96 - Too Old To Drive?

[naomi24]

//A 96-year-old has been given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to causing the death of a woman by dangerous driving.// 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/woman-96-sentenced-for-causing-death-by-dangerous-driving-13225150

[Khandro]

or something like that, perhaps it's left again 

[THECORBYLOON]

KHANDRO, "remember your Highway Code, it's left, right & right again :0)"

I think you mean, "look right, look left, look right again" since the oncoming traffic is from the right in the UK.

 

[FoxLee2]

Auntypoll why do you claim most 96 year olds would not have passed a driving test.  They would have been born in 1928 and the driving test was compulsory from June 1935.

[Auntypoll]

From anecdotal,evidence from a friend who never passed a test born in 1927 and my father, both learnt to drive in the army and never took a test.

[Auntypoll]

All I can say is I would rather be driven by my 23 year old son than my 96 year old friend. 😁

[Auntypoll]

Passing your test in 1935 must have been easy 😀

[New Judge]

“Reading the link I can't see how they arrive at dangerous driving? more like careless driving."

I quite agree, nicebloke. T

Although the difference is only one word (carless is driving which falls below the standard of a competent and careful driver whilst dangerous is that which falls far below that of a competent and careful driver)  simple mistake as explained in teh report seems to fit the CPS definition of careless rather than dangerous.

“But I dare say if someone dies the book has to be seen to be thrown at them to a degree."

There is suitable “book” because there is an offence of causing death by careless driving as well as by dangerous driving.

[jourdain2]

People are different.  Older drivers tend to restrict themselves, being uncomfortable when driving at night for instance. 

OH is 91 - he's  still a very competent driver (drove professionally), but he restricts himself and I do all the long-distance, tricky traffic stuff. He is happy to take himself to the doctor's surgery and local shops for instance (country roads) and this frees up my life, otherwise it would become very difficult.

Youngsters cause far more accidents than oldies.

Neither of us is stupid.  He has a full eye test every year - as do I. I am borderline glaucomic so take eye drops and am checked yearly by the hospital - no field of vision problems, nothing to stop me driving - which one of us has to do.

Every driver - no matter what age - should have an eye check.

[davebro3]

I know appearances can be deceptive but seeing pictures of the old woman leaving court I would have been very surprised to see her at the wheel of a car.

[papas32]

While older folks might have been competent drivers back in the day, the roads are so different now compared to even 20 years ago. It’s a fact that reflexes slow with age. You can’t say someone is still a good driver just because they were 40 years ago. I think we should have driving tests after 75 and maybe keep the older generation off the motorways – it’s just too dangerous!

[jourdain2]

I'd argue against that, papas 32.  Although OH avoids motorway driving, he had to 'spell' me last year and was perfectly competent.

As I said, people are different and generally they assess themselves.  An annual eye test o. 90 is probably  a good idea.

Remember that health outcomes are so much better these days.  People are healthier for longer.  OH is still walking the dog twice a day for a couple of miles.  I rule canot cover all.

[davebro3]

I think some people advocating tougher rules or age restrictions for older drivers don't really realise that they will be on the receiving end themselves someday.

[jourdain2]

Absolutely correct, davebro.  Thanks.

[renegadefm]

construct1245, 

Problem is if drivers have to take a re-test at a certain age, they probably would just hang up their keys, as the hassle of doing that would probably make lots of drivers give up driving altogether.

 

I'm 55 but I don't think I would pass a theory and practice test now. 

When I passed my driving test in 1986 there was no theory, we did the practical then the examiner just asked 3 highway code questions and that was it. And I passed first time. 

 

But it seems to be a trend these days to take on average 7 or 8 times before someone gets passed.  

I personally think the system is doing that on purpose to lessen the amount of cars on the road.

 

Problem with that is if you need a car to get to work in a rural area, it could screw up a person's life. 

[Khandro]

//KHANDRO, "remember your Highway Code, it's left, right & right again :0)"

I think you mean, "look right, look left, look right again" since the oncoming traffic is from the right in the UK.//

 

Mmm.. thinks: l - r .... r -l then r again or is it l again ?

I think I may have a touch of, whatsitcalled ? ... 'old-timers disease.'

[tomus42]

Of course it's too old to drive, just like 13 is too young to drive.

[vulcan42]

you can't compare a person of 95 and a child of 13 by age alone. The 95 year old may have 75 years of driving experience, a 13 year old would, or perhaps, should, have had none.

[jourdain2]

Wrong, tomus. We have experience and caution on our side.  Without driving wecould not live. Do you understand that? Could ... not... live.

[Cloverjo]

I can't see how the 96 year old would become a more competent driver after the ban at the age of 101.

She shouldn't be jailed, but surely time to give up the car and use taxis. 

[Canary42]

For those folk glibly suggesting Oldies give up driving, our society has developed in such a way that without the ability to drive life (and here I talk from experience) is just too bloody difficult. Our whole culture is now car-based. Taxis are very expensive, can't always be obtained on spec, and won't take some loads, and public transport is totally inadequate. The carless are imprisoned in a very sorry little world if they're not careful, especially those in rural or semi-rural areas.  That wasn't the case before cars took over so absolutely. So it's no wonder folk cling on for as long as they can. Growing old has enough drawbacks without the added agony of immobility.