Should drivers over 70 hand in their keys ?

[xagsjoe]

My father is 71 very shortly, drives a B-Double east-west and I would think you'd cop a black eye very quickly trying to take his licence off him..

My mother-in-law on the other hand is also 71 and should have quit driving 7-8 years ago, up until 2 months ago she defiantly drove anyway think she sideswiped her shed backing out the driveway and her health has ultimately taken her off the road. It's a case by case basis..

[barrys123]

Another one through a shop window in Perth today I think they said he was 30 years old, through a barber shop window, like yo said its not the age but I do think once you hit 80 a full medical should be compulsory, over here in WA they have stopped them from the start of this year. I'm now 74 and intend to change my veh in about 2 years and will buy one of the last of the Falcons (not new) and that should see me out as I only do 10,000 per year. No interest in small cars.

[LTDHO]

It's comical how offensive those who are asked to get retested get. It's as though they know they will fail.

I'm 42 this year and if I was told "Over 40's should be retested" I would gladly go as I know I would pass with ease.

So it doesn't matter if you are 100 or an over 70 year old B-Double driver, if you are safe and know the rules you will pass. Nothing to worry about.

[ronwest]

I've been reading this thread on and off and was planning to comment on the possible financial impact to younger drivers on taking 70+'s off the road.
Less cars = more cost shared by remaining road users one would think (we don't really think that govt's are going to see revenue drop away, do we?)
I don't know what percentage drivers 70+ comprise but it will be increasing as baby boomers hit the magic number.
Anyhoo, my first bit of info was this http://dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/...Road_Users.pdf
I didn't bother going any further.
It's probably a good idea to make 70 the age at which you can get your first licence

[Express]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

It's comical how offensive those who are asked to get retested get. It's as though they know they will fail.

I'm 42 this year and if I was told "Over 40's should be retested" I would gladly go as I know I would pass with ease.

So it doesn't matter if you are 100 or an over 70 year old B-Double driver, if you are safe and know the rules you will pass. Nothing to worry about.

My nephew is currently learning to drive and he told his father on the weekend he would fail a driving test because he doesn’t do all the little things a tester marks you on.

The bulk of us would need to do a top up on our road rule knowledge and the order and routine in which we do things like something as simple as starting the car and pulling out from a kerb.

Time teaches us the convenient abridged version of driving and not the official testing version.

[mike_nofx]

Over 70 drivers could possibly do a refresher course to teach them such things as the new law of indicating off a round-a-bout.

Or that when you're doing 75km/h on the freeway in your Camry that its not necessary to leave your indicator on.

[superyob]

Yes. Definitely. Soon as I retire in X years I will hand in my license and teleport everywhere I want to go...

[barrys123]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Over 70 drivers could possibly do a refresher course to teach them such things as the new law of indicating off a round-a-bout.

Or that when you're doing 75km/h on the freeway in your Camry that its not necessary to leave your indicator on.

Or when your under seventy and do wheelies around the round-a-bout when it's wet or jumping backwards and forwards from one lane to another on the freeway without using your indicators.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Over 70 drivers could possibly do a refresher course to teach them such things as the new law of indicating off a round-a-bout.

Or that when you're doing 75km/h on the freeway in your Camry that its not necessary to leave your indicator on.

Perhaps the under 40's can do a refresher where they will learn to give way to vehicles already entering the roundabout.....especially if that vehicle has lights and siren making a loud light show.

[LTDHO]

Sad event yesterday.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...0cea19f3ac202e

[Vesper Martini]

Sad indeed.
But is driving around boom gates typical for aged drivers? I would have thought impatience was more of a factor.

Hope The train Driver is ok must be awful

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Sad indeed.
But is driving around boom gates typical for aged drivers? I would have thought impatience was more of a factor.

From the article.............

Police last night corrected reports the driver had driven around boom gates that had come down at the crossing.

“They didn’t go around the boom gates at all,” acting sergeant Glen Whitehead said.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Sad indeed.
But is driving around boom gates typical for aged drivers? I would have thought impatience was more of a factor.

Hope The train Driver is ok must be awful

I don't why this is being bought up in this topic, many cars have been caught out on railway crossings in Melbourne with drivers of all ages whether it is their fault or not.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by trublu

I don't why this is being bought up in this topic, many cars have been caught out on railway crossings in Melbourne with drivers of all ages whether it is their fault or not.

Why quote me? I didn't bring it up I said its got nothing to do with their age

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Sad indeed.
But is driving around boom gates typical for aged drivers? I would have thought impatience was more of a factor.

Hope The train Driver is ok must be awful

Didn't drive around the gates according to police. They ended up stopped on the crossing and then the gates came down. They then were apparently confused about what to do.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Didn't drive around the gates according to police. They ended up stopped on the crossing and then the gates came down. They then were apparently confused about what to do.

Yes corrected POST 276 - if I read that I wouldn't have posted at all

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Why quote me? I didn't bring it up I said its got nothing to do with their age

Sorry mate misread your post....apologies!


For your quote

But is driving around boom gates typical for aged drivers?

I use to work for the railways where part of my job I had to attend many electric train accidents involving cars & pedestrians & to my experience it involved young & old people, very tragic once you learn how the events unfolded.

[Junkyard-Dog]

I have been thinking about this topic a bit of late. It's all well and good to say someone shouldn't be driving but how do you actually go about telling them/making them stop?

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Sad event yesterday.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...0cea19f3ac202e

One of the ladies that was killed was a relative of my wifes. Sad times that this tragedy can happen. RIP

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

I have been thinking about this topic a bit of late. It's all well and good to say someone shouldn't be driving but how do you actually go about telling them/making them stop?

