The Elderly And Their Cars

[JakeyC]

I have countless tales of old people almost knocking me off my bike, forcing me into pavement, cutting me up etc. Is it just me or should you have to retake your test when your getting on a bit, you cant expect an old lady of 95 who can hardly see over the streering wheel to be safe on the roads!

[beefcake]

Agree with re-tests for over 70's. Some will probably disagree, but I think that its a good idea.
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[map]

Currently driving licences are valid until you're 70. Then you need to apply for a new one. Do you mean when you're 70 and apply you should be retested?
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[JakeyC]

yea, i dont mean just go and get a fresh one, i feel a shorter course should have to be taken, which will see if the driver is still safe for roads

[mchaggis]

I personally think that it is the aggressive drivers who pose the major threat rather than old people. The business men in their executive cars tailgating everyone and generally driving inconsiderately as though everyone is in their way.

I've never had old people almost clip me on the way past overtaking me, but I've felt the wind from the wing mirror going past my elbow from Audis and Beamers more than a few times.

Needless to say, there are a lot of riders who fit that stereotype as well.

Of course, as there are so many more dangerous inconsiderate drivers than elderly drivers, and as elderly people are so much easier targets, they'll tend to get picked on. If they're medically fit enough, there's no reason to be ageist.
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[cc123]

I'm right behind this....

Only at lunchtime there, I seen a crashed Uber Merc on THE WIDEST round-about in the world...... Who had crashed, an old guy about 80-odds...

Now how on earth did he manage to hit a pole, 6/7 feet off the road on a BIG, wide, open round-about with 2 lanes other than shit driving!!??

Also, read here : https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=40949

R1-lad I'm sure will also vent his anger here.... Erratic old biddy driving and he's going to cope the blame....
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[nc30 chick]

Do they not at least do a medical or something! There is an old chap where my mum lives who still drives in his 80's, problem is he is almost blind and his wife tells him when to turn the steering wheel! Surely people like this are a danger and should not be allowed to drive.

[beefcake]

Granted, if they are medically fit and can read a number plate from 20/20.5m, then there is no reason why they can't be on the roads.
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[cc123]

They usually are never in an accident but I'm sure they cause a few....

About a week after passing my test, on old lady cut right across my lane (which she had no right of way in doing so) and nearly knocked me off. My foot was actually on the side of her car to help steer me out her way!

Then when I caught up with her to vent my anger, she had no idea I was even there or what she had done! I'm sure they ain't all like that but most of them are...
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[Ste]

Sounds like a good idea, the DVLA shouldn't be in control of it though as their medical group are daft.

[Minky_monkey]

I went out to a elderly lady yesterday, she'd approached a set of traffic lights at a T-junction.

Instead of going left or right, she went straight ahead and drove into a pub!

Another favourite is buying an automatic and putting it in drive instead of reverse and then driving straight through the wall of their garage!

[cc123]

When I get old, I'll be in the pub most of the time and using a bus instead of drving!
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[Minky_monkey]

Perhaps that's what this woman wanted to do.

Unfortunately, she wanted to take her car in as well!

[hantsdave]

Would agree with some of what has been said, having been cut up twice by elderly people for no reason other than poor eye sight .
I think it would be better if they made a compulsory eye test for the over 60.

[mr.z]

Between the many times ive been aimed at by those of older persuasion...

I was coming arround a big roud about, this roundabout has NOTHING in the way to obscure the view, doesnt stop somebody driving right in front of me, didn't even look at what was come from the right, almost as if he was pretending not to notice... this is, had i been my my first bike i would have either

a. not been able to stop
b. shat myself locked the wheels and fell off under the car
c. hit something else instead..

after noticing and continuing to drive at me with the sort of look you get off a small woodland creature just before it hits something solid and moving at a silly speed... didn't even try to avoid/slow down..

Not bad eye sight, just incapable of driving, ANY weather it was because of him being old or just crap i dont know, but its a well known fact that reaction times can diminish significantly "later on in life"

My mum was a driving instructor and holds IAM and ROSPA certificates, the guy who took her out driving had the highest rating certificate.. the number of times they could have been killed had she not pointed out worrying obvious problems/hazards was shocking...

To be honest there would be very good argument for a retest every 10/20 years, there are some abysmal drivers on the road, anyone who has done their test recently will know its bloody hard, allot who haven't done theirs in 10/20 years wouldn't have a chance in hell... might not have any accidents, but i'm sure they saw lots in their rear view mirror...

Agree with you though mchaggis, tailgateing and general bad attitude driveing is FAR more dangerous, not only that its getting to a stage where its expected you will drive like a *wat, i.e. if i go through an amber (without enough space to stop safely) and i get followed by 4, yes 4 cars... worrying it is...
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[jaffa]

[freestyler_onli]

Did anyone see that story of the old woman who drove through the window of an opticians????

[awj72]

[pipnet11]

[mchaggis]

[awj72]

[freestyler_onli]

I take it you mean EUTHANASIA

and not a mass culling of teenagers?

[Will87]

[fliz]

OOOOOOOOOH! Don't get me started on old drivers.. I was driving a car round a small roundabout and an old woman hit me in the left rear quarter as she entered the roundabout and kept accelerating! The woman drove an automatic... She said that she hadn't seen me, even though I was only going about 15mph! When I got out and told her to reverse a bit I had to shout at her to make her stop before she hit the car behind! We pulled up and I noticed she had wet herself and after making sure she was ok I had to walk out in front of a car so she had the confidence to re-join the main road. The funny thing is that when she called me later she whined "I didn't think I did anything wrong." Unbelievable.
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Fliz

[Dom_]

Despite it being slightly unfair, people should be made to resit there tests at the age of 65. They are soo bloody dangerous, i know i could be considered dangerous by my riding style/speed etc. But i'm not trying to be safe, and old people are!