I had a read of an article today in the Daily Mail on line that a survey on the 70's and over saying that two thirds were unfit to drive as their reactions are some what slower and their licences should be revoked.I am no where nere 70 but I found this a little ageist so I wrote a comment in the provided space given on line.
Now I know as we get older that taking tablets is a possibility for one thing and another and some can affect your driving awareness which are normaly clearly labled like "
Do not operate machinery"
.This prescribing medicines is down to your local GP and if these medicines affect your driving skills and you have to take them on a permanant basis then it is up to the GP to releive you of your driving licence.Unfortunately many GP's are loathed to do this for some reason as I think that the GP is irrisponsible for allowing a patient of any age to drive a vehicle taking these tablets on a permanant basis.Having said that I believe that the older driver is more aware of his or her driving skills than that of a teenager.Maturity comes with age and I don't think any of us would be doing"
Doghnuts "
in the local car park or racing around the streets and this is why in the UK insurance is cheaper than the younger driver.
As a police officer I have pulled over far more younger drivers to speak to them about their driving habits than the over 70's.When I have pulled over an older driver it's because they have caused a traffic problem with their driving and have found out that the tablets they had been prescribed were affecting their driving skills, good old GP again. So I think it is unfair to assess the older population on their driving skills doing a survey which was conducted under what paramiters? If they did the same survey on the young driver I wonder what that result would be?
There are safe drivers of all ages some slower than others and just because we slow down a little to compensate as we get older it doesn't mean you are unfit to drive!

morning speedgunner it's the second time i have read about this today. My brother sent the info asking what the heck he is supposed to do then he runs and drives for his own transport company he is 72 and no hope in retirment as the banks and englands finances fell through the floor a few years ago. He would sell the business but no one can raise money for investment any more and closing is not an option when you have put so much time effort and money into some thing and then their are the 30 or so families that would suffer if he laid off his staff.
The govenment can't have it both ways they talk about 70+ not using the roads but they are increasing the pention age. Typical nut case situation of the idiots that run England these days. :Headbang:that's it my little rave on my brother and all 70+ peoples behalf. Goodness i have been driving since i was 17 i am 60 now and only have 10 years and i could loose my license just because of my age and i have never harmed any one on the roads!

As you can see by my forum name "
speedgunner"
and that is exactly what I did with the police before I retired. I think I am in a position to cast a professional view on this subject and AI think to peanalise an age group just for naturaly ageing is an out rage! I went to court on many occasion prosecuting speeding motorists and 80% were under the age of 60 so where they get the figures from I have no idea and I would love to know because I think it is a crock of ----! You are right they are upping the pension age so how do they think that some one in their seventies are going to make a living if they need a vehicle like your brother.The inmates have taken over the asylum!

Oh dear what on earth are the idiots saying now. Providing you are fit and healthy why shouldn't you drive well into old age. But it is only the person driving that knows if they are becoming un-safe and a hazard, but then again there are far more hazards in the youngsters that pass the test and then go on to drive like racing drivers. We have all seen them and been sworn at by them.

i have to correct you speed gunner if the inmates took over the asylum i think we would all be in with a better chance!!

I am over 70. I was driving both scooters and a small car until I was 64. However, it was on a small Greek island with little or no roadsigns or highways. Only had to watch out for Italians in tourist season. When I arrived in Bulgaria I quickly realised that I would not like to drive on the roads here because of the speed and road signs. I took 2 driving lessons on a holiday in Britain and could still function well, in fact my instructor was amazed at how I could do a hill start without stopping using the clutch. He also told me that changing down at a roundabout would fail me in a test because you are now supposed to just use brakes. How many of you know that??? His main concern about my driving was that I was too cautious on the motorway. I do not own a car in Bulgaria and my partner doesn't drive a car either. We manage quite well with public transport or the occasional taxi.
Having said all this, I did renew my licence when I became 70 because it can be useful for ID and I may sometime hire a car. On the renewal form which I need to renew now I am nearly 73 there are questions about health and eyesight and I need a new photograph. It only lasts another 3 years so surely those safeguards are enough to prove safety on the roads? I don't think I will ever buy a car again because the costs of insurance, MOT and of course, fuel is beyond my budget. My family are very happy that I do not drive anymore although I have driven since I was 17 without any serious accident or insurance claim.
Just more ageist rubbish.

I agree many older people are fit, able and more than capable of driving and see no reason why they should be prejudiced against. However I think the police should be allowed to confiscate the license of anyone regardless of age that posses a liability on the road. As a child we has an old lady drive through the front of our house, causing an emense amount of damage. Because she had got confused between the excelarator and brake when coming out of the carpark oposite.

Now that is what I am talking about when an older person gets confused between a throttle and a brake! These older people who are or can get into a confused state must have family or see a doctor at some point who would recoginise this problem as it would not only be driving that would be affected.I can recall an officer who sat near a round about near Salisbury watching this old boy constantly going around for about five minutes.The officer pulled him over and asked if he was lost and he told the officer he was not he was looking for the sign to Salisbury. As plain as day a sign for Salisbury was showing which had the officer worried and asked the old boy to read the sigmns and he couldn't! Now this is where doctors fail in their duty of care by not spotting this or the family and allowing him to drive.
This is possibly the persons that this so called acid test had taken place with and not the likes of Oldun who are perfectly capable of driving as it is tarring with the same brush.

tonyb60 wrote:

.
..
. But it is only the person driving that knows if they are becoming un-safe and a hazard, .........

Sorry but I totally disagree with that.
The problem with some people is they just do not realise how bad their driving is and they still think they are the worlds best driver.

For me, when I say I have no trouble parking then I will need reminding of this post simply because I class myself as one of the worlds worst parkers.

Phil-H wrote:

tonyb60 wrote:

.
..
. But it is only the person driving that knows if they are becoming un-safe and a hazard, .........

Sorry but I totally disagree with that.
The problem with some people is they just do not realise how bad their driving is and they still think they are the worlds best driver.

For me, when I say I have no trouble parking then I will need reminding of this post simply because I class myself as one of the worlds worst parkers.

Yes Phil maybe what I should have said was 'They Should know' unfortunately i do know people that are as you say The Worlds Best Drivers (not).

I'm not going to agree or disagree with the last couple of posts, but in all honesty, who amongst us, if asked, would admit to being a 'less than good, safe driver'? I've been driving for just over 54 years and have driven all sorts and sizes of vehicles in many different countries under many conditions, so it would be fair to say that I'm an experienced driver..I would never describe myself as a good driver, but might say that I'm a safe one.

bgbazz wrote:

I'm not going to agree or disagree with the last couple of posts, but in all honesty, who amongst us, if asked, would admit to being a 'less than good, safe driver'? I've been driving for just over 54 years and have driven all sorts and sizes of vehicles in many different countries under many conditions, so it would be fair to say that I'm an experienced driver..I would never describe myself as a good driver, but might say that I'm a safe one.

Surely it would be wrong to ban all drivers over 70 because a few have been found to be irresponsible? The safeguards are there as I said by having to renew a licence every 3 years and admit any of the listed serious illnesses or bad eyesight in which case you may be asked to go before a medical examiner before being re-issued with a licence.