The one I know of, the police first took her licence. She kept on driving, they fined her she didn't pay. Stubborn old girl lol.

In the end it was somehow arranged that the government dispose of it for her. Forced sale basically. It was the only way she could be stopped.

She lived 20km out of town on her farm, alone. Family killed in WW2 - no siblings.

Pretty harsh when she wasn't at all dangerous...just s l o w .

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

The one I know of, the police first took her licence. She kept on driving, they fined her she didn't pay. Stubborn old girl lol.

In the end it was somehow arranged that the government dispose of it for her. Forced sale basically. It was the only way she could be stopped.

She lived 20km out of town on her farm, alone. Family killed in WW2 - no siblings.

Pretty harsh when she wasn't at all dangerous...just s l o w .

Seems pretty similar to my neighbour but since we're in suburbia atm I would say that she is dangerous. Nobody wants to be the one to do anything though because she's such a nice lady. I've even fixed accident damage on her car for her before.

[Olbucko]

Your age is only one factor, how much you drive also determines how competent you are, some old blokes that may only drive one km down to the shops every few days will soon loose their skills and confidence and be a menace to others. In my case I still enjoy driving, I often drive more that 1000 km a week in 6 very different vehicles, ranging from an old 4WD ute on dirt tracks to mixing it with taxis, tradies, and trucks in Sydney peak hour traffic in my new XR6. I have always enjoyed cars and driving and I keep up with the latest rules.
I'm sure that there are plenty of old buggers out there that are in the same boat that are far better drivers than many disinterested young people driving in their mobile whitegoods while playing with their phones and music systems.

[barrys123]

Originally Posted by Olbucko

Your age is only one factor, how much you drive also determines how competent you are, some old blokes that may only drive one km down to the shops every few days will soon loose their skills and confidence and be a menace to others. In my case I still enjoy driving, I often drive more that 1000 km a week in 6 very different vehicles, ranging from an old 4WD ute on dirt tracks to mixing it with taxis, tradies, and trucks in Sydney peak hour traffic in my new XR6. I have always enjoyed cars and driving and I keep up with the latest rules.
I'm sure that there are plenty of old buggers out there that are in the same boat that are far better drivers than many disinterested young people driving in their mobile whitegoods while playing with their phones and music systems.

Fully agree, age has nothing to do with it, but it's ability that counts, I like you drive in the city everyday and have children who live 200klm's down south which I travel down nearly every week, know I'm a confident driver. But I do have a 83 year old driver living next door who has had three accidents in the last two years and has payed cash for the damage to his car each time and in one instance where another car was involved payed for it also as he didn't want to make insurance claims.

[Olbucko]

Three accidents in 2 years! definitely time to hand in the licence.

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by blueoval

One of the ladies that was killed was a relative of my wifes. Sad times that this tragedy can happen. RIP

Sorry to hear that Shav.

In Victoria we are having 50 of the dangerous/congested crossing removed. The public are fighting against 'sky rail' as it's an eye sore. I don't think this crossing is on the list as the incident occurred as a result of driver error.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

I have been thinking about this topic a bit of late. It's all well and good to say someone shouldn't be driving but how do you actually go about telling them/making them stop?

We took my old mans Drivers licence off him a year ago. didn't go down well.

former truck driver, had all the skills, but his reaction time and decisions were gone.

[barrys123]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

We took my old mans Drivers licence off him a year ago. didn't go down well.

former truck driver, had all the skills, but his reaction time and decisions were gone.

It is sad, but if they get to that stage it has to be done, my mother was the same, but there goes their independence. Another thing that should be compulsory is that when you pay for your registration motor vehicle insurance should be compulsory at least to cover the other vehicle if you are in the wrong as there are too many young ones driving around with no insurance as this happened to my granddaughter as another vehicle in the wrong ran into her and as they were not insured she had to pay the excess and as she is only 18 it was $1500 and there is no way she can get it back as the other party had no money and was driving an old bomb not worth fixing.

[mik]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Sorry to hear that Shav.

In Victoria we are having 50 of the dangerous/congested crossing removed. The public are fighting against 'sky rail' as it's an eye sore. I don't think this crossing is on the list as the incident occurred as a result of driver error.

Yes it will be a good thing if it ever happens , in my neck of the woods the local councils have for i`d say 30 + years been threatening to do something with the dam boom gates , alas .....still waiting .
the horrific surrey hills accident with the two old dears and the train leaves a permanent scar on my grey matter, (very sorry to hear your family is involved Shav....condolances mate ).
i cant imagine how emergency services and the train driver deal with this sort of thing .
As for the oldies handing over the keys , i still think a competency test should be a recurring event at some pre determined period , perhaps even at licence renewal time would be a good start , i think my last renewal was for ten years ,
perhaps once you get to 55 make the renewals every 5 years .....have a competency test .
once you get to 70 every 2 years .
i dont think it needs a comprehensive driving test , just a simple test to make sure the driver still knows what is going on , and just a very basic driving questionnaire , possibly a light refresher course for new rules and regs , health check and eye sight .
It need not be like visiting the Kistapo .

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

I have been thinking about this topic a bit of late. It's all well and good to say someone shouldn't be driving but how do you actually go about telling them/making them stop?

Usually it is a recommendation from your GP, police or local road authority through the usual checks that they have in place

If you really think a person should not be driving at all then it really comes down to reporting them to the authorities, I hate the idea of dobbing people in but then again if it means removing a person who is a potential road hazard then I think it is worthwhile for everyone's sake.

[Vesper Martini]

When I saw the Old Man door someone with no regard I know it was time.

You can get a free assessment from any mental Health team, in my case this was in Auckland but I see they have one for most states in Australia