Should drivers over 70 hand in their keys ? - Page 9

LTDHO · 09-09-2016, 02:09 PM

I am very fussy when it comes to driver skill. I note that each end of the age spectrum are the worse (from what I see, not from stats) and both ends feel the licence is a given not earned.

It's scary watching most drivers nowadays. There is nothing that will change this. So just be mindful that these people are out there.

Mercury Bullet · 09-09-2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sox

I reckon we should all just be more tolerant of everything on the road, old, young, bicycles, trucks, taxis, etc.
We're human, and we make mistakes...

This.

Why is everyone so bloody impatient and in such a hurry these days?

Some respect goes a long way...everyone gets old.

Olbucko · 09-09-2016, 02:27 PM

Many drivers today do not have any self discipline, while driving a tram a few weeks ago I counted 18 drivers who ignored the flashing lights and bells on the level crossing I was about to enter. Stopping would have delayed them no more than 30 seconds to a minute

blueoval · 09-09-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sox

My father is 76 and still goes alright.
He has his moments, but who doesn't?

We did a trip half way around the block last year, I drove my car and caravan with wifey, and my folks went with their car and caravan.
Dad did really well, over 10,000k's in 6 1/2 weeks and no one's dead, and no extra dents on the car.

Can't ask for much more than that, and plenty younger folk might not have done as well as he did.

I reckon we should all just be more tolerant of everything on the road, old, young, bicycles, trucks, taxis, etc.
We're human, and we make mistakes...

+1 to this Rick. Well said

NTF6 · 09-09-2016, 04:04 PM

My FIL who lives in Darwin is 83 and recently had his licence taken away for a few months by doctors because he had some bleeds on the brain. Once he was better and the doctor cleared him to drive again he went to the MVR and because he was a senior they said he could renew his licence for TEN YEARS at a discounted cost with no eyesight test or even a new photo. Now he can dive until he's 93, amasing!! and let me tell you from a passenger perspective, he doesn't inspire any confidence!

castellan · 09-09-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTF6

My FIL who lives in Darwin is 83 and recently had his licence taken away for a few months by doctors because he had some bleeds on the brain. Once he was better and the doctor cleared him to drive again he went to the MVR and because he was a senior they said he could renew his licence for TEN YEARS at a discounted cost with no eyesight test or even a new photo. Now he can dive until he's 93, amasing!! and let me tell you from a passenger perspective, he doesn't inspire any confidence!

I am this way about it, f off I am driving and don't put up with any of there rubbish.
The last time it was at night, being driven home, f that never again.

My old man would just hand me the keys and say your driving and I would say no it's ok and he would insist I drive his car, he was a good driver but maybe he did not want to have any sh-t put on him.

paule11 · 09-09-2016, 06:15 PM

Our last Prime minister said the age of entitlement is over , people are expected to work longer so I would expect they would need a car licence.

**Mesa** · 09-09-2016, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Age of driver if known?

Dunno but that post was two years ago. However my daughter who was there when it happened and currently sitting next to me watching a movie said and I quote 'What? How the **** would I know?? I didn't ******* ask. All I know he looked older than nan and pop'. FYI 'nan and pop' are in there mid 70's. The Maitland Mercury at the time reported 'elderly'. Try having a look on their on line archives for an accident in Thornton shopping centre carpark around early 2014 even late 2013. I cant be bothered.
What I did learn at the time was the series of bollards in place to protect the pedestrians from errant vehicles were a made from a thin walled hollow piece of 3" pipe with no fill that easily snapped off on impact. Also the Pheonix House Restaurant in Thornton where the car landed did not have a drive thru nor in store parking. It also has the best Chinese and is one of a very few Chinese restaurants locally that take credit cards and are not strictly cash only.

blackf6 · 09-09-2016, 10:44 PM

When your car has more dents and dings than the space shuttle. You should hand in your licence. Regardless of age.

P5Graeme · 10-09-2016, 10:46 PM

Age should not be the determining factor. Handing in your drivers licence should only be from medical reasons, voluntarily or by accumulation of demerit points. My father, who is 90, still works full time in his own business and has a round trip of 150 km to and from work. No he is not without fault but he is still a good average driver. His doctor or his family will tell him when it is time to stop driving.
My pet hate is drivers who think that it is their God given right to own the right lane at a speed 5 km per hr below the limit and not move regardless of other traffic. This applies to drivers of all ages and both sexes.

barrys123 · 10-09-2016, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackf6

When your car has more dents and dings than the space shuttle. You should hand in your licence. Regardless of age.

I always look at the car I'm parking next to in shopping centre car parks and if it's covered in dents park somewhere else and never park next to a four wheel drive, did this when I first got the RTV and come out and the 4X4 had gone and I had a nice little dent in the tub.

paule11 · 11-09-2016, 02:28 PM

terrible when you park as far away as possible come back 4wd either side you know they don't care about hitting other cars

Ben73 · 11-09-2016, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Express

I followed a driver doing something very similar to this yesterday.

