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[Shackeng]

You're right there Stemo, I've been asked to do some speed enforcement outside a local school next time I'm on earlies due to the local crossing patrol nearly getting knocked over by parents on the school run  Can't believe it can ya (well yeah nowt suprises me anymore)

Andy - He wasn't known to us before mid 20's never been in trouble 

I can.. I used to live just off a largeish long straight road with a school at one end; occasionally in the dead of night you'd hear cars tearing up and down it.

Clearly the mummies residents complained and the council put in 'speed cushions' - so high that I had to come to a complete stop and crawl over them, rearranging the paintwork on the floorpan of my car as I did so.

The mothers dropping their kids off at school? Oh, they'd fly past me, beeping their horns at being held up, wrong side of the road, wrong side of the pedestrian refuge bollards, 40mph, bouncing over them in their 4x4s...

I've come to the conclusion that mum's doing the school run in our village are only allowed to do so IF they have an SUV.

[Andy H]

You're right there Stemo, I've been asked to do some speed enforcement outside a local school next time I'm on earlies due to the local crossing patrol nearly getting knocked over by parents on the school run  Can't believe it can ya (well yeah nowt suprises me anymore)

Andy - He wasn't known to us before mid 20's never been in trouble 

Ah - difficult. Could well be youthful stupidity so lets hope he doesn't have his career screwed as a result.
& doesn't make the habit of stupid mistakes.

[Terbs]

As phones have been mentioned, I'd like to see what Jason thinks about them, as a member of the law. I am led to believe that using a phone is equal to being over the drink drive limit (automatic ban)...so do you think phone users should be automatically banned.

IMO they should 

[dbug]

While we're on the subject (kind of, and I know this is a touchy one) older drivers really should have to pass some kind of proficiency test at, say, 67-70 years old and every three years after. There are some lovely old folk round here but, Jesus, I really don't know how they haven't killed anyone yet.

I certainly haven't killed anyone yet - probably driving too fast to notice 

[Shackeng]

While we're on the subject (kind of, and I know this is a touchy one) older drivers really should have to pass some kind of proficiency test at, say, 67-70 years old and every three years after. There are some lovely old folk round here but, Jesus, I really don't know how they haven't killed anyone yet.

I don't know the statistics, but I suspect that, while the occasional 'wrong side of the M-way older driver' gets lots of press coverage, less accidents are caused by older drivers than those, say, 40 or under, if insurance premiums are any guide. I realise that my reactions are probably not what they were when I held a rally license, so, I hope, I drive accordingly.

[chrisgixer]

Personally, I often wonder if re tests should be taken periodically.

1 brush up on changes in rules and latest thinking in tests. The test most of us took originally, is nothing like the latest test.

2 keep on top of health issues and competancy. Eye tests etc.

3 add a motorway test.

4 uk/eu licence holders only. Ie none of this international license rubbish.



Plus, I'm sure some people are acquiring/passing tests and licenses that simply are not at pass level.

[chrisgixer]

Although, all of that is useless if there's no enforcement. Which there isn't ATM.

[MR MISTER]

While we're on the subject (kind of, and I know this is a touchy one) older drivers really should have to pass some kind of proficiency test at, say, 67-70 years old and every three years after. There are some lovely old folk round here but, Jesus, I really don't know how they haven't killed anyone yet.

I don't know the statistics, but I suspect that, while the occasional 'wrong side of the M-way older driver' gets lots of press coverage, less accidents are caused by older drivers than those, say, 40 or under, if insurance premiums are any guide. I realise that my reactions are probably not what they were when I held a rally license, so, I hope, I drive accordingly.

There are many, many older drivers who are more than competent, probably the majority.  But there are a significant minority who are dangerous. As time passes, and people live longer, we will have a lot of drivers into their nineties. Surely we must make sure they are safe to be on the road?
One can only compensate for slowing reactions, ie. leaving a bigger gap, braking earlier etc., for so long before we become overcautious and irritate other road users, thus becoming a liability.
I have more than a passing interest as it won't be long before I would be affected and, although I think I'd be fine at an actual driving test, I wouldn't fancy the hazard perception one.

[Kevin Wood]

Personally, I often wonder if re tests should be taken periodically.

Agreed. I can't think of any other regime in which people operate machinery that's potentially dangerous to 3rd parties without some form of regular assessment or retraining.

[tigers_gonads]

Personally, I often wonder if re tests should be taken periodically.

1 brush up on changes in rules and latest thinking in tests. The test most of us took originally, is nothing like the latest test.

2 keep on top of health issues and competancy. Eye tests etc.

3 add a motorway test.

4 uk/eu licence holders only. Ie none of this international license rubbish.



Plus, I'm sure some people are acquiring/passing tests and licenses that simply are not at pass level.

Agree with that 100% Chris 
In fact, i'd enforce a refresher every 5 years after the age of 50.

Nothing too drastic, just a 2 hour drive with a mix off town / country / motorway with a quick eye / highway code test thrown in at the end.
People should get a reminder then be given 3 months to book the test.

Things to look out for on the test should be lane discipline (no sitting at 34 mph in the outside lane of a duel carriageway) 

As for drink driving, the dick should be looking at 2 years inside for that and if he wants sympathy reference his job, he can find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis 

[ronnyd]

I don,t think it,s an age thing it,s more down to awareness. Living near a school as well some of the driving/ parking
is a disgrace. The kids who walk to school can,t walk on the pavement as it,s full of cars, drivers of both sexes i may add.
As for the age thing i am probably a bit biased, er i,m sixty eight.

[hotel21]

Bit of a mixed bag of views being bandied about along with a fair smattering of sweeping generalisations.

I'm mid 50's and consider myself substantially sharper on the road than most around me thanks to to my police persuit/SED/TPAC/firearms/police biker etc background.

My wife is a similar age. Since she started to drive she has steadfastly refused to look out any window of the car bar the windscreen and (very) rarely the drivers side window. I love her to bits but sometimes she scares me when driving.

So see it from both sides, I suppose, as regards retesting.

Point is, my other half hasn't improved too much since she passed her test at 17..... 

[bigegg]

I have no comment on the alleged drunk driver.
I am sure his punishment will be as the law dictates 
And they say a copper's never around when you need one!

As to periodic re-tests due to age - I think it should be periodic re-tests regardless of age. say every 5 years.

I got my car ridiculously cheap cos the old bloke that owned it from new "decided" that he wasn't fit to drive any more  at 74

[Andy B]

....

And they say a copper's never around when you need one!
 ....

of only a copper had been around this  morning Knob Head behind me decided to overtake me on the pedestrian crossing by going on the other side of the centre island ...... and half a mile up the road did the same with another car in front. 

[Andy B]

......
 ......that he wasn't fit to drive any more  at 74

my Dad is 76 and still drives to work