No it shouldn't work like that.

If people can't drive they shouldn't be on the road, period. It's dangerous and inconsiderate to drive poorly.

If you make exceptions for people it's discrimination.

If they're sitting doing 50km in an 80km in the right hand lane I will politely honk and if they don't move I will overtake and then go slower in front of them. A lot of elderly people don't know the right lane is an overtaking lane (the law was implemented passed their generation I'm guessing?). So in their case it's not been inconsiderate, they're just outdated. Still that's their fault.

We shouldn't have to tolerate their perception on road laws, they study up and keep up to date with the law. It's like anything in this society, it's their responsibility to follow and obey the law.

I'm a P plater, been on the road for 1 year. If I run a red does that mean I should be exempt due to my lack of experience? No same goes for this.

Incapable drivers should not be exempt from the road rules. If anything they should have to display plates so other drivers know to avoid them from a safe distance.

People think slow driving is safe driving. This results in idiots merging onto the Monash at 50kmph, now how is that safe?

EDIT: Yes I am EXTREMELY intolerant of incompetent drivers. The road is no place for mistakes.

[AUIIForte]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

No it shouldn't work like that.

If people can't drive they shouldn't be on the road, period. It's dangerous and inconsiderate to drive poorly.

If you make exceptions for people it's discrimination.

If they're sitting doing 50km in an 80km in the right hand lane I will politely honk and if they don't move I will overtake and then go slower in front of them. A lot of elderly people don't know the right lane is an overtaking lane (the law was implemented passed their generation I'm guessing?). So in their case it's not been inconsiderate, they're just outdated. Still that's their fault.

We shouldn't have to tolerate their perception on road laws, they study up and keep up to date with the law. It's like anything in this society, it's their responsibility to follow and obey the law.

I'm a P plater, been on the road for 1 year. If I run a red does that mean I should be exempt due to my lack of experience? No same goes for this.

Incapable drivers should not be exempt from the road rules. If anything they should have to display plates so other drivers know to avoid them from a safe distance.

People think slow driving is safe driving. This results in idiots merging onto the Monash at 50kmph, now how is that safe?

EDIT: Yes I am EXTREMELY intolerant of incompetent drivers. The road is no place for mistakes.

100% agree with that. Especially the part about how the elderly should have a plate on their car to 'warn' others.

I was driving up to a roundabout just like everybody else was (I was at the front), and I saw a car (with 2 other cars behind it driving the same direction) coming around the roundabout from the right so I stopped to let it through. But all of a sudden, the car at the front of the pack, going through the roundabout stopped to a halt, even left a little skid mark! The 2 cars behind had to slam their brakes on to avoid hitting the front car and they screwed up the whole roundabout system for a few minutes! When the front car decided to drive out of the roundabout after stopping so abruptly, the driver gave me a very strange look, as if to tell me this was my fault that he stopped...

Who was this? A man that looked about 90 years old with a 90 year old wife sitting next to him!

He stopped because he thought I was going to go through the roundabout! I approached the roundabout ever so slowly too! This was in peek hour driving, so many, MANY people where held up, and I don't know how nobody actually crashed... I call it lucky

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by AUIIForte

100% agree with that. Especially the part about how the elderly should have a plate on their car to 'warn' others.

I was driving up to a roundabout just like everybody else was (I was at the front), and I saw a car (with 2 other cars behind it driving the same direction) coming around the roundabout from the right so I stopped to let it through. But all of a sudden, the car at the front of the pack, going through the roundabout stopped to a halt, even left a little skid mark! The 2 cars behind had to slam their brakes on to avoid hitting the front car and they screwed up the whole roundabout system for a few minutes! When the front car decided to drive out of the roundabout after stopping so abruptly, the driver gave me a very strange look, as if to tell me this was my fault that he stopped...

Who was this? A man that looked about 90 years old with a 90 year old wife sitting next to him!

He stopped because he thought I was going to go through the roundabout! I approached the roundabout ever so slowly too! This was in peek hour driving, so many, MANY people where held up, and I don't know how nobody actually crashed... I call it lucky

I was going through a roundabout a couple of years ago, and the car approaching from my left looked as though it was stopping. It was certainly slowing down. Next thing he went straight into me. Said he didnt see me because of his 'A' pillar blocking his vision.

Now if I'm going through a roundabout and someones approaching from the left but not stopped, I keep an eye on them and if necessary I slow down just to make sure they have seen me and they're stopping.

I can't say in your situation this was the case as I wasnt there, but it does seem as though the oldies weren't sure you were going to stop. If they weren't sure, I say they did the right thing by stopping.

Conversely if you were completely stopped before they stopped, then I agree that they are probably out of touch with driving.

But then many weekend drivers, also occasionally some weekday drivers not to mention taxi drivers, are out of touch anyway, not just old ones.

[aye you]

testing should be the same for drivers as pilots every 2 years. i mean, i can easily kill as many people with a car as i can with a light plane.

