I'd sooner see dick heads banned from driving than old people. Someone driving a little slow I can handle, it's people who tailgate, block people merging, drive recklessly, don't indicate etc etc who deserve a ban.
People who tailgate are genewrally tailgating because the old fart doing 70 in a 100 zone is blocking mergers, not indicating and keeping right when not overtaking. I'd rather see corolla drivers banned myself At the start of every long chain of cars on the great ocean road is a bloody corolla or camry
I'd support it. Older people might be the cause of some of the road rage from other drivers. I know I get frustrated with (generally) older people taking way too much time to pull over, or turn, or whatever. I also dislike the whole "respect your elders" theory when it makes them believe they own the road. I have respect for the older generation, but FFS don't abuse it.
I'm not 80 but I have to smile when some young hoon choofs past me @ 20 or 30 over the 100 or 110K limit and I drive past a few Ks later and there he/she is, with your friendly neighbourhood Highway Patrolman writing furiously in his little book. Or just upside down in a paddock. I know then that my driving on or near the speed limit has saved me another few hundred or few thousand, dollars. Just another thought, I can't drive on any freeway or tollway at the speed limit without constantly being overtaken. Lots of people with lots of money to waste by donating to the state government
Had that happen to me on Friday on my way home from work. 110 zone old bloke in front of me doing 85 in the far right lane refusing to change into the left lane. Myself and 10+ cars forced to overtake him on the leftside. What really shits me though is when you get a group of these asshats in all four lanes creating a rolling barricade. I don't think all old drivers should be banned. They should have annual testing over the age of 65+ though.
I find another problem is these grey haired warriors often do stupid things for there idea of a better world. For example took off a little silly at the lights some old bird thought right I will show this hoon. Slows to around 40 in a 60 zone I came up pretty close (I was never speeding) so what does she do. Bang! Try's to brake check me. Too bad I didn't stop and she quickly sped up. Yeah I know I shouldn't have been so close but ffs I hate when people drive slow to try annoy a "hoon"
One morning on my way to work I took off from the lights leading to a freeway on-ramp, I gave it a little bit but nothing stupid or illegal, come around a blind corner to see an old bloke (looked maybe 85) coming towards me!!!!! This dopey old prick in all his wisdom had decided he didn't want to take the freeway so must have done a u-turn to head the wrong way off the on-ramp. Luckily for me there wasn't a car in the left lane and I managed to aviod this senior. Funny thing is he had a look on his face as though I was in someway endangering his life!!!! The probolem with old people is the realise that don't have that much longer left and only think about themselves. Have you had a conversation with an 80+ year old recently? They are always very onesided conversations
The problem as well is a lot has changed since most older people have gotten there licences. Let's not forgot 60 or so years ago car's were no where near as big or powerful as they are now. Also traffic has increased, road rules have changed etc,
Not all 60 y/o people are bad drivers. My granddad is 73 and is one of the safest drivers I know. He knows all his road rules, does the speed limit and can drive a hell of a lot better than most of the 20 y/o males I've seen driving around. I would def agree with 80 y/o drivers being banned or at the very least having to pass a driving test to keep their license.
Retesting after a certain age to ascertain competence, sure but not arbitrarily ban at a particular age. There are many competent elderly drivers. No, their reactions aren't going to be as sharp as someone in the prime of youth but they don't have the recklessness of youth either. Licencing based on tested competence please.
Put it this way - If you couldn't trust the person in question, be it for eyesight, reflexes, whatever - to be your wingman in a gun fight or at the bar, then take their license off them. Cars are more deadly that guns or girls. /wink
Nah, it's the hero/wannabe Ken Block WRX drivers people should be worried about, Corolla drivers ain't hurting nobody.
I love these threads. Young)(er) drivers slagging off at the old farts. I agree that many old(er) drivers are incompetent, irrational or just plain stupid and shouldn't be allowed near a driver's seat, but when all you young(er) drivers eventually reach that age (if you do), I wonder how you would react to being told you were no longer fit to drive? The elderly "generally" are aware of their limitations and drive accordingly. The problem is, they are self-immersed and blissfully unaware of the effect their presence on the road is having on other road users. They don't mean to get up your nose, they just lack the confidence, reflexes or physical ability to drive as briskly as they used to. I agree that the standards of driver testing for all ages is deplorable, and that older drivers should undergo much more stringent medical and driver ability testing, but that can apply to most age groups, particularly when it comes to attitude, skill, reaction times and knowledge of the rules. Age-based testing at 60 is a bit harsh. I think 70 onwards is more appropriate, with annual tests of medical condition, rules knowledge and driver ability. Perhaps doctors should also be compelled to provide medical reports to the traffic authorities when a patient of any age has any medical condition that can lead to an accident, instead of the present system which is too lenient. And a note to Minux - re his long queues held up by Camry's or Corollas - chances are more than even that it will be an old fart driving anyway - they just looooove Toyota's!
All i repeat all of the senior drivers i have come across whilst in italy can handle themselves very well. i don't at all think there should be an outright ban on drivers over eighty, just impose more testing to ascertain whether they are competent enough to drive safely. A lot of people over here are unhappy with the way the government does things, i think this will just add to their grief. The Alpha driver whom overtook me on a blind corner at high speed (narrowly missing being cleaned up) is the one that should be taken off the road.
my grandparents just recieved a letter in the mail saying they both had to go to their doctor and get medical proof that they are fit to drive. they are both just over 70. the "driving ban" should be on ability, not age.
