Should old people have to re-sit a driving test?

Liam_Flag

Seeing as how many of them never took a driving test in the first place to get their license.
Just thinking about it after reading about the crash on the M50 today.

*I know it's not clear who caused the crash* but I've witnessed some crazy carry on by older persons in cars over the years.



17/02/2011 - 20:35:05
The M50 has now reopened to traffic following an earlier collision involving six cars.

A total of three people have been taken to Hospital. Two women in their 70s were taken to St Vincent's Hospital where their conditions are described as stable.

The crash occurred southbound between the Cherrywood and M11 junctions at around 6.20pm this evening.

A man in his 30s has been taken to Loughlinstown Hospital where his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.


http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/m50-reopens-following-accident-493943.html

Celly Smunt

no but maybe women

Marcus.Aurelius

First we should actually have a decent driving test.

Why not appoint a Garda Traffic Corps member in each division to check out the skills of the over 80s, if they are crap they fail and it won't add to the current test waiting lists.

Oh wait, that can never happen, it makes sense.

What was I thinking? :pac:

kowloon

Old people speeding around in their souped up hatchbacks annoy everyone.
Once the bingo is over the streets are their hunting grounds.

Larianne

Yes, your cognitive ability decreases as you get older. Defo should have to be tested again when you hit your 70's.

Cerocco

YES!!

daenerysstormborn3

Reorganise the whole system.

Celly Smunt

pixiebean22 wrote: »

Reorganise the whole system.

like alphabetically?

Crasp

everyone should re-take a driving test, every 5-10 years. If you want to renew your licence, you should earn it.


Then they could stop charging €100 for it. You could get your re-test + new licence for €10.

Marcus.Aurelius

pmcmahon wrote: »

like alphabetically?

Chronologically, surely?

:pac:

Badgermonkey

Just Auntie Gaybo, can I get an amen?

Grid.

Definitely....I'd take them off the streets once they hit 60!!:rolleyes:

Celly Smunt

Gridlock wrote: »

Definitely....I'd take them off the streets once they hit 60!!:rolleyes:

i'd take them the the cemetery myself,fúckin coffin dodgers.

the groutch

there are alot of people out there who are well under 70 years old, who never had to take a test, because they were handed one in the late 70s / early 80s when the backlog was too big. they should be tested too imo

squod

Don't know how there isn't more accidents on motorways. Three cars today on the way down the M1 in the overtaking lane when there was feck all cars around generally and the inside lane was free.

Badgermonkey

Liam_Flag wrote: »

*I know it's not clear who caused the crash* but I've witnessed some crazy carry on by older persons in cars over the years.

Are Nissan Micras cars?

Faith+1

I only saw an oap today taking 5 minutes to reverse out of a parking space. There wasn't even cars parked to the left or right to her vechicle, she was looking around, stopping, starting, stopping, starting. There's bloody limits :eek:

Iwannahurl

Larianne wrote: »

Yes, your cognitive ability decreases as you get older. Defo should have to be tested again when you hit your 70's.

That's a bit imprecise, in this context.

Did a quick search for Irish stats re any possible association between age and crash risk. Didn't find anything showing higher risk for older age groups -- perhaps someone else can post it here? I imagine actuarial data would be particularly convincing.

I did find this Irish Times article, however: Young drivers biologically disposed to taking risks.

MidgetWrestler

It's not just older people, imo the quality of drivers in this country is awful. I think people should have to attend traffic school like in some other countries if they're caught doing silly things like turning right on a roundabout from the left lean, entering on left, cutting to right lane, back to left, to exit again in the left lane. Not indicating. Texting while driving. the list is never ending

Ev84

Some Oap's sight and co-ordination deteriorate quicker than others... Tests should get more frequent with age.

Iwannahurl

Ev84 wrote: »

Some Oap's sight and co-ordination deteriorate quicker than others... Tests should get more frequent with age.

Maybe we need an NDT to augment the NCT?!

Thing is, any such ongoing test regime would presumably have to be justified on road safety grounds.

What is the evidence regarding crash risk and age?

Yes they should. Experience counts for nothing when your brain is turning to mush.

Sugarlumps

Witnessed a auld codger a few years ago going in the opposite direction at a roundabout. It was a minor one in and around an estate near Fosters Avenue…insane. B*tch was probably listening to 50 Cent and fist pumping.

I think everyone should have to re-sit every 10 years or so.

cock robin

Take the elderly off the road at your peril. Without the olds fuel will increase in price and second hand car prices will rocket. The elderely dotter around consuming more fuel that the average joe at speeds which rarely exceed 50kmh. They service their cars more and spend shed loads of money on blankets and picnics. Leave them alone I say for who amongst us could deny that a second hand car add with "one careful elderly owner" in the description does not cause us all to salivate and rub our hands in glee.

Iwannahurl

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes they should. Experience counts for nothing when your brain is turning to mush.

I regularly see young male drivers engaging in reckless, dangerous muppetry on the roads, frequently at high speed. Many of them look like spotty teenagers to me (wearing the stereotypical gear that seems to annoy some people), though I often witness 20 and 30 somethings being similarly annoying, stupid and potentially lethal. Whatever about the crash statistics, I get the impression that there is no shortage of stupid young female drivers either -- completely unheeding of speed limits, yapping on their mobile phones, drinking coffee, applying makeup, and generally scaring all those careful male drivers.

So the question is: if some people's brains are mush from the start, what happens as they get older?

Iwannahurl

bluewolf wrote: »

I think everyone should have to re-sit every 10 years or so.

Sounds like a good idea. Here's an example of where it could be very useful, IMO.

Do you know whether such re-testing is done in other countries in the EU or further afield?