In May this year there was a posting on Senior Drivers having to take a medical after age 75. I just stumbled across this information by accident as I was looking something up on the Services Tasmania website: Note the requirement for drivers over 85 and over !!!

Grams · Guru

Elderly Drivers

johnq · Guru

We all must realise that the media make the news.

That is obvious when you realise for example, that it is very unlikely that a journalist would luck it to be on hand with a photographer when an event is happening unless that event was pre-scheduled. They also have the stories they regularly pull out of the drawer, buff up and give a run. Stereotyping is useful as the 'shorthand' to set the scene and gee-up the interest.

Similarly they scour news from around the world not only to fill columns and ten second grabs on TV, but also to set up a similar story line here. Gays and guns are favourites, to take a couple of instances and it doesn't take much of a spin with the wooden spoon to get the usual suspects, activists and the talking heads, to 'contribute'. It is all predictable stuff, but some believe it and some need to get their shot of adrenaline through being angry, shocked and so on. A cheap fix - but also obtainable by getting out and enjoying life (maybe that take some effort though).

Then there are all of the puff 'stories' available that arrive in the form of packaged paras and photos even headlines, from individuals and organisations with what is so often a secondary agenda. For example, the media show as their own photos and footage and even word for word, the media releases they are given. I can give examples of 'reports' with photos from Defence which were presented as today's news and product of the news outlet's own reporting, where the stories, word for word and the photos were sent oput by Defence months, sometimes years, earlier. BTW, defence recruitment advertising is aimed 90% at preserving Defence funding from government and 10% or more likely less, at recruitment.

I will not comment on those who want more regulation of driving except to reiterate what I have said before, that laws should be based on evidence, and evidence of need and of measurable outcomes at that.

Most here must reel in disbelief at politicians who claim as evidence of their 'productivity', the claimed 700+ laws passed during their term of government. Honestly now, what the damn hell is going on that we need over 700 new laws to regulate our behaviour? I would regard it as more proof that politicians are actually doing something if they reviewed and abolished regulations.

If it is useful to know, 'Statist' is the descriptive adjective word and ideology of those who believe that the State should be regulating and controlling our lives. We have seen a lot of it over the last decade or so. See here,

aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/statism.html

-- Edited by johnq on Monday 7th of October 2013 10:14:07 PM

Big Gorilla · Guru

In May this year there was a posting on Senior Drivers having to take a medical after age 75. I just stumbled across this information by accident as I was looking something up on the Services Tasmania website: Note the requirement for drivers over 85 and over !!!

Senior licence holders

Description

There are certain requirements that relate to senior licence holders.

65 years and over

Customers are not required to pay the full fee for their licence renewal - only pay for the cost of the photograph.

75 to 84 years

A medical examination is required of customers every year to make sure that they continue to be medically fit to drive.
Licence holders will be notified by the Registration and Licensing Branch when their examination is due.

85 and over

In addition to the annual medical requirement a driving test is also required of customers to ensure they are able to drive safely.
Licence holders will be notified by the Registration and Licensing Branch when their test is due.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I have always been an advocate for both Road Rule Tests and Driving Tests for all licence holders from age 25 onwards - One year following granting of licence - Road Rule re-test.

Second year after granting of licence - Driving re-rest. This process then just keeps repeating for the rest of the driver's life.

That would keep everyone up-to-date on rules and their ability to actually control the vehicle - not just drive it.

And to perhaps further stir up debate - I am also an advocate for the granting of a L 'licence' to be more detailed than now - with some understanding of the 'dangers' of driving. What we do for our "full licence" to be what grants a "red P" ... and further 'advanced/defence' driving test before granting of a "full licence".

Interestingly, the majority do not seem to agree with me hmm

Cheers - John

Landfall · Guru

Big Gorilla wrote:
In May this year there was a posting on Senior Drivers having to take a medical after age 75. I just stumbled across this information by accident as I was looking something up on the Services Tasmania website: Note the requirement for drivers over 85 and over !!!

