Old people and the inability to drive...

[salvadevinemasse]

This is what I want of you guys.. I want your true opinions on older people and driving abilities! what do you think we should do to fix the fact of farmers markets/buildings getting crashed into.... Also another thing which VTMarik and I talked about once is what do you think about hospices and nursing homes?... These are big issues so take your time on telling us your opinion about this okay? I expect this to be a great yet long interesting debate so prove me right!!

Salva-

[Evil Semp]

It's not just the old folks the young ones are just as bad.

Eyesight and reflexes get worse with age, but the young drivers have that need for speed.

A combination of the old folks thinking they own the road and drive 50 on the Interstates or drive in the left hand lane while the young ones swerve in and out changing lanes to try to gain that car length in heavy traffic.

[Sammy gags]

im afraid 2 get in the car with my grandma

[vtmarik]

It's not just the old folks the young ones are just as bad.

Eyesight and reflexes get worse with age, but the young drivers have that need for speed.

A combination of the old folks thinking they own the road and drive 50 on the Interstates or drive in the left hand lane while the young ones swerve in and out changing lanes to try to gain that car length in heavy traffic.

True, but young drivers don't have as much experience as older drivers, so that makes some sense.

I still think that when you reach the age of senior citizenship you should have to take the road test again, just in case.

[Evil Semp]

"True, but young drivers don't have as much experience as older drivers, so that makes some sense."

So going with your logic, older drivers haveing more experience should make up for their old age?


"I still think that when you reach the age of senior citizenship you should have to take the road test again, just in case."

Just what is the age of senior citizenship? Shouldn't younger drivers have to take the road test just as often since they don't have the experience?

Just for the record I am in my early 50's and I think all drivers should have to take the road test and eye exam more often than is required now.

[wcaclimbing]

both are bad

young: no experience

old: bad seeing, reaction, etc

[vtmarik]

So going with your logic, older drivers haveing more experience should make up for their old age?

In theory, yes.

Just what is the age of senior citizenship? Shouldn't younger drivers have to take the road test just as often since they don't have the experience?

65, or at least that's what it is in Florida. And no, since they just took the test, I think another test 50 years later isn't wholly out of the question

Just for the record I am in my early 50's and I think all drivers should have to take the road test and eye exam more often than is required now.

I agree, getting points off your license shouldn't be "Rent this instructional video and bring us the receipt"

[Evil Semp]

You don't get to go 50 years without a test in Florida. If that is true I will never have to get a test again.

It's not that one is worse than the other it is a combination of both. I think the biggest problem is the left lane lovers. They get on the Interstate of 6 lane road in a cith and it is like a magnet, the car goes straight to the left {passing} lane and stays there for miles, and miles and miles.

I would prefer to be hit by someone who is only going 40 rather than someone who is going 70. That is the basic difference of the two.

[salvadevinemasse]

im afraid 2 get in the car with my grandma

Whys that? tell us more I'm interested..

The reason I brought this whole topic up was because of experiences I've had and my mom has had too. My mom went to a farmers market once and an old driver plowed through almost hitting my mom.. and actually hitting this little russian girl that my mom helped. My mom is what they call a first responder meaning that shes been CPR trained and such. Well the little girl had a broken leg luckily that was about it..
I was with her but I was in the car and I didnt notice anything because I was so into my music I didnt care what was going on around me... The driver btw was 79 years old and had just been let out of the hospital.

Then my mom went again..only this time with my dad because he wanted to show her it would be okay... it was the first time since she had been through that and boom another car accident happened while she was there.. This time it was a couple instead of just some older man...
the driver, a 55 year old man, and his wife both hit a younger woman around 36 or so from what I remember...I dont know if she made it they really never said on the news and my mom called the hospital but since she wasnt a friend or family they wouldn't tell her anything about the woman.

My mom really hasnt gone back..can you blame her really?

My experience though is that I was in the car with my grandma I told her stop as she was backing up and boom she went into my dads brand new car! Now let me tell you, there was no major damage luckily.. but to have a crying grandmother sucks!

Not to mention that it was new for a reason... My fathers old car got plowed into by a drunk driver a woman who was 34 and wasted beyond belief from what the cops/people who were there said.. I'm just lucky that I didnt lose my father in that accident

To make it worse my uncle and aunt had been in a car accident the week before my dad got into his.. Their accident was more well.. okay the cop was going to fast and they couldnt pull over untime so the cop crashed into my uncle and aunt and then gave them a ticket for not yeilding to a police officer.

