Greybeard Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 The RAC say that elderly motorists are 'safer than younger drivers' - so please get off our backs ! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8618992.stm It's always seemed fairly logical to me that retired people will have more time for their journeys and therefore drive less aggressively and most will have more experience too. An interesting point in the report is that "63% of journeys by over-70s are by car, either as a driver or passenger" - this in spite of the free travel they enjoy on public transport. This suggests that it's not the cost of public transport that deters users but it's the inconvenience, unreliability and lack of comfort that put people off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadingNorth Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 A company whose sole source of profit is from car drivers, says that people should be car drivers? Yes, I'm sure I can trust that as being a completely unbiased commentary. In fact, it's been shown that the reaction times of a 70-year-old are considerably worse than a 25-year-old who is over the legal driving limit. If the elderly are fit to drive, then so are the drunks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavydog Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 The RAC say that elderly motorists are 'safer than younger drivers' - so please get off our backs ! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8618992.stm It's always seemed fairly logical to me that retired people will have more time for their journeys and therefore drive less aggressively and most will have more experience too. An interesting point in the report is that "63% of journeys by over-70s are by car, either as a driver or passenger" - this in spite of the free travel they enjoy on public transport. This suggests that it's not the cost of public transport that deters users but it's the inconvenience, unreliability and lack of comfort that put people off. the one important word missing from this is "some". which realistically applies to any supposed definetive statement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul2412 Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I would say that at least 80% of the time an elderly person is the source of erratic driving, just this week I've seen: Driving over the white lines of the M1 at 40 mph Driving up the WRONG way on Rockingham St Swerving across 4 lanes at rush hour on Park Square All of these were elderly people. Whoever says they aren't a danger is talking out of their rectum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
testydonkey Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 They arn't in many accidents. It's the wake of dammage they leave behind them as they go. the most infuriating thing I always see them do is driving 40mph on the motorway, which IS a hazard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonofAna Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Figures based, no doubt, on the number of accidents elderly motorists have rather than the ones resulting from their driving. If there is someone sticking to 40mph along manchester road, in the 60mph zones, you can bet it's either an elderly driver or the driver of a silver vauxhall Astra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchMilner Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Elderly drivers are being compared to young inexperienced drivers in the report....only problem with that, is that new drivers will get better. Can Greybeard be so sure that his driving will be better in 20 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyM Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I'm not saying all eldery people are bad drivers, but some of them will be used to driving when there were a lot less cars on the roads. Us younger drivers learnt to drive on busier, faster roads so its normal to us. I disagree with the DVLA's policy on renewing an OAP's driving licence. It is up to the driver themself to say whether they are fit to drive. I think pride will make some older people carry on driving when they are not really mentally or physically capable anymore. I dislike 'Sunday drivers' who just dawdle along in their cars, and then get mardy when you overtake them and try to stop you by speeding up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev77 Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 if the old lady in the new blue micra who run me off the road on friday is anything to go by, the i'm all for compulsary re tests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonofAna Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I dislike 'Sunday drivers' who just dawdle along in their cars, and then get mardy when you overtake them and try to stop you by speeding up.. Dunno why they do this. So annoying. And then when you cannot overtake they slow right down again. And just so every one knows - from Wharncliffe side to Stocksbridge along Manchester road the speed limit is 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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