Senior licence holders
Description
There are certain requirements that relate to senior licence holders.
65 years and over
Customers are not required to pay the full fee for their licence renewal - only pay for the cost of the photograph.
75 to 84 years
A medical examination is required of customers every year to make sure that they continue to be medically fit to drive.
Licence holders will be notified by the Registration and Licensing Branch when their examination is due.
85 and over
In addition to the annual medical requirement a driving test is also required of customers to ensure they are able to drive safely.
Licence holders will be notified by the Registration and Licensing Branch when their test is due.

Unless things have changed in the last six months, this information is incorrect.

As a retired driving instructor in Tasmania (retired six months ago) the 85 and over licence test was abolished. Statistics showed that the number of 85+ drivers involved in accidents was to low to be of concern. If the 85+ are involved in an accident or stopped by the police for any reason, they can be (and usually are) required to do another driving test, when notified by the Commissioner of Transport.

I will follow it up though.

IMO all licences should be for a five year period and a driving and road rule test conducted before renewal.

Ken

Legendts · Senior Member

Grams, agree, the doctors, optometrists and whoever else signs off for licences should be held accountable.

John I also agree with your comment. I would not be happy having to sit for my licence again but know deep down I would be more knowledgable of the rules. The biggest issue I see is the differing rules between states so would want to see a standardised national licence system with the same rules in every state.

The spate of older drivers hitting the accelerator lately is almost unbelievable and it's a wonder no one has been killed. It is time for change.

rockylizard · Guru

Legendts wrote:
~~SNIP~~

The spate of older drivers hitting the accelerator lately is almost unbelievable and it's a wonder no one has been killed. It is time for change.

Gday...

Despite my earlier comments advocating the 're-testing regime' ... it does need to be remembered that the only reason, and I do think the only reason, we think there are so many 'elderly drivers' having so many accidents lately is the MEDIA is reporting them.

Statistics still show that the % of drivers over 70 have far less accidents than any other age group in the community. The 'news' of "another old person is a whacker" feeds the general populace and helps to engender ANOTHER myth. Sells papers though ... and makes for interesting chatter around the campfire (or forum )

Cheers - John

hako · Guru

Legendts wrote:
SNIP

The spate of older drivers hitting the accelerator lately is almost unbelievable and it's a wonder no one has been killed. It is time for change.

Not sure where you got that information from but from what I've seen it's reported maybe once or twice a year in Queensland. smile

Bryan · Guru

I would like to see some statistics, for example percent of accidents within defined age groups before any law is passed and action taken. The percentage will equalise the diverse number of people in each age group.

landy · Guru

I think the idea that anybody should be retested, purely on the basis of age, highly discriminatory. If a driver is going about their daily business without having accidents, being booked for driving infringements or bringing themselves to the attention of the traffic authorities, they should be left alone. The rest of the motoring public has to do something fairly drastic before they are required to do a retest. IMHO we should be doing whatever possible to protect the independence of our old people at the time of life when they need their driving licences the most.
Landy

dorian · Guru

Bryan wrote:
I would like to see some statistics, for example percent of accidents within defined age groups before any law is passed and action taken. The percentage will equalise the diverse number of people in each age group.

Younger people and older people attract higher car and CTP insurance premiums. Those figures would surely be based on statistics.

Radar · Guru

Hi All well the way I see it today is if the people arbitrate for this age test will one day reach that age and prombly be wondering who the fools were that made this decision.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Bryan wrote:
I would like to see some statistics, for example percent of accidents within defined age groups before any law is passed and action taken. The percentage will equalise the diverse number of people in each age group.

I googled and got this report for NSW, if that helps.

The graph is again NSW and current for this year, but for fatalities which may or may not be driver.

-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Tuesday 8th of October 2013 09:18:29 AM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

A graph dissecting accidents by age groups as a % of accidents between 2008 and 2013.