I myself have been in a car accident but only as passenger.. I havent ever been the driver in an accident and hopefully will never have to go through that ordeal! My cousin was driving the woman instantly stopped he went right into the rear of her mini van...oddly enough, she had just moved to america and she had my last name!

yes I know its not just old people...I had an ex die last year of a motorcycle accident on A1A here in FL from speeding and being an idiot in a way. He wasnt even 21 yet!

Keep posting guys, I want to know your opinions on these things and feel free to tell me about your experiences too! Even Vent if you want to!

Salva-

[stinkycheese]

My grandfather uses his left foot for the brakes and his right foot for the gas.

[strike wolf]

My grandfather doesn't even drive. He got his license renewed and I don't think he's used his car since.

[Stopper]

My grandfather uses his left foot for the brakes and his right foot for the gas.

Well, I should hope so, too - I hope he drives on the right side of the road as well...

One thing that irked me here in the UK a couple of months ago was when an old biddy drove a couple of miles down the wrong (right) side of a dual carriageway very near me - (That would be a four-lane road, two on each side, with a central reservation) - and at night...

And for this demonstration of utter dementia, what did the magistrate say? She didn't even need to re-take her test unless it happened again. And why? Because she and her even-more-demented husband were reliant on the car for shopping, hospital visits and such-like.

What about the rest of us? I'm reliant on not getting killed by loonies like her!!

[Kernal_Kronic]

Old people really suck @ driving...They drive too slow, can't see as well as everybody else & there's a possibility that they could fall asleep at the wheel

After a certain age you shouldn't be allowed to drive unless you pass your license again.

But beside old people, LOTS of people can't drive...It drives me mental

[heavycola]

Who cares if they drive slowly? Everyone should slow down. Fucking cars anyway, i hate them. Especially SUVs. Anyone who drives an SUV who isn't a) in a war zone b) a hill farmer should be forced to suck on its exhaust pipe until their greedy, planet-raping lungs explode.

Ontopic: My grandfather is 91 and he still drives into town once a week. And if anyone beeps at him for going too slowly i slash their tires and beat their fat heads against their steering wheel until the airbag pops open. Well it's a particular fantasy of mine.
Ride bikes until you're too old, then you get to have a car. Whiny whiny civil rights blah blah bullshit. 600 yards is the maximum the average american (i say american because that's where this study was done) will wlak beofre he gets into his or her car. 600 fucking yards. Something is very, very wrong with that.

[strike wolf]

Who cares if they drive slowly? Everyone should slow down. Fucking cars anyway, i hate them. Especially SUVs. Anyone who drives an SUV who isn't a) in a war zone b) a hill farmer should be forced to suck on its exhaust pipe until their greedy, planet-raping lungs explode.

I disagree. coming from a large family, I know that a car that can fit at least 6 people comfortably is a necessity on vacations. It's better than us taking 2 different more gas efficient cars.

[salvadevinemasse]

Who cares if they drive slowly? Everyone should slow down. Fucking cars anyway, i hate them. Especially SUVs. Anyone who drives an SUV who isn't a) in a war zone b) a hill farmer should be forced to suck on its exhaust pipe until their greedy, planet-raping lungs explode.

I disagree. coming from a large family, I know that a car that can fit at least 6 people comfortably is a necessity on vacations. It's better than us taking 2 different more gas efficient cars.

Yeah I can see the use for them only with big families but not if you only have 1 kid and theres only 3 people who'll be in the car you know? Do it within reason kinda thing!

Salva-

[Evil Semp]

Old people really suck @ driving...They drive too slow, can't see as well as everybody else & there's a possibility that they could fall asleep at the wheel

After a certain age you shouldn't be allowed to drive unless you pass your license again.

But beside old people, LOTS of people can't drive...It drives me mental

Kronic what about the young party goers who fall asleep on their way home at 4am, or worse yet drive drunk.

The younger drivers take more chances than they should. I was passing a truck on the Interstate, I was in the left lane and a young driver passed the truck on the shoulder of the road. Or the one driving the wrong way on the Interstate because he missed his exit, rather than getting off at the next exit he just turned around and went back. Luckily there was no traffic at that time.

[Jolly Roger]

Who cares if they drive slowly? Everyone should slow down. Fucking cars anyway, i hate them. Especially SUVs. Anyone who drives an SUV who isn't a) in a war zone b) a hill farmer should be forced to suck on its exhaust pipe until their greedy, planet-raping lungs explode.

