Cassie's law e-petition

Tute · 4 Mar 2012 at 14:25

The police should absolutely have this power, no question at all.

MrLOL said:
This is my thought.

He'd crashed days earlier and told not to drive by the police already.

Suspending his license would have made no difference

However, I do think this is true also. Having the law in place would not have saved the little girl, if the pensioner still drove then he/she clearly thought that they knew better than the authorities and would have done the same with their licence revoked.

For what it's worth, my stepdad was having fits and seizures a number of years back, but refused to tell his GP because he thought they'd revoke his driving licence. A very selfish way of looking at things, and although my family agreed, nobody would stand up to him. Luckily he never had one at the wheel.

Rroff · 4 Mar 2012 at 14:26

Not sure they even need a driving test, probably a 5 minute test of reactions and eye sight would be enough for a doctor to identify most of those unfit to continue driving and those who still "have it". Obviously this doesn't take their driving ability into account but most people that age would be experienced drivers.

Fr0dders · 4 Mar 2012 at 14:27

Having seen what the driving standards of OAPs are, they absolutely need some kind of practical test on the roads, even if it's not the full one inc theory and hazard perception

Liquidfox · 4 Mar 2012 at 14:33

I think this should be law, but only based on the grounds of definite medical circumstances, such as an eye test, or in the case of an RTC. They shouldn't be able to just suspend your license based on the fact were being antisocial such as they do with a S59.

ubersonic · 4 Mar 2012 at 15:39

Dr Who said:
Additionally, it is off the road so in the strictest sense they don't have the power to "prosecute".

Thats actually a myth, car parks/land which the public have free access too (i.e no barrier/gate) are extensions of the public highway and road/insurance laws still apply.

Mr Jack · 4 Mar 2012 at 15:43

I don't believe in new legislation to deal with one off cases. Show me that there is a common problem with pensioners causing accidents after they've been identified by police and I'll believe new powers are necessary.

RIP Cassie

d_brennen · 4 Mar 2012 at 16:00

It's a sad story but I am not sure adding more laws and more paperwork for the police is the answer. Accidents happen, as tragic as the outcome here was. What are the chances of being mowed down by a Mr Magoo? Very, very small. Might as well ban paper too, you could cut yourself and contract a flesh eating infection

My granddad never did a driving test as such, iirc he left the Army with some kind of pass. When I was learning to drive he'd joke that he was driving tanks and trucks younger than me. He hung up his keys when he had a stroke, and sadly died shortly after

Horse Pop · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:08

Not signing just because it's a law named after a dead child.

MikeHiow · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:13

I think it's a good idea.

But like with most things like this, the powers will be too vague and it'll end up being abused to annoy your typical motorist.

blueboy2001 · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:16

I'm not sure this law would achieve anything. If a friendly word from the Police won't hit home, then I don't see that the telling someone their licence is revoked will make any difference. He was clearly in denial.

What should be done is he should be prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving and see his final days out in jail. Perhaps that would send out more of message to people unfit to drive that their actions have consequences for themselves.

djkav · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:28

Dr Who said:
Because they are acting as judge and jury on a subjective issue compared with a situation which is cut and dried.

Additionally, it is off the road so in the strictest sense they don't have the power to "prosecute".

The Police cannot be Judge nor Jury. That is not their job.

MikeHiow · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:32

Temporarily suspending someone's licence until a court date can be secured isn't acting in either capacity though?

It's a power that may have saved someone's life.

If implemented properly, I can't see how any law-abiding motorist could be against it.

End Creditz · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:43

Give them the equivalent of a 7 day wonder. Tick boxes, eye test in last 7 days, visit to GP to confirm general state of health. Both reasonably sensible if their ability to drive is being questioned.
I've not put a massive amount of thought into that but seems a reasonable(ish) suggestion to work from? Flawed no doubt but maybe someone will be inspired to come up with a more realistic/sensible idea? (I hope).