Interesting comparing deaths by age group to accidents by age group. It would appear 70 and over have more accidents but fewer deaths.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 8th of October 2013 10:21:40 AM

johnq · Guru

landy wrote:
I think the idea that anybody should be retested, purely on the basis of age, highly discriminatory. If a driver is going about their daily business without having accidents, being booked for driving infringements or bringing themselves to the attention of the traffic authorities, they should be left alone. The rest of the motoring public has to do something fairly drastic before they are required to do a retest. IMHO we should be doing whatever possible to protect the independence of our old people at the time of life when they need their driving licences the most.
Landy
/p>

Precisely.

We have the right and the voting numbers if any Party would like to test it, to demand too some of that equality and equity that others are awarded as their birthright.

Transport planning and laws must come to accept seniors as stakeholders too and demonstrate that by consulting directly with seniors and their representatives.

For example, the fool of a transport minister in Qld is proposing a 130kph speed limit on SE Qld roads that already suffer sudden traffic jams and pile-ups. It doesn't take a very observant driver to note the regular patches of long skid marks and damage where vehicles have left the road. No doubt his proposal might sell land for developers of distant housing estates, but it will act to force more seniors and people with disabilities off the road. What difference does a few minutes saved make if you are commuting from the Gold Coast to Brisbane and will certainly encounter traffic snarls on the way?

This is the same fellow who approved Segways on footpaths against the recommendations of his own department. Segways can accelerate quickly up to 40kph, but don't you worry about that says the minister.

http://tinyurl.com/footpath-Segways

landy · Guru

John Definitely shows that 60 to 80 year old's are among the safest on our roads, and 20 to 40 year old's the most dangerous. Re test all the 20s to 40s. biggrin

Landy

-- Edited by landy on Tuesday 8th of October 2013 11:21:54 AM

sandsmere · Guru

I reckon the under 25s are responsible for more road accidents than over 65s . percentage wise .

Big Gorilla · Guru

Landfall wrote:
Big Gorilla wrote:
In May this year there was a posting on Senior Drivers having to take a medical after age 75. I just stumbled across this information by accident as I was looking something up on the Services Tasmania website: Note the requirement for drivers over 85 and over !!!

Senior licence holders
Description
There are certain requirements that relate to senior licence holders.
65 years and over
Customers are not required to pay the full fee for their licence renewal - only pay for the cost of the photograph.
75 to 84 years
A medical examination is required of customers every year to make sure that they continue to be medically fit to drive.
Licence holders will be notified by the Registration and Licensing Branch when their examination is due.
85 and over
In addition to the annual medical requirement a driving test is also required of customers to ensure they are able to drive safely.
Licence holders will be notified by the Registration and Licensing Branch when their test is due.
Unless things have changed in the last six months, this information is incorrect.
As a retired driving instructor in Tasmania (retired six months ago) the 85 and over licence test was abolished. Statistics showed that the number of 85+ drivers involved in accidents was to low to be of concern. If the 85+ are involved in an accident or stopped by the police for any reason, they can be (and usually are) required to do another driving test, when notified by the Commissioner of Transport.
I will follow it up though.
IMO all licences should be for a five year period and a driving and road rule test conducted before renewal.
Ken

Copied that information of the Services Tasmania website yesterday, October 7. Here is the link: http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/licence_information/senior_licence_holders

-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Tuesday 8th of October 2013 02:36:34 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Some statistics - hard to find specific National data on accidents/facilities by age group - but try these for interest.

Number of accidents & Deaths - http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1301.0~2012~Main%20Features~Accidents,%20injuries%20and%20fatalities~189

Accidents/fatalities by various measures - http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c00834efa/96781e47a4d2d886ca2570ec0073f6a9!OpenDocument

Number of vehicles - http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/9309.0

Fatalities by age (Victoria only) - http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/safe-driving/older-drivers

Fatalities by age (NSW only) Figure 16 Page 1 - http://www.irmrc.unsw.edu.au/documents/injuryprofile/motorvehicletransport.pdf

Food for thought perhaps

Cheers - John

dorian · Guru

sandsmere wrote:
I reckon the under 25s are responsible for more road accidents than over 65s . percentage wise .

I wonder if any politician advocating similar testing regimes for under-25 drivers would be able to get his legislation over the line.

