Over 70 off the road

Think it's the sort of thing that needs to be flexible,with each case being taken on its merits, with a list of guidelines. Also think there's a case for regular reassessing. There are some younger drivers whose skills leave a lot to be desired, particularly regarding adhering to speed limits

There is probably a case to be made for younger drivers to have some element of restriction on their licence initially and re-testing of drivers at say 75. All that will require more resources at a time of government austerity or longer testing queues.

Not to generalise but recently I have witnessed two serious cases of dangerous overtaking, and no it wasn't me being overtaken. In both cases it was young women drivers, I have noticed lately that women, especially young women do tend to take chances. It often seems that we talk about young men being reckless behind the wheel but, in my experience women are equally as bad. Before everyone posts I am a female poster.

Write your comments here...And frequently with young kids in the car.

Advances in telematic based policies will probably be the solution, as poor drivers, young or old, will simply be priced off the road. 

There is probably a case to be made for younger drivers to have some element of restriction on their licence initially and ...

They are already restricted to 6 points on their licence in the first 2 yrs before they get a ban .... you & I can have 12

Pretty sure there must be a huge variation in the age at which it is sensible for people to stop driving, but generally speaking we are all living longer and staying fit longer.

I will be 74 soon, my Dad died at 64 (stroke), my Mum at 98, hopefully I take after my Mum.

I keep active, do a lot of work around the house, have many interests, exercise my brain on a regular basis.  Why would anyone think I should have been stopped driving 4 years ago?

My children would be horrified at the suggest

 

 

I agree I'll be 77 next and have just changed my car . So I will be driving for quite some time yet !! and far better than the ones who don't indicate, they should be banned .

You simply cannot say that a persons ability to drive is solely attributable to their age.

I am 71 now but still put in a 35 hour week and drive about 15,000 miles a year - halved from my previous 30,000.

I passed my test in February 1962, 2 weeks after my 17th Birthday, - on a jaguar 3.4 mk 2 . Since then I have driven 1.4 Million miles in most of the developed countries in the world. A Police class 1 driver and also a member of IAM, I have never had an accident or committed an offence in that time.

I am determined that when the time comes I will hand my licence back to Swansea as clean as when I got it. - Its a matter of personal pride.  The thing that I have always said when giving talks on advanced driving, that is vital to any good driver is a heightened level of "situational awareness" . That means the ability to sense changes in the atmosphere prompting road surafce changes, changes in the light, temperature, how you yourself are feeling. ( I believe  that drivers are more prone to accidents if driving when coming down with Flu etc) Other driver behaviour, your cars sound, its feel on the road etc etc.  Any failure to be aware of these things can bring about your premature death!

So when I sense that my situational awareness is slipping I can assure you I will be preparing that envelope. It is not a matter purely of age.  I know several drivers in their 40's I would not trust with a toy pedal car let alone a real one!

TF

You simply cannot say that a persons ability to drive is solely attributable to their age.

I am 71 now but still put in a 35 hour week and drive about 15,000 miles a year - halved from my previous 30,000.

I passed my test in February 1962, 2 weeks after my 17th Birthday, - on a jaguar 3.4 mk 2 . Since then I have driven 1.4 Million miles in most of the developed countries in the world. A Police class 1 driver and also a member of IAM, I have never had an accident or committed an offence in that time.

I am determined that when the time comes I will hand my licence back to Swansea as clean as when I got it. - Its a matter of personal pride.  The thing that I have always said when giving talks on advanced driving, that is vital to any good driver is a heightened level of "situational awareness" . That means the ability to sense changes in the atmosphere prompting road surafce changes, changes in the light, temperature, how you yourself are feeling. ( I believe  that drivers are more prone to accidents if driving when coming down with Flu etc) Other driver behaviour, your cars sound, its feel on the road etc etc.  Any failure to be aware of these things can bring about your premature death!

So when I sense that my situational awareness is slipping I can assure you I will be preparing that envelope. It is not a matter purely of age.  I know several drivers in their 40's I would not trust with a toy pedal car let alone a real one!

TF

Write your comments here...glad something interesting got you posting again tigerfish, 

 Since then I have driven 1.4 Million miles

Have you kept a record! 

Actually Yes!  I had to.  I have averaged not less than 30,000 per year firstly in the motor trade, later during 31 years in the police and finally over 12 years travelling the world selling helicopters.

My mileage if you add private to business, exceeds my claimed 1.4 million by quite a bit, in the 54 years I have been driving but I stuck with what I can demonstrate.  OK?

TF