No indictors used for 3 intersections over about 5 kilometre stretch, moving around on the road, having a seriously hard time negotiating 2 roundabouts and driving between 45 and 50 in a 60 zone.

It was a tradie’s Ute with ‘P’ plates and a young fellow behind the wheel with a phone in his right hand held up to his ear.

I hope that guy and anyone driving like him get hit with a big fine and loss of license if they are bad enough.
But this thread isn't about that. Everyone will get to the age where they drive like that with no distractions.

But saying you saw a bad driver who is about 20 doesn't take away from the fact that driving ability will diminish with age.

I previously said my grandfather still seams to be a good driver at 85, but my grandmother was a terrible driver. She got her L's many, many years ago, but she was so horrendous that she gave it up and never attempted to get her proper licence.
More people should be like her. Driving is not for everyone, it's a major inconvenience but public safety should be put over someones pride.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

This.

Why is everyone so bloody impatient and in such a hurry these days?

Some respect goes a long way...everyone gets old.

Not just about impatience. Some older drivers are downright dangerous due to failing eyesight, slow reaction times and general confusion. How many stories have we heard about elderly people smashing through shop windows. Young and middle aged people do it, but not on the same level it seams.

Doesn't matter if you are an average driver, the world's best B double driver, or the world number 1 at rally driving, everyone will lose their driving ability at some stage due to their age. It might be at aged 60, it might be at aged 100, who knows. But there should not be a legislation on giving up your keys at a certain age.
People who just say "Oh just be patient and let them be" are in denial.

barrys123 · 11-09-2016, 11:22 PM

I think that some young inexperienced drivers and some elderly drivers who loosing their driving skills are probably on par and you also have a lot in between the two classes that couldn't drive a nail in a piece of wood at any age. Then you have the hoons that are just a bloody pain in the rse. So there's not too many of us left that should be on the road.
Over here in WA everyday we have the elderly smashing through shopfronts when the put their foot on the throttle instead of the brake and we have the young ones smashing through houses from going to fast. So age has nothing to do with, but it's the ability.

CoupeKing · 11-09-2016, 11:29 PM

Age is just a number. What's the threshold? Plenty a surgeon 70+ save kids daily ( no man-buns).

Dick Johnson,71, hand your keys in mate.

ford71V8 · 12-09-2016, 11:55 AM

Was in a train of cars this morning, all being held up in a 80kmh section, sitting behind a car doing a tad over 50. Frustrating. We all eventually got around him at the next opportunity. Then we hit 25kmh roadworks, old mate drive through at twice our speed with workers waving their arms at him. He never looked like he saw any of it. I'm sure he is a nice fella, but that was 5 minutes of pretty poor driving.

**aussiblue** · 12-09-2016, 01:35 PM

Quote:

here in WA everyday we have the elderly smashing through shopfronts

Hardly daily; not even monthly.

mike_nofx · 12-09-2016, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

Age is just a number. What's the threshold? Plenty a surgeon 70+ save kids daily ( no man-buns).

Dick Johnson,71, hand your keys in mate.

There are exceptions to every rule.

Its why regular testing of over 70's drivers would be a good thing. The Dick Johnsons of the world will pass without issue and continue driving and the ones who have just lost the ability to safely drive will be weeded out.

Express · 12-09-2016, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

There are exceptions to every rule.

Its why regular testing of over 70's drivers would be a good thing. The Dick Johnsons of the world will pass without issue and continue driving and the ones who have just lost the ability to safely drive will be weeded out.

Even a professional race car driver can be unlucky and not age well.

Plus having good car control abilities doesn't make you a good driver, I've seen fellows who can wheel a car better than most but have been nuts on the road.

Tonz · 12-09-2016, 07:57 PM

Resisted posting long enough.
My dad is 97, lives on his own in 4 bedroom, 2 storey house, so you kids can all visit me...
buys new car every 4 years and we are talking BMW, Audi, Honda etc. I remember an accident caused by his other son and that was 20 years ago.
He loves the speed limit gets as sh**y as anyone with slow drivers. Some have said its all matter of attention and brain power.

If you want to legislate, sure go ahead and try getting it through but remember this punks one day you will be in that age bracket, smacking on ya gums, locked away because family dont really care and wondering why you cant drive. Possible though that your own behaviour would prove it, if only you bothered.

This is a mild rant dont get me stirred up. You got no idea

b0son · 12-09-2016, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonz

If you want to legislate, sure go ahead and try getting it through but remember this punks one day you will be in that age bracket

So what? We were all young once too, and we don't cut P platers any slack. Why should we cut oldies slack when they are as dangerous per km travelled?

barrys123 · 12-09-2016, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiblue

Hardly daily; not even monthly.

Read the whole post and you obviously don't watch the evening news or read newspapers, didn't you see the one on the news tonight that just missed a bloke who had just put his garbage bins out. or the one the day before where the old chap got out his car and left it running in drive and when his wife put her leg across to put her foot on the brake jammed it on the throttle and straight through the shopfront, read past the comics.

