Cars and driving?

ERIC S

Relating to the second part of your question, I am eighty with sixty years accident free driving experience, including a period with London's buses, being responsible for training and administration of several hundred other drivers. If you compare the accident and death rate of under twenty- fives against the over sixties you will find and think that all under 25s should be banned. Of course that is ridiculous, there are good and bad drivers in all age groups, the old do have the experience, the younger perhaps quicker reaction, but the way some of them drive their reaction is still not quick enough. The answer to your question, ' no' old people should not be banned, neither the young. People who break the law should be and quite often are banned, those that don't insure or pay road taxes and what have you.

Bear

My old man is 77 this year,and has never had an accident,why should he be stopped from driving?

Bardic

I doubt there are any statistics about the age of car buyers. The insurance companies, though, should be able to tell you at least approximately the numbers of insured drivers in various age groups.

Actually, that partly answers your other question. Ask the insurers what age groups tend to have (or cause) the most accidents - I think you'll find that's the under-25's. The last I heard it was under-25 males, with females catching up.

There are good drivers and bad drivers in all age groups. Often the elderly may be a little slower to react, but their experience enables them to start reacting sooner or avoid a developing situation.

Panshine

Before you start to talk about older people and asking if they should drive may I ask, is it possible for you to take some lessons in spelling, grammar and typing.
When you have done this, write a coherent letter to any motor insurance company and ask them your last question, you will most certainly get a surprise.

rookethorne

Many a time I have seen the question raised about old people being allowed to drive.

What happened to courtesy and consideration?

Why should any driver consider that they are better than any other?

All I see on todays roads are impatience, abuse, single mindedness and pure dangerous driving habits.

And thats just the young girls.

I was rear-ended a few months back by a young lady of about 19 years, who expressed her displeasure at my stopping in front of her for no apparent reason - the language emitted was textbook gutter.

When I pointed out the roadworks traffic lights she replied that they didn't count because they were only temporary.

Didn't do much damage to the Landrover, but her rice mobile certainly didn't drive away.

I suppose you only have to consider insurance premiums to realise who the real risks are.

Carole H

Yeah the oldies should be able to drive, but i think they should have regular eye and health tests. I know someone who drives in his late 70s but he's as blind as a bat, and doesnt' always remember where he as parked his car.

ANF

Age, up to a point, is not an issue with driving. I know of 70 year olds that cannot drive very well and probably have never driven well through their life. I know of younger people that think they are good drivers but cannot grasp the basics such as speed limits, making signals, road courtesy etc. I know of 80 year olds that can only drive forwards, cannot drive faster than 2nd gear will allow and never use any signals etc. In those same groups I know people that can drive well at the proper speeds, use signals always and are courteous road users. There is no cut off age and every driver is an individual and the "Should drive" question you ask should be applied to all age groups from 17 to 90.

UCANTCME

Try this site........

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/

Yes but they should not be singled out but instead everyone should be required to retest every two years...........

Wrestles4Food

First of all, how many cars are bought according to age group in UK? I don't understand that question unless you're talking about splitting up the percentage of all cars bought among age groups, there I can't help you.

I can help you with the old people question. Old people have the right to own and operate an automobile, however, they're old. In general, old people have slower reaction times, worse sight, and other sorts of ailments that younger people don't necessarily have to deal with. Sooooo, personally I think older people should have to get their license renewed more often than younger people do just to make sure they are fit to drive a car. I'm not saying that there are absolutely no old people with eagle eyes and cat-like reflexes. There are plenty of 18-year-olds that can responsibly enjoy alcohol, but the drinking age is still 21 because it's not worth risking those who can't. The same applies here with old people and their ability to drive safely.

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