I think people should lay off H.O.D, he's admitted his guilt and he's said he's learnt his lesson.

He's had to learn it the hard way which, if everyone's being honest, they've had to do at some point in their lives. Not long after I passed my test I learnt the hard way not to assume people will pull out into large enough gaps in traffic. Trust me, after having to pay £400 to fix my car and also face an insurance hike, I learnt that lesson quickly.

I can completely see what he's trying to say as well. If someone thinks it's a good idea to come to a complete stop and try to attempt a u-turn on a busy dual carriageway without good reason and without consideration to other traffic then that person clearly needs a reassessment of their ability to be in control of a vehicle.

Just my 2p's worth.

Matt

edit: I also agree with others on everyone being retested every 5-8 years, yes it'll be expensive but it'll improve the driving standards on the roads no end. And flame me if you want but I also think if a person isn't capable of passing their driving exam(s) within the first three attempts they should have to wait a certain amount of time (say 3 years) before being allowed to apply again. If you can't work it out in three attempts then maybe you shouldn't really be in charge of over a ton ofhigh speed metal.

:saythat:

I feel your pain, H.O.D, hope that you can be financially saved.

I'm torn on this one. It wa commented that the driving age should be moved up.

I'm an 18 year old driver of my Dad's 105bhp Octavia estate as well as a 5bhp (i swear it's that slow) Citroen AX, and i feel that in either of these two cars i am in full control of the vehicle and have a good understanding of the road, and its users around me.

Yet the kid across the road in his 106 Chavsilver should never have passed. He is dangerous. No other way of describing him. Poor overtakes, many close cat near misses, and one very dangerous turn in the road - and thats only when i've been watching!

And to be honest, the only way to stop this situation is to ban all chavs from the road. This way, there will be no people cutting us up and causing fatals, and we'll have to brake less hard to avoid these tw4ts, giving us more time to look out for these elderlies.

Anyway, don't these OAPS have FREEEEE bus passes to use? I know i'd use the bus a bit more if it were free.

I'll think you find that the under 30s kill more pepole on the roads than the over 80s.

So who's the greater hazard ?

I'll think you find that the under 30s kill more pepole on the roads than the over 80s.

So who's the greater hazard ?

Statistically true.

I'll think you find that the under 30s kill more pepole on the roads than the over 80s.

So who's the greater hazard ?

But then again there's more under 30s on the road than over 80s....

lies, damn lies and statistics

Anyway, don't these OAPS have FREEEEE bus passes to use? I know i'd use the bus a bit more if it were free.

It's all about freedom of choice.

Why should the elderly, you know, the people that made this country what it is today, be forced to use public transport. Could you see yourself as an OAP travelling to tesco's and back again (with a dozen or so bags). I know that I for one would hate to have to do that now, let alone when I've one foot in the grave.

Retest everyone. Every 5 years.

That way we get all the muppets off the road and increases awareness of changes to the HC and means everyone is trained to the same standard.

This then makes then makes the roads safer and less congested.

Brilliant. I may have just solved our transport, road safety, environmental and oil issues in one stroke.

Trouble is with that idea, you'll just end up with even more people driving without a licence, causing accidents for which they're not insured, etc. etc.

I agree with the idea in principle, but the practicalities are way off IMO...

While i agree with raising the age limit to when you can first start driving, i think this will just increase the amount of joyriders causing more trouble on the roads. I do think there should be a limit on how many tests you can take before having to either finally admit you can't drive or that maybe you need to take a few years out before restarting all your lessons and resitting your test.

Just my opinion though.

Trouble is with that idea, you'll just end up with even more people driving without a licence, causing accidents for which they're not insured, etc. etc.

I agree with the idea in principle, but the practicalities are way off IMO...

It would be a real tough nut to crack practically but it's looking like it's one of the only solutions that will really work.

It will never happen though. Not because of what you mentioned but because it will reduce tax revenues....

Cynicism is my middle name...

Trouble is with that idea, you'll just end up with even more people driving without a licence, causing accidents for which they're not insured, etc. etc.

I agree with the idea in principle, but the practicalities are way off IMO...