I disagree. coming from a large family, I know that a car that can fit at least 6 people comfortably is a necessity on vacations. It's better than us taking 2 different more gas efficient cars.

I also disagree. My wife and I live in the country and our Civic just won't cut it in the winter when we occasionally need to drive through two foot drifts in order to make it home from work. We bought an SUV to use in the winter time because it was more fuel efficient than many other four wheel drive vehicles.

[stinkycheese]

My grandfather uses his left foot for the brakes and his right foot for the gas.

Well, I should hope so, too - I hope he drives on the right side of the road as well...

Is that how they teach you to drive in the UK?

[Stopper]

My grandfather uses his left foot for the brakes and his right foot for the gas.

Well, I should hope so, too - I hope he drives on the right side of the road as well...

Is that how they teach you to drive in the UK?

Actually, I've just driven back from shopping today, and I've just realised I use my right foot for the accelerator AND the brakes, and my left foot for the clutch... Right at this moment, I'm mimicking driving the car just to make sure I've got it right....I might kill a lot of people tomorrow when I go to work...

[Hoff]

old asian ladies are the worst...

[stinkycheese]

My grandfather uses his left foot for the brakes and his right foot for the gas.

Well, I should hope so, too - I hope he drives on the right side of the road as well...

Is that how they teach you to drive in the UK?

Actually, I've just driven back from shopping today, and I've just realised I use my right foot for the accelerator AND the brakes, and my left foot for the clutch... Right at this moment, I'm mimicking driving the car just to make sure I've got it right....I might kill a lot of people tomorrow when I go to work...

Yes...I thought it was a bit weird that it was considered normal to drive like that in the UK.

My grandfather drives an automatic.

[salvadevinemasse]

My grandfather uses his left foot for the brakes and his right foot for the gas.

Well, I should hope so, too - I hope he drives on the right side of the road as well...

Is that how they teach you to drive in the UK?

Actually, I've just driven back from shopping today, and I've just realised I use my right foot for the accelerator AND the brakes, and my left foot for the clutch... Right at this moment, I'm mimicking driving the car just to make sure I've got it right....I might kill a lot of people tomorrow when I go to work...

I can only drive automatics so there is no clutch on my car.. 2005 cavalier is what I drive..Beautiful and silver.. maybe someday if I get a picture of myself in front of it I'll do the taking a picture of a picture thing on my webcam and show you..Its a gorgous car! I almost have enough to make the first car payment but I need to give 1 more massage and that means I need a more reliable job...So tomorrow I wont be on here as much because I'll be job hunting. Dont you just love when you have to go job hunting? ugh.. I just cant wait till I can open my own business.. business will be alot more reliable then anything else!! ttyl!!!!

Salva-

[heavycola]

Who cares if they drive slowly? Everyone should slow down. Fucking cars anyway, i hate them. Especially SUVs. Anyone who drives an SUV who isn't a) in a war zone b) a hill farmer should be forced to suck on its exhaust pipe until their greedy, planet-raping lungs explode.

I disagree. coming from a large family, I know that a car that can fit at least 6 people comfortably is a necessity on vacations. It's better than us taking 2 different more gas efficient cars.

I also disagree. My wife and I live in the country and our Civic just won't cut it in the winter when we occasionally need to drive through two foot drifts in order to make it home from work. We bought an SUV to use in the winter time because it was more fuel efficient than many other four wheel drive vehicles.

I live in London. I can understand large families or rural folk owning one, no problem. But I am a cyclist and every week i am fenced in by twats driving these tanks to work while i choke on their fumes and scream obscenities. Here they are nothing more than status symbols for soccer moms and dangerous penile extensions for overpaid suits, and driving one through this city's narrow and already overpolluted streets is indefensible. As is owning one just because you can. Luckily our mayor is a raving socialist and is going to tax the shit out of them. Yay Ken! I heart you lots.
My POV is firmly as city-dweller.

[Stopper]

My POV is firmly as city-dweller.

I'd already assumed that, and was going to point that out, but even so, even in (British) semi-rural areas (I live in one) the monsters that are actually ever covered in mud are massively outnumbered by the suspiciously-clean ones. Of course, I'm saying nothing about the Americans here who actually live in extreme environments, but I bet many Americans are much the same.

I'd tax larger cars to buggery myself - which should be quite profitable for the Govt, as I remember reading (after the last budget, I think) - about a study which concluded that it would take an annual road tax of £5,000 before sales of larger domestic vehicles were likely to dip...Extra status symbol in maintaining the tax, you see.