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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,033
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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? |
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#2 | |||
BOSS Pilot
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: on the loud pedal! Brisbane
Posts: 6,020
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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
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#3 | ||||
Captain Malcolm Reynolds
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 3,830
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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!
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#4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,409
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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.
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#5 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,033
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#6 | ||
The Origional, The Best
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Darwin, NT
Posts: 709
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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.
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#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 14,654
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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".....
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#8 | ||
It'll Buff Out.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Newcastle NSW
Posts: 1,298
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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.
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When life hands you lemons, take them. Free stuff is awesome. |
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#9 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: GEELONG
Posts: 7,946
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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
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#10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: GEELONG
Posts: 7,946
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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
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#11 | ||
64 Deluxe 4 door
![]() Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Raxacoricofallapatorius
Posts: 10,348
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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.
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#12 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ACT
Posts: 11,647
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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.
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#13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 14,654
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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...
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#14 | |||
It'll Buff Out.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Newcastle NSW
Posts: 1,298
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Quote:
I'm all for regular testing every 10 years for all up to 70 then every 5 years, then 1 year accordingly.
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#15 | |||
It'll Buff Out.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Newcastle NSW
Posts: 1,298
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Quote:
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#16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Rockingham
Posts: 559
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Not all elderly people are bad drivers, but unfortunately, as the years roll past, eye sight, hearing, motor skills etc slowly diminish so I think a basic physical similar to a pre-employment physical would be a good idea.
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#17 | ||
It'll Buff Out.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Newcastle NSW
Posts: 1,298
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Just to clarify.... I dont mind the elderly (or anyone) driving slowly/cautiously... I just drive around them. What I do mind is when they cant tell the difference between the accelerator and the brake.
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#18 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 38
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Quote:
we have all had close calls while drifting. in all seriousness yes i think we need to filter all drivers. |
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#19 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Geelong
Posts: 2,374
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Quote:
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 . |
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#20 | ||
Regular Schmuck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,640
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All the bias aside about all the other drivers on the road...
I think it is a reasonable idea for the aged to submit to yearly tests to their ability to share the road. Age is never kind to us humans, and as time goes on, things start failing. |
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#21 | ||
Clevo Mafia Inc.
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,496
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Elderly people have regular checkups with their Doctor.
Perhaps the GP's could notify Vic roads etc a test should be taken when they notice any physical/mental impairment that may affect driving ability or reaction time. This would save most of them from having to deal with regular testing. |
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#22 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 13,381
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In my day to day experience, I find older drivers much more dangerous than P platers.
Personally I think every driver should have to pass some sort of assessment before renewal regardless of age. |
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#23 | ||||
Cane Farmer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tom Price, WA
Posts: 4,056
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Quote:
God dammit. And I agree with the others in this thread. Drivers should be retested every few years. Or perhaps. Driving test to L's, Driving Test for P's and then driving test for opens then every 5 years.
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#24 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Miranda, NSW
Posts: 6,771
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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.
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#25 | ||
Oo\===/oO
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 11,348
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I always be careful at round abouts if i see some elderly people, they don't like to stay in their lane...other then that there is the sudden jump on the breaks, confusion on indicator rules and the annoying things like breaking 20m's out from an intersection and what not. But every driver is as bad as each other always got to look at what they are doing keep an eye on their head to make sure they are looking.
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#26 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,167
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This from NSW RTA website;
Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal announced on 3 April 2008, reforms to the licensing system for older motorists which will keep over-85 drivers safe on NSW roads. The key reforms are: Annual medical check-up from the age of 75 to pick up issues like deteriorating eyesight and dementia earlier Redesigning the over-85 driving test and making it more practical, with testing every two years Introduction of the option of driving assessment through accredited driver training organisations like the NRMA and the Australian Driver Trainers Association Maintaining modified licence options for over-85 drivers The establishment of an Older Drivers Implementation Panel to introduce reforms. My own belief is that full testng should be for over 75s not just a medical, every 2 years and every year over 80.
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#27 | ||
Oo\===/oO
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 11,348
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voted yes BTW.
I'ld say that their is just as much at fault accidents caused buy elderly as there is P-platers. Usualy stuff like gas instead of break reversing into objects misjuding distances. An truthfully i've seen more near accidents from the elderly the P platers. P Platers are on par with 4WD owners...
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#28 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,320
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I completely agree that drivers need to be tested regardless of age (although more frequently as the years pile on) as there are some absolutely atrocious drivers on the road.
As for doctors writing letters to the transport dept about drivers being unfit to drive - This happened a few years back when my grandfather was driving and constantly having accidents and the doctor wrote a letter and fill out a form which was sent to the RTA (I think) In any case he didn't have his licence for much longer once said letter was written. |
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#29 | ||||
335 - STILL THE BOSS ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melb East
Posts: 11,421
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Quote:
Could I just re write some of the above and see if the 'rant' still fits though? Quote:
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#30 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: WA, Perth/ Pilbara
Posts: 2,473
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regular testing of drivers LMAO, yeah right!
I remember a Apprentice at work saying he had to book 3 weeks in advance for a driving test, so lets see how the system copes when thay need to test like 15,000,0000 drivers over 3 years!!! No chance. Not to mention the standard driving test don't test you ability to drive a car. anyone who reckons they would pass a driving test who have held there license for over 1 year I think you are in for a shock!
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