[4Vman]

Id rather navigate my way around a pensioner totering along doing 40 in an 80 zone than dodge a pimply faced P Platter spinning out of control on the wrong side of a wet road doing 100 in a 70 zone in his "fully sic" VL turbo because "his terbo kicked in".....

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Id rather navigate my way around a pensioner totering along doing 40 in an 80 zone than dodge a pimply faced P Platter spinning out of control on the wrong side of a wet road doing 100 in a 70 zone in his "fully sic" VL turbo because "his terbo kicked in".....

I am with you here Norm

One day these young uns will be old. Only they didnt fight the second world war that gave them the freedom to have the opinions they voice.

If you take away the license from some of these old people you confine them to a home, especialy with the crap public transport, saying that they would probably get mugged. Might as well take them around the back of the shed and shoot them.

Steve

[bartaxr8]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

I am with you here Norm

One day these young uns will be old. Only they didnt fight the second world war that gave them the freedom to have the opinions they voice.

If you take away the license from some of these old people you confine them to a home, especialy with the crap public transport, saying that they would probably get mugged. Might as well take them around the back of the shed and shoot them.

Steve

AYE!!!!!!!

[eb_5litre]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

I am with you here Norm

One day these young uns will be old. Only they didnt fight the second world war that gave them the freedom to have the opinions they voice.

If you take away the license from some of these old people you confine them to a home, especialy with the crap public transport, saying that they would probably get mugged. Might as well take them around the back of the shed and shoot them.

Steve

So just because some geriatric manned a machine gun turret in the second world war gives them a free pass to possible kill me wife and child in a 'minor' carpark incident?

Nobody is talking about removing licenses from all elderly people at a certain age, its about facing reality and providing a safe environment for all.

[FPV GT40]

Originally Posted by eb_5litre

So just because some geriatric manned a machine gun turret in the second world war gives them a free pass to possible kill me wife and child in a 'minor' carpark incident?

Nobody is talking about removing licenses from all elderly people at a certain age, its about facing reality and providing a safe environment for all.

Old people were young once as well, and without them you, your wife or kids would not even be here....so cut them some slack, I have never seen an old bloke come around a corner sideways and fish tail onto the wrong side of the road totally out of controll, but I seen P platers do it twice in about a week, one resulting in a head on collision with an EL Falcon in front of me, which was driven by a guy in his late 30's with his young daughter in the car.

The out of control young bloke destroyed 2 cars one being a Ford and nearly killed a man and his 8 year old daughter, ( not to mention his girl friend who was in the passenger seat the impact put her head through the side window of the car)so I take my chances with the granny traveling at 50k's an hour, they deserve our respect.

What about the young bloke who killed his brother a few weeks back near Milperra who was a passenger in his car when he lost control and rolled it after doing a burn out, the inside of the car looked like it been spray painted red.

The better driver you think you are, the worse in reality you probably are..

Some 5 yearly retesting after about 55 would be a good idea, I will be happy to do it when it comes my turn, and I think it is too easy and too cheap to get a licence in the first place...everyone should be made to ride a motorbike for at least 12 month prior to getting a car licence... that way natural selection will take its toll and it will teach people respect for other road users.

[eb_5litre]

Originally Posted by FPV GT40

Old people were young once as well, and without them you, your wife or kids would not even be here....so cut them some slack, I have never seen an old bloke come around a corner sideways and fish tail onto the wrong side of the road totally out of controll, but I seen P platers do it twice in about a week, one resulting in a head on collision with an EL Falcon in front of me, which was driven by a guy in his late 30's with his young daughter in the car.

The out of control young bloke destroyed 2 cars one being a Ford and nearly killed a man and his 8 year old daughter, ( not to mention his girl friend who was in the passenger seat the impact put her head through the side window of the car)so I take my chances with the granny traveling at 50k's an hour, they deserve our respect.

What about the young bloke who killed his brother a few weeks back near Milperra who was a passenger in his car when he lost control and rolled it after doing a burn out, the inside of the car looked like it been spray painted red.

The better driver you think you are, the worse in reality you probably are..

Some 5 yearly retesting after about 55 would be a good idea, I will be happy to do it when it comes my turn, and I think it is too easy and too cheap to get a licence in the first place...everyone should be made to ride a motorbike for at least 12 month prior to getting a car licence... that way natural selection will take its toll and it will teach people respect for other road users.

And Ive never seen a P-plater forget which pedal was the accelerator and which was the brake in a carpark..... but thats not really the point of the thread is it. The elderly should be tested more than they are. I was always tought that a drivers license was a privelidge not a right.... being elderly or having served in the armed forces should not grant you a free pass.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by eb_5litre

So just because some geriatric manned a machine gun turret in the second world war gives them a free pass to possible kill me wife and child in a 'minor' carpark incident?