I notice that Table 12 of the NSW accident statistics indicates that people in the 65+ age group are more likely to be killed as pedestrians than as drivers, and they appear to be less likely to survive their injuries as occupants than younger people. The latter statistic suggests that younger drivers have much higher accident rates than the statistics would imply, it's just that they don't die of their injuries at the same rate as the 65+ group.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Dougwe, dazren & Duh all got their licence out of a cornflakes packet, well that is what Dougwe told me. biggrin

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

An interesting way to spend my morning .

Some graphs of National road death statistics, predominantly for 2008.

Cheers - John

herbie · Guru

Wondering if all these figures would change if it was taken on age and towing.!!!

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Interesting, if I interpret it correctly, women over 70 are better off being drivers and pedestrians.

Move over boys!

Legendts · Senior Member

OK, my info is from Victoria and yes from the news, where else would I be likely to get it from? Agree that it is reported more due to how rapid the news travels. I was not referring to deaths, although surprised someone hadn't been killed, but accidents only and in all of them no one was seriously injured, but damage was sustained to buildings etc. I'm not trying to start a bun fight but in the last three weeks here there has been (pretty sure) at least four accidents involving "older" persons, two went through shops, one was a nursing home, the other through a brick fence and they were what I was referring to. Hope that clarifies my previous post.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday..

Ya dead right Jeff .. and that's what I was alluding to ... news only tells us what they want to ... whilst there were 4 or so "elderly driver" incidents/accidents ... I wonder just how many other incidents/accidents were happening but never made it to the news.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story ... that continues to be the motto

Cheers - John

Big Gorilla · Guru

A mature lady gets pulled over for speeding..

Older   Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Traffic Cop:   Yes ma'am, I'm afraid you were speeding.

Older   Woman: Oh, I see.
Traffic Cop: Can I see your licence please?

Older   Woman: Well, I would give it to you but I don't have one.

Traffic Cop:   Don't have one?

Older   Woman: No. I lost it 4 years ago for drunk driving.

Traffic Cop:I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older   Woman: I can't do that.

Traffic Cop:   Why not?

Older   Woman: I stole this car.

Traffic Cop:   Stole it?

Older   Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Traffic Cop:   You what!?
Older   Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the boot if you want to see

The traffic cop looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car while calling for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer   2:   Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle   please!The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older   woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer   2: My colleague here tells me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older   Woman: Murdered the owner? Are you serious?!

Officer   2:   Yes, could you please open the boot of your car, please.

The woman opens the boot, revealing nothing but an empty boot .

Officer   2: Is this your car, ma'am?

Older   Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.The traffic cop is quite stunned.

Officer   2: My colleague claims that you do not have a driving licence.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the licence, puzzled.

Officer   2:   Thank you ma'am, but I am puzzled, as I was told by my officer here that you didn't have a   licence, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner!

Older   Woman: Bet the lying bastard told you I was speeding, too.

Don't Mess With Mature Ladies

herbie · Guru

I also heard on the news last night a 21 year old careered off the road and hit a guy erecting a fence and killed him.

So not always the older driver at fault in these type of accidents.

johnq · Guru

Big Gorilla wrote:
A mature lady gets pulled over for speeding..
[snip]

biggrin That deserved a keyboard warning.

General comment for thread:

Just talking about the incidence of fatalities and serious injury of older drivers and pedestrians, their age would have a very large bearing on what injuries they sustained and their survival. There is a very different outcome where a seventy year old women falls down a flight of stairs, than for a twenty year old male.

Likewise, males tend to be most featured as being involved in accidents because their work puts them on the road more.

Stats introduce more riddles to solve.

milo · Guru

you guys remember the trouble I had with my dad, and all year before last

I don't want any one killed on our roads , I dont want any one who maybe a bad
driver young or old .. Its not just the age of the person but whether or not they can handle
the veichel their driving.. its one thing to for an instructor to see the person
driving their car ok, but then they get into a big motor home or tow a big van and cause
all sorts of trouble, speaking from experience here..