Elderly drivers

I don't think it is so much elderly drivers who are solely to blame. It is drivers who no longer have all their facalities. Admitadely this mostly occurs in elderly drivers, but their are many drivers out there who are younger who should not be driving.

Elderly drivers just make the news. I bet you did not hear about the mid 30year old person here that has MS and drove through his garage door. He thought he was in reverse, but obviously not whe he accelerated. He had kids argueing in the back seat as well.
Medical assessments might need to be bought in at an earlier age for some people.

So are you going to post links to news article of vehicle crashes involving young drivers?

What is this supposed to prove?
You can see numerous accidents involving younger drivers each day – just watch the evening news.

KSV
Danger is everywhere and knowing how to recognize the danger is something nearly all people aren't taught. You have to learn it yourself.
It is unfortunate the woman and her child were in between the car and the wall at the critical time.
In a similar situation I check to see if the person is beginning a driving task and I won't walk between the car and something else if the engine is running. Risk is too high.
People hear engines around them all the time in car parks and become oblivious to the danger. Therein lies the potential problem.

Awareness and abilities are required by all. If you are more aware then you are less likely to place yourself in danger, it all depends if you recognize the danger. In this case danger was there.
Ross M

My local Coles car park has had 4 deaths in 3 years from drivers not having the car in the right gear. 3 went through the chemist window. I now park outside and walk in through the side door.
Andy

This graph from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says a lot:

Hi KSV,

So now you want to start another long and fruitless thread????? (:-))

Safe travels
Pop

There is no doubt in my mind that our ability diminishes with age. I'm 51 and I recognise the decline in my reflexes, eyesight and overall skill in general. Accordingly I have completed one driver training session and in just over a week will be doing an advanced course.

Meet Rafe Snader. He's 100 this week, and still drives himself everywhere in his late model Mazda 3 - that he bought when he was 95 - and he only bought it because the salesman promised him he'd get a good 15 yrs out of it!


http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16218582/centenarian-who-still-loves-to-jive/


This old bloke has visited us (drove himself here) - and I wouldn't have any problems being driven around by him. He's sharp as a tack, doesn't waffle when he talks, is upright and spritely - and is living proof that age doesn't mean you have to vegetate.


Part of the "aged driver" problem is that some people deteriorate very quickly at a relatively early age.
Docs are right onto the problem when they see it happening, and will report aged drivers as being in need of assessment.
However, some people whose driving skills have deteriorated, don't visit docs regularly enough and slip under the radar. These are the ones we have to worry about.


It's simple enough. If you have a senior relly whose driving/attention/mobility skills are deteriorating to a worrying level - get them assessed by their doc, promptly, to ensure they don't "slip through the net".


The different states have different regulations as regards aged drivers, that is where another anomaly lies. Victoria has no regulations for testing aged drivers after a certain age - other states have, and they vary from age 80 to 85, and vary in requirements after the aged driving test is carried out.


I believe everyone over retirement age should have a quick annual medical checkup to catch any conditions that might be affecting driving skills.


Most older drivers reduce the amount and timing of their driving to levels where they know they can cope. However, deterioration in eyesight & hearing, and muscle stiffness (particularly neck muscles) all play a significant part in reducing driving abilities.


We can all play our part in reducing aged driver problems by going for a drive with older rellies when we think they might be getting a bit suss behind the wheel.