Horse Pop · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:54

GPs are in some cases quite reluctant to take licenses off even the most decrepit of coffin dodgers if it's their only means of getting around (particularly in rural areas).

End Creditz · 4 Mar 2012 at 23:58

My thinking was more along the lines of the older person requiring medicines regarding any possible condition, of age or otherwise, that might be affecting their ability to drive competently. High blood pressure, low blood pressure, glaucoma, tremors of some kind (not the giant underground worm kind). Something that they might've been ignoring thinking it wasn't addressable and they'd just lose their license rather than something which could be sorted. A bit like blokes and their prostate exam

Burnsy2023 · 5 Mar 2012 at 09:40

I must admit, I'm quite in favour of this proposal. I can think of a couple of times where a power like this may have been useful.

Sin_Chase said:
Nothing would have stopped this pensioner getting into his car and driving without it.

So what does this actually fix? If someone is happy to drive while being unfit to do so what makes you think they will not because they had their licence revoked?

If he had committed an offence and a Police officer thought he was imminently going to drive again without a DL, then they could arrest to prevent further offences. So in that case it can be preventative.

Swordfish said:
Not always true. Some supermarkets carparks are on land owned by the council and as such as considered public highway.

One of the Asda's near me is such a case.

ubersonic said:
Thats actually a myth, car parks/land which the public have free access too (i.e no barrier/gate) are extensions of the public highway and road/insurance laws still apply.

Indeed, most car parks without barriers where the public can pass and repass, is a public road like any other.

OpenToSuggestions said:
The average Policeman/Policewomen is not the cleverest and they are in no position to use their opinion on something.

Oh you. Discretion is a cornerstone of British policing, I don't think that'd be a problem considering Police Officers have more practice in good judgement than most.

djkav said:
The Police cannot be Judge nor Jury. That is not their job.

So what do you think about Police Officers issuing fixed penalty tickets?

shoes · 5 Mar 2012 at 10:29

Sin_Chase said:
Not sure what the problem with that is? Don't be a muppet in a carpark?

Not sure what the problem is either, if you're not being a nuisance or harming anyone/any property then what is the problem with being a muppet in a car park? Beats having them on the actual road

kefkef · 5 Mar 2012 at 10:54

Agree with the folk saying that some form of re-test should be done every x years rather than just signing yourself as fit to drive, even to the point where at a certain age your licence should be revoked anyway. Ireland has something along those lines;

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e..._1/driver_licensing/full_driving_licence.html

The period of time a driving licence is issued for depends on the age of the applicant. There are 4 age brackets that the period of a licence falls under.

If you are under 60 years of age, you may apply for a 3-year or a 10-year licence.
If you are older than 60 but younger than 67 years of age, you may apply for a 3-year licence or a licence that will expire the day before your 70th birthday.
If you are older than 67 but under 70 years of age, you may apply for a 3-year licence.
If you are over the age of 70, you will need a certification of fitness to drive by your doctor to apply for a 3-year or a one-year licence

The problem with suspending someones licence whilst waiting for a medical review is the sheer amount of bureaucracy this would cause, more burden on GP's/NHS, delays in getting the tests scheduled/results back etc, then the amount of people fighting the decision.

Not quite the same but along those lines, a friend of mine has had his licence revoked due to some dead cells on his retina, he has 2 very small black spots in his vision on one eye. It was revoked in September last year, he's been for numerous re-assesments on the NHS where he has been signed ok to drive by 3 different specialists, but is still waiting for his review with the DVLA. Imagine that times a few thousand for OAPs, you'd need a department of the DVLA just for that and a few extra consultants in each hospital.

StonedPenguin · 5 Mar 2012 at 10:55

Are you mad op? Why the hell should we give coppers this power? They'd abuse it left right and centre.

Tbid · 5 Mar 2012 at 13:07

I went to The same college as this girl and was sat in costa coffee at the time that this happened (just across the road) the CCTV footage is somewhat shocking.