Older drivers need to consider 'retiring' to other forms of transport, research says

dorian · Guru

Older drivers need to consider 'retiring' to other forms of transport, research says

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Yep ... ya gotta hand it to those shiny-ar*ed city-slickers

Do they have any idea about the availability of USABLE public transport outside the major cities - and depending where you live in a major town, public transport is like finding hen's teeth.

The thesis is valid - the solution is unreasonable.

There is not a government, or commercial entity, willing to provide an effective (or efficient) public transport network for people to move AROUND a city - or between cities.

In fact dorian, I reckon the lead balloon you allude to has more chance than finding workable, usable, practical public transport. confuse

Cheers - John

Fastcoach · Senior Member

It's just a matter of time before governments of all persuasions insist on older drivers taking a competency driving test once they reach a certain age.

Almost every other day it seems a news item appears featuring an older driver ramming a shop front because he/she hit the wrong pedal.

Thankfully it's rare that people are killed. But that's just by the grace of God.

Too many people continue to drive when their reflexes/eyesight etc aren't up to the job.

aussietraveller · Guru

At what age are you an older driver maybe 80 well I can tell you its much more dependant on the individual than just selecting an age I have a close friend who is 82 and still drives a cat 1 fire tanker which requires a HR licence and he does it very well whereas there is another guy in neighbouring brigade who has appropriate licence for this vehicle he is under 50 and should never be allowed behind the wheel of a fire truck.

I am in my 60s and drive everywhere we want to go mainly because there is very poor quality transport in our area, I support the assessing of driver competencies but don't think its just for older people but should be based on the amount of points lost over a predetermined period and as my mate has to do over the age of 80 you need to complete a driving test.

Mobi Condo · Guru

Yes - sure is one way thinking by city centric minds.
It reminds of another problem - Have many friends who are country and or remote and or even near city outskirts who have the lovely Seniors Card for Transport benefits, pity is that the nearest public transport on which it is use-able is hundreds of kilometres in some cases and just 10 kilometres in other cases away - not much use to them is it?

landy · Guru

I think a quick check of insurance premiums shows wich age groups inurance companys consider the most dangerous on our roads,
and 65 to 75 are the group they consider the safest.
Landy

johnq · Guru

As far as I can see there is very little consideration being shown in town and road planning to the needs of mature drivers (families too). Enforcement doesn't take their needs into account either, or else there would be more policing of frequent lane changing, following too closely and bullying on the roads.

If governments continue that way they can expect eventual voter backlashes and 'unexpected' change of government. That is what happens where governments imagine that the only time they are at all obliged to notice the existence of voters is immediately prior to polls.

peterblack · Senior Member

hi all. just some joker in a govt department who has no idea of life trying to make a good job for himself
this sort of crap comes and goes from time to time
my dad drove until he was about 85 ?
but after 80 his nrma ins went up
enjoy

johnq · Guru

There is a lot of impatience and rudeness on the roads that can cause accidents. For some it seems to be a sport to make life as difficult as possible for everyone else. A little bit of respect and politeness would go a long way towards reducing accidents and making travel and commuting enjoyable.

It is hard to believe but there is a mentality abroad that doesn't even show courtesy to primary schoolchildren attempting to cross busy roads, and an apparently senior driver ahead or mother with children is an invitation to harass.

03_Troopy · Guru

But there are some cases where people shouldn't be permitted to drive when they are no longer capable of doing it safely.
We were at a local beach sometime mid last year and were looking for somewhere to have a coffee. As we were passing one of the cafes with outdoor seating, my wife leaned over the small block wall to have a look at a menu on one of the tables. i had walked ahead a few steps, but turned around to see what she was doing. Just as I reached where my wife was a car, driven by an elderly woman who was trying to reverse park, shot across the footpath and went through the wall where I had been standing. She hit with enough force to knock part of the wall down and knocked a table, that a woman had been sitting at, across the small area and the woman was left sprawled but otherwise uninjured on the ground. Had I not walked back, she would have probably hit me as well.
Not satisfied with this, the elderly woman put the car back into forward gear and attempted to drive off, until a quick thinking observer reached through the window and removed her car keys.
Apparently she had become stuck against the kerb when she reversed back, and not realising she was stuck, just revved the car harder till it jumped the kerb. I did hear the car revving a bit harder than would be normal, but because I wasn't paying any attention to her I just thought she must have been riding the clutch as they often do. She seemed to not even realise what she had just done either.

-- Edited by 03_Troopy on Sunday 1st of February 2015 11:11:35 AM

Fastcoach · Senior Member

This is the sort of incident that's happening too frequently, particularly with older drivers. As long as everything goes along smoothly and as expected, most older drivers seem to have zero problem negotiating the task. Unfortunately, when something happens out of left field some hit the panic button, rather than the brake pedal. It comes down to many factors, but slow reflexes and reaction time is way up there in causing these crashes.

In the particular case mentioned by 03 Troopy, thankfully there was little physical damage sustained by those involved, but one day there will be far worse consequences. There will be a major incident, involving multiple fatalities and that will be the tipping point for various governments to act. In the meantime, it would be a good idea if shops, especially those selling food etc that take over the footpaths, installed decent bollards to alleviate the likelihood of the ram raiders killing their customers.

Santa · Guru

Your right, we do see the odd senior involved in parking type incidents, and don't the media love to trumpet the fact that the driver was 83 years old blah blah blah.

On the other hand we don't see seniors involved in this sort of thing