Driving after age seventy.

[hell2bwith76]

Does anyone have any comments to make about the latest plans being made for over 70`s to only be allowed to drive within a certain milage from their home ( 30 miles max i think ?) .Not be able to drive at night . Also to have a tracking device fitted to their car . The new rules will only affect those over 70 who have a medical condition...Parkinsons, Diabtes(the type to require Insulin) . or Seizures.

 

[LadyOnArooftop]

Restrictions for 70 year olds to be in charge of a motor vehicle? seems a bit harsh, especially when you consider the president of the USA , a 78 year old, is in charge of nuclear weapons

 

[megs233]

Does anyone have any comments to make about the latest plans being made for over 70`s to only be allowed to drive within a certain milage from their home ( 30 miles max i think ?) .Not be able to drive at night . Also to have a tracking device fitted to their car . The new rules will only affect those over 70 who have a medical condition...Parkinsons, Diabtes(the type to require Insulin) . or Seizures.

Ok was not going to say anything but having been a passenger ,and push bike rider , all my life i seen some 'oldies' driving and some should of hung up keys years ago. they don't turn heads to check what's on their left . They forget to us indicators . They seen to think we bike riders can read their minds. Their reactions are slower, don't come the on no they not . I now when to admit defeat I given my bike up.
No either give up your car or accept you need testing every 12 months.

 

[hell2bwith76]

Ok was not going to say anything but having been a passenger ,and push bike rider , all my life i seen some 'oldies' driving and some should of hung up keys years ago. they don't turn heads to check what's on their left . They forget to us indicators . They seen to think we bike riders can read their minds. Their reactions are slower, don't come the on no they not . I now when to admit defeat I given my bike up.
No either give up your car or accept you need testing every 12 months.

I agree but limit the test to local area and roads and restrict driving as has been suggested ,to daytime driving within a 30 mile radius of home
I`ve just done that myself without need for a test every year. Never thought i`d ever need to give up driving after working all my life . Now i should be enjoying driving for leisure but the roads are too crowded with bad drivers ( both young and old ) and i know that my reactions not as quick as they were.

 

[Nikita]

Does anyone have any comments to make about the latest plans being made for over 70`s to only be allowed to drive within a certain milage from their home ( 30 miles max i think ?) .Not be able to drive at night . Also to have a tracking device fitted to their car . The new rules will only affect those over 70 who have a medical condition...Parkinsons, Diabtes(the type to require Insulin) . or Seizures.

It should be prohibited if they are a danger to themselves or others . It's an unfortunate thing to happen but safety first.

 

[Clarity]

If you have seizures your licence is taken from.you. I don't think it is at all fair to enforce those restrictions the vast majority drive well and safely a lot less can be said about a lot of "younger" people on the road.

I do think there should be checks more often you cannot rely on all people over 70 realising or even accepting when it's time to cut down or stop driving.

The roads are like wacky races anyway and you take your life into your own hands when your on the road. id gladly give up in exchange for a chauffeur

 

[Clarity]

And As for tracking device, no no no

 

[Percy666]

Young drivers are far worse than the elderly as we know from insurance statistics where someone under 25 is several times more likely to cause an accident than someone elderly. I see awful drivers every day, the elderly often drive too slowly but the tail gater boy racers are a bigger menace so if we are looking at reducing road fatalities they should start from raising the age you can drive a car from 17 as it seems ludicrous you are deemed old enough to drive a 2 tonne killing machine but not able to drink alcohol for eg. The latest proposed legislation is just more silly bureaucracy although if someone has " seizures" they shouldnt be driving at any age so why mention the over 70s.

 

[hell2bwith76]

Young drivers are far worse than the elderly as we know from insurance statistics where someone under 25 is several times more likely to cause an accident than someone elderly. I see awful drivers every day, the elderly often drive too slowly but the tail gater boy racers are a bigger menace so if we are looking at reducing road fatalities they should start from raising the age you can drive a car from 17 as it seems ludicrous you are deemed old enough to drive a 2 tonne killing machine but not able to drink alcohol for eg. The latest proposed legislation is just more silly bureaucracy although if someone has " seizures" they shouldnt be driving at any age so why mention the over 70s.

Exactly. I think the Seizure thing refers to people with Epilepsy ? Some of those only have seizures at certain times of the day ,i think ?.

 

[Clarity]

You have to.have something like 2 years seizure free before you get your licence back, irrespective of when/what time off day you have your seizures

 

[hell2bwith76]

Of course the over 70 population of the UK is increasing rapidly thanks to modern medicines and they possibly spend most on their vehicles (?).
Although the young drivers statistically are involved in more fatal accidents than the old they usually pay a lot higher Insurance for their cars ,so big business is involved.
Anyway , from what i read over 70`s may ned to take a test yearly and also only be allowed to drive up to a 30 mile radius of their homes and not be able to drive at night . Plus they may have to have a tracker installed in their vehicle ; i wonder why that it ?.

 

[Manorgasmian]

Some are a liability but they only cause accidents not be in them themselves so the do gooders will argue their case using statistics and its more likely young drivers would suffer first.

 

[Clarity]

They had a pot of money to find ways to reduce accidents and had to spend it somewhere.

 

[Steven56]

My Dad is 85 he's still very steady when he drives. Rode with him a few days ago, he brakes properly with enough distance . Have no fear or second thoughts about being a passenger in his car. I do agree though there are older people whose reflexes are not sharp, it's dangerous, they probably have no immediate family to offer them help. So they are alone, that's a sad situation. I've seen many-many young speed racers too whiz by me, cut back forth between lanes. Two years ago my daughter was hurt when another drive bumped into her, that driver was texting . Thankfully my daughter recovered completely. My wife life was taken away by a drunk driver who never should been behind the wheel at any age. Difficult to say just maintain a safe distance be alert to all that is around you as your driving.

 

[hell2bwith76]

My Dad is 85 he's still very steady when he drives. Rode with him a few days ago, he brakes properly with enough distance . Have no fear or second thoughts about being a passenger in his car. I do agree though there are older people whose reflexes are not sharp, it's dangerous, they probably have no immediate family to offer them help. So they are alone, that's a sad situation. I've seen many-many young speed racers too whiz by me, cut back forth between lanes. Two years ago my daughter was hurt when another drive bumped into her, that driver was texting . Thankfully my daughter recovered completely. My wife life was taken away by a drunk driver who never should been behind the wheel at any age. Difficult to say just maintain a safe distance be alert to all that is around you as your driving.

Very sad to read about your wife. How does anyone stop a driver from drinking too much ? it`s an impossible task and i`m so glad that i may be older but i don`t drink alcohol at all . Landlords should be responsible for seeing that their customers don`t drink to excess in my opinion.

My kids all say they feel safe when i`m driving but im sure my reflexes are not as sharp as 5 years ago now . So i drive slower ( not silly slow though ) .When a lot of younger drivers complain about older ones driving too slow and potential accidents ,from what i witness on all our roads they mean that i should be driving at 60/70 mph in a 50mph limit ,etc .

 

[RJG]

I am 71 and I am of the opinion that drivers like myself should be monitored regularly to see that they are still fit to drive. My late mother should not have been driving for about 15 years before her licence was finally removed not long before she died aged nearly 89. She was a danger on the roads!