Spurious · 13-09-2016, 12:29 AM

In reality, ALL drivers should be bi or tri annually re-tested.

Some fool once decided that a "one of" test will cut it. So by default, you can get your licence at 16, then develop & keep the same bad habits your whole life!

How's this for an idea, the world changes, our roads change, the cars we drive are evolving, so why shouldn't EVERYONE be re-tested regularly as a refresher.

I got my P's in a one horse town in '95.
A stop sign, a 3 point turn & a parallel park, that's about what my test consisted of.
My sister got her licence 3 years prior to me & she went direct from L's to full licence.
My mum got her licence in the 60's, & I think her test consisted of pointing her vehicle out to the instructor across the carpark!

My grandparents just went to the local police station, paid a couple shillings & were issued with a bit of paper with their name on it!!!
(This is true as I still have my Opas original paper booklet (licence) issued around the late 50's, & features a black & white photo of him. LOL)

Express · 13-09-2016, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrys123

Read the whole post and you obviously don't watch the evening news or read newspapers, didn't you see the one on the news tonight that just missed a bloke who had just put his garbage bins out. or the one the day before where the old chap got out his car and left it running in drive and when his wife put her leg across to put her foot on the brake jammed it on the throttle and straight through the shopfront, read past the comics.

I’m not getting involved in your argument and I see from Post # 248 you feel that the lack of driving skills doesn’t have an age barrier but I will point out for the other members who may not know that this crash was at Pendle Hill in Sydney and the driver was a 31 year old who lost control whilst speeding.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/32590104...to-bins/#page1

Hardtopxb · 13-09-2016, 09:05 AM

I have been driving for around 57 years and have seen people of all ages do shocking things on the road. I don't think it's a good idea to vilify older drivers. I could start a post berating other age drivers but can't see the sense in doing so..

Ben73 · 13-09-2016, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonz

Resisted posting long enough.
My dad is 97, lives on his own in 4 bedroom, 2 storey house, so you kids can all visit me...
buys new car every 4 years and we are talking BMW, Audi, Honda etc. I remember an accident caused by his other son and that was 20 years ago.
He loves the speed limit gets as sh**y as anyone with slow drivers. Some have said its all matter of attention and brain power.

If you want to legislate, sure go ahead and try getting it through but remember this punks one day you will be in that age bracket, smacking on ya gums, locked away because family dont really care and wondering why you cant drive. Possible though that your own behaviour would prove it, if only you bothered.

This is a mild rant dont get me stirred up. You got no idea

If there was a test after a certain age it sounds like he would pass with flying colours and has nothing to worry about. So what's the issue.

Really there should be a test for everyone every 5 years. I doubt that would happen though.

malazn mafia · 13-09-2016, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackf6

When your car has more dents and dings than the space shuttle. You should hand in your licence. Regardless of age.

How about formal recording of at fault accidents on a driver's record, and x number of crashes and the driver is no longer fit to drive . This should be how the demerit points system should work.

Express · 13-09-2016, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackf6

When your car has more dents and dings than the space shuttle. You should hand in your licence. Regardless of age.

That’ll mean no-one will be able to park in Woolworth’s Carpark where their cars are beaten to death in a variety of ways by inconsiderate shoppers.

Mercury Bullet · 13-09-2016, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonz

Resisted posting long enough.
My dad is 97, lives on his own in 4 bedroom, 2 storey house, so you kids can all visit me...
buys new car every 4 years and we are talking BMW, Audi, Honda etc. I remember an accident caused by his other son and that was 20 years ago.
He loves the speed limit gets as sh**y as anyone with slow drivers. Some have said its all matter of attention and brain power.

If you want to legislate, sure go ahead and try getting it through but remember this punks one day you will be in that age bracket, smacking on ya gums, locked away because family dont really care and wondering why you cant drive. Possible though that your own behaviour would prove it, if only you bothered.

This is a mild rant dont get me stirred up. You got no idea

Yep.

What are we going to do with all these people whose lives we wreck by taking away their freedom?
There is NO public transport outside of capital cities.

I recently saw a national treasure (was a codebreaker at Bletchley during WW2) shrivel up and die within months of having her freedom taken away.
It was a disgrace!!!

If people only had patience...Her fault? She drove at 45km/h on a highway 350km from any capital city...never had an accident. She drove like this for years, all the locals kept an eye out for her, made sure she was ok.

Consider others on the road, help them out by giving them room and some understanding.

This ME generation....makes me sick.

**ebxr8240** · 13-09-2016, 05:12 PM

funny you say that about old slow drivers.. When I was young in country town an old lady drove a Morris 1000 s l o w.. I didn't matter we knew who she was.. The latter she bought a Lancer.. The strange part .. Even if she drove faster ?? Everyone complained... I guess its about perception too ??