They definitely need to give older drivers regular medicals , I think at 70 you have to self certify that you are fit to drive but you don't actually have to have a medical, I'm sure some older drivers haven't been completely honest when applying to renew their licence for fear of having it taken off them. I'm a HGV driver and I have to have a medical every 5 years at age 45 onwards (46 now ) but you can cause almost as much damage in a car if you have a heart attack while at the wheel
Car crashes into a costa coffee in Westerham, Kent
- Thread starter robfosters
- Start date
You know whats really odd? Optometrists aren't allowed, and indeed can be prosecuted, if they break patient/optometrist confidentiality by telling the DVLA that a patient is not clinically able to see well enough to drive, or has a condition which could impair their reactions/perception.
I had never even considered they'd be bound by that.
Do optometrists have a different set that binds them? Reading the GMC site seems to suggest its possible to overrule the patient if they refuse or otherwise are unable to inform the DVLA themselves(or help them get a second opinion if they're unwilling to accept it/pass the buck
).
Last edited:
Which is why my 88 grandfather was driving right up to the day before he had his cateracts operated on and that was after waiting over a year for that op.
Which is why he drove everywhere at 20 mph cause he couldn't see and no matter what my parents told him he refused to give up driving.
There is a mental impairment though of believing your abilities are better than they are... so not really flawed.
Also, I like how you put the "some young people" in there but are ready to paint another entire group as one collective due to their age... You can't have it both ways.
So SOME young people behave reckless and are poor drivers... Are you saying ALL older people are poor drivers due to their health?
^^^ This ^^^
I'm sorry to hear that but glad to hear what I've been told is true.
I especially like your closing paragraph.
Hopefully information will be released in due time. My thoughts are with the family of those lost and injured.
Merry Christmas!
No worries, I'm here to pass on my experiences which is the main thing!
We've all been said experts at times, myself no exception, Elliot just asks for it hence my reply.
A very merry Christmas to you and all
this isn't hard to understand - old people, especially people aged 88, will have slower reaction times, poorer eyesight, will be less aware etc.. even if they're in good health for their age
an 88 year old driving is reckless by default - yes all virtually all 88 year olds are poor drivers, I'd wager that very few of them if at all could, for example, pass the emergency stop test on a driving test
young people also cause accidents.... this is a separate issue (again something that really shouldn't be hard to understand) - the fact that young people also cause a problem doesn't negate the fact there is an issue with older drivers... it just means there is another issue that could be dealt with - perhaps with a second test, limits on night time and motorway driving or on driving with other young people at night etc.. so yes some young people drive recklessly - the fact this happens doesn't excuse nor have anything to do with the fact that someone aged 88 is being very reckless themselves by driving at that age.
I support this fully.
Associate
- Joined
- 16 Aug 2008
- Posts
- 393
- Location
- Sussex
Do optometrists have a different set that binds them? Reading the GMC site seems to suggest its possible to overrule the patient if they refuse or otherwise are unable to inform the DVLA themselves(or help them get a second opinion if they're unwilling to accept it/pass the buck
Yeah they're bound by rules set out by the Royal College of Optometrists, not the General Medical Council.
This would be good, and they could be limited to say 20mph for safety surely
Yes btiliant idea 220!
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Aug 2008
- Posts
- 4,290
- Location
- North Sea
Why not give old people Segways inside those inflatable orbs you see people rolling down hills and so forth in? That way they can't do any damage if they hit anything.
I'll try it again, it really isn't hard to understand (patronising isn't it?)
The point I am making (and to which others have picked up on easily enough) is that you are completely writing off an entire swath of drivers based on AGE yet, when I bring in a similar point with younger drivers (again, AGE), you try and disregard it as "a separate issue" when, quite clearly its the same i.e. AGE is a factor in the propensity of accidents:
Older drivers - health is the influencing factor
Younger drivers - mental ability/attitude is the influencing factor
Also, you first stated:
shouldn't be driving at that age, very irresponsible of him and now he's killed at least one person and injured more... what a ****
Now you state:
So, by saying "virtually all", you understand not ALL 88 year old drivers are poor drivers? So how do you know he is one of them? Could it have been that he was a competent driver but something else happened and he is not " a **** " as you so state ??
My Nan just drove me home and we spent about 10 minutes sitting at a rondabout missing chance after chance, and then when she did go she got a long blast of horn from someone she cut up, and then almost steered into the other lane while being angry with them.
The last time I got in a car with my other Nan driving was 5 years ago and we almost had a head on collision. I vouched never to go in the car with her again.
My Grandad is starting to get bad now too.
They are all late 70's.
My Great Aunt has the right idea, she gave up her car when she was 75 and got a free bus pass.
The last time I got in a car with my other Nan driving was 5 years ago and we almost had a head on collision. I vouched never to go in the car with her again.
My Grandad is starting to get bad now too.
They are all late 70's.
My Great Aunt has the right idea, she gave up her car when she was 75 and got a free bus pass.
Last edited:
I notice that my dad's driving is beginning to deteriorate as well, just general awareness type stuff that's only luck that it doesn't result in a minor prang. He's 70 next month.
I certainly belief that by 75 drivers should be taking some form of test on a regular basis and be subject to medicals to keep driving.
I certainly belief that by 75 drivers should be taking some form of test on a regular basis and be subject to medicals to keep driving.