Seems to work for the young ones. How many deaths have been caused by older folk compared to young scum bags that are full of testostrone and only have one brain cell? Perhaps we should raise the legal age of driving to 30, no, lets make it 40. Plenty of 30 year olds are only just mature enough to tie a shoe lace.Twice a year I may see some poor old bloke who is a bit doddery that gets in my way. I just give them the space and thank them for thier contibution to the world I live in. Help them when I can. Every day of the week I see base ball cap wearing bogans driving like lunatics. They should be tested every week in my view.

We dont need more rules in this country. Its a NANNY state already.

Freedom is somthing that should NEVER EVER be taken from anyone lightly. Imagine the stress some otherwise perfectly functional old person would suffer coming under the scrutiny of some insesitive twat like you once a year.

And your total dismissal of those who sacrificed is a discrace. Go hang your head in shame.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Seems to work for the young ones. How many deaths have been caused by older folk compared to young scum bags that are full of testostrone and only have one brain cell? Perhaps we should raise the legal age of driving to 30, no, lets make it 40. Plenty of 30 year olds are only just mature enough to tie a shoe lace.Twice a year I may see some poor old bloke who is a bit doddery that gets in my way. I just give them the space and thank them for thier contibution to the world I live in. Help them when I can. Every day of the week I see base ball cap wearing bogans driving like lunatics. They should be tested every week in my view.

We dont need more rules in this country. Its a NANNY state already.

Freedom is somthing that should NEVER EVER be taken from anyone lightly. Imagine the stress some otherwise perfectly functional old person would suffer coming under the scrutiny of some insesitive twat like you once a year.

And your total dismissal of those who sacrificed is a discrace. Go hang your head in shame.

Ummmm are you feeling ok?

Seems you have a problem with young folk killing people but when it comes to old people they should get the respect they deserve. Even if it they kill people, respecting them is far more important.

As mentioned in this thread old people are more dangerous than P platers, there's just not as many of them.

I will say the worst drivers are from the P plater group there's a low % but decent amount of them who drive like absolute tards lane hopping in their VN stato's. But I've seen a few old people not so far behind them.

[eb_5litre]

My wife was recently involved in an accident in a shopping centre carpark. She was just about to exit the vehicle when a very elderly lady in a Commodore rammed into the back of her car, as well as both cars either side and pushed my wifes car into the car parked in front.
Other people noticed the accident due to the plumes of tyre smoke filling the carpark, this lady still had her foot flat on the accelerator well after impact. She was conscious and talking.... no health problems attributed.
She just got confused and hit the wrong pedal.... then freaked out.

10 seconds later and my wife would have been getting the pram out of the boot and starting to remove my 14mth old son out of the car.... so I have no sympathy for geriatrics who shouldnt be behind the wheel.

It wasnt an accident involving "young hoons" but an elderly person who had no business driving.

The only good thing to come out of it was my mother-in-law was also in the car, had removed her seatbelt and her head went through the windscreen.... unfortunately she walked away without so much as a headache.

[Jason[98.EL]]

just remember you may be young now but you will be old one day unless you stuff up/ or you get stuffed up and dont make it to old age

i voted no btw

[Jason[98.EL]]

and to add to this my grandma inlaw is prob a better driver than most of us she is 87 and still driving with no accident to her name

TOUCH WOOD

[eb_5litre]

Originally Posted by Grimus

and to add to this my grandma inlaw is prob a better driver than most of us she is 87 and still driving with no accident to her name

TOUCH WOOD

And? There would be some young drivers that are pretty good too... difference is they've most likely been tested less than 60 years ago.

I'm all for regular testing every 10 years for all up to 70 then every 5 years, then 1 year accordingly.

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by eb_5litre

And? There would be some young drivers that are pretty good too... difference is they've most likely been tested less than 60 years ago.

I'm all for regular testing every 10 years for all up to 70 then every 5 years, then 1 year accordingly.

actually she only got her license 20 yrs ago after her husband passed away

but i do agree about the testing but i do believe it should only be on the persons doctors advice/ recommendation

[redxm]

I feel it is too easy to get/keep a licence. All drivers should be made to retest every 3 years. And car licence classifications need to be reviewed. Any car over 2 tonnes gvm should be a seperate class of licence, as well as having a light trailer & heavy trailer endorsement.

[Bucknaked]

We had a fatality a few days ago in Canberra where a 92 year old driver pulled out onto a main road into the path of another vehicle. A 90 year old woman who was a passenger in the car driven by the 92 year old was killed. This is what was reported in the paper.

[4Vman]

Trust me.. its far easier to deal with an elderly person who drives slowly in the wrong lane or changes lanes at the wrong time, or wanders on the road..... because they do it S L O W L Y.....
Shopping centre car parks are a nightmare reagardless. Low speed accidents are annoying and inconvienent, but far less life threatening that the high speed stuff.
The elderly have earnt and deserve our respect and understanding, not withstanding the requirement that they too must drive safely...