Drivers

[loulou]

There are so many bad drivers on the road and I seem to be seeing a lot of old people involved in accidents lately. Yesterday I saw a woman who was atleast 80 crash straight into bollards in Morrisons car park and she was going so fast the front of her car concertinered (this is the part where i want to use a word but completely unsure of its spelling) and she was trapped and had to be cut out by firemen.

 

Ok the concertina word flung me and now i forgot why i started this thread......................(thinking). Ok got it again. My question is do you think there is an age when people should have to resit their test yearly. I say 70.

[smurfboy]

I'd thought for years that you did have to be re-tested at 70 - then I heard about this programme with Jo Brand in which she's arguing for it. I think it's a good idea, alhough maybe every two years instead of every year would be better.

[oldspice]

I think you actually do have to show you are medically fit to drive at 70. You have an eye test, hearing test, heart etc. If you're not fit, you have to do certain things to get to the  required level of fitness. My father-in-law had to do it.

 

I agree about worries concerning old people but by far more worrying is the number of young people who drive fast and dangerously.  The number of crashes involving young people, often resulting in death, is frightening.

 

Because we have long, sraight roads, crossing endlessly flat land, people go at crazy speeds and often end up in the deep dykes that run beside the roads. Last weekend another two young people died this way.  The car was being driven by a 14 year old.

 

 

[smurfboy]

I think you actually do have to show you are medically fit to drive at 70. You have an eye test, hearing test, heart etc. If you're not fit, you have to do certain things to get to the  required level of fitness. My father-in-law had to do it.  

 

 

I knew there was something.

 

I think you're right about young drivers Oldspice - sometimes I see these kids out on the road and wonder how on earth they passed their tests.

[loulou]

Perhaps new drivers should sit a re test every year too for the first 5 years.

[wjp666]

i'd never be able to pass my test again. too many bad habits picked up over the last 12 years.

[Cherry_Ripe]

The worst drivers I know passed first time. Just passing the test does not make someone a safe driver. I think a lot of safe driving is awareness of those around you.

[Scarlet Passion]

Perhaps new drivers should sit a re test every year too for the first 5 years.

That is a really good idea Loulou, and I have no idea how you do spell that word you were having trouble with, but you can tell what it says and that's the really important thing isn't it?

i'd never be able to pass my test again. too many bad habits picked up over the last 12 years

My mum says the same thing. But with more years on the end.

[Pussycat]

An old driver completely demolished my friend's front wall and half of her garden. He told her he was not insured because he couldn't pass the eye test to carry on driving. He was nearly blind.  He had no money to pay for the damamge and she didn't have the heart to turn him in. She's hard up herself but had to pay for the damage.

[loulou]

I would have called the police. You don't know what damage he might do next. I wouldn't want to think he hit a person.

[oldspice]

I agree with Lou. For his own good he should have been reported.  I am not allowed to drive because of epilepsy and visual perception problems. This is for my own safety as well as other peoples. Why should he ignore the law and put everyone else at risk?

[goldencup]

I agree with Lou. For his own good he should have been reported.  I am not allowed to drive because of epilepsy and visual perception problems. This is for my own safety as well as other peoples. Why should he ignore the law and put everyone else at risk?

 

  Definitely!  You can take sympathy too far - I would have reported him.

[Scarlet Passion]

I agree with Lou. For his own good he should have been reported.  I am not allowed to drive because of epilepsy and visual perception problems. This is for my own safety as well as other peoples. Why should he ignore the law and put everyone else at risk?

 

  Definitely!  You can take sympathy too far - I would have reported him.

Happy to hitch my wagon to this star also.

Pity can only go so far, and in a situation like this when the next thing he hits might be a person, or even heaven forbid, a child... Then he should have been turned in without delay.