What we need, if they ever did do any of the things stated, is get more police on the roads and not behind the desks filling out paperwork. Get civil servants to do paperwork and the police on the road.

actully this is incorrect,as a hgv driver i leave a large gap in front of me,when pulling up to a junction i have had 3 accidents when people pull into my braking zone,they were all prosecuted for driving without due care:thumbup:

You leave a large gap in front, blimey you must be the only HGV driver who does, most on the M25 M4 M5 M etc etc seem to just tail gate, which is so nice for all the cars, cos when you eventual crash you can just roll over us and maybe graze your knee.

But I think thats a whole different argument.

I think one difficulty with reporting old people to the police who appear to have shown incompetence with a particular incident is that, on that basis, all drivers who make a mistake should equally be reported. I can't think what the police could or should do with the thousands of "reportings" they'd receive... :rubchin:

At least the motorist stopped in his own lane, presumably having slowed rather than doing an emergency stop, rather than doing what younger drivers with performance cars often do when seemingly lost which is to lead-foot and switch lanes giving other motorists little chance with the best will in the world. I've done that myself once and still shudder wondering what on earth possessed me :thumbdwn: I learned my lesson and only travel if I've got an inch by inch plan of where I'm going (like Postman Pat's road trip instructions).

Perhaps a good idea would be to give pensioners a free bus pass and a free satnav

Mo

A very interesting thread with some good ideas for the future... Perhaps my suggestion of a ban at 80 is a little harsh, but when you are this age the bodies' physiology has changed markedly and is slower.

Retest every 5 years sounds like the best plan, and that would be for everyone.

I think you already have to have a retest at 70, you know...?

I think you already have to have a retest at 70, you know...?

You think wrong; you have to reapply for your licence and self-certify that you're "fit to drive" but that's all. My Mum's 74.

You think wrong; you have to reapply for your licence and self-certify that you're "fit to drive" but that's all. My Mum's 74.

:rubchin: Hmm, bit of a cop-out from the government there. My late gran gave up driving in her 80s after running into a lorry. Turned out her tax and insurance had expired too - I guess in either case "the system" didn't catch her, though...

You leave a large gap in front, blimey you must be the only HGV driver who does, most on the M25 M4 M5 M etc etc seem to just tail gate, which is so nice for all the cars, cos when you eventual crash you can just roll over us and maybe graze your knee.

But I think thats a whole different argument.

Bit Harsh.. I've found HGV drivers to be the most predictable and Considerate motorway users by a long way! The only thing I wish wouldn't happen so much is HGV's overtaking up hills!

Some people just care about themself and their car on the road.

Slamming on the brakes is nae good.

A guy at work ploughed a works motor into the back of someone that braked in a 60 for no reason.

Looked away for a second then realised the guy had stopped, too late.

Too many bad drivers on the road, and i get really bad road rage! Ha.

Bit Harsh.. I've found HGV drivers to be the most predictable and Considerate motorway users by a long way! The only thing I wish wouldn't happen so much is HGV's overtaking up hills!

i think the government should insist that all hauliers buy big engined trucks,my 620 scania has no issues overtaking up hills:D

only till september tho,cos derv is up and scania have made the 620's too expensive,mortal 480bhp from then:(

personally I think there should be a retest for everyone every 5 years and upto the age of 21 you should be limited to a max BHP/Tourqe figure like they do with motorcyclist's.

In my younger day's I did some very stupid things and thankfully was only ever involved in 1 accident involving another car, oddly enough he was retired and used the right hand lane togo straight accross a round about and I used the left hand lane and he pulled across in front of me, I hit his rear corner and spun him round and off onto the side of the road. He was adament it was my fault but I was taught that if there are no signs indicating which lane to use on a round about then the left hand lane should be used for straight on, the police backed me up but still said I should have been prepared for him to pull across in front of me and therefore we should accept join responsibility for the accident I refused to and the copper started to tell me if I didn't accept it I would give me a ticket for driving without due care and attention :mad:, I did agree in the end and then it turned out that the eldely driver didn't have insurance but as we agreed we were both to blame we agreed no insurance claims would be made and we would fix our of damage out of our own pockets. thankfully the only damage to my car was a few scratches across the front bumper and a broken grill. Scrappie here I come. They don't build cars like they used to.

I learnt from this which is all you can do in an accident that may or may not be your fault.

Why don't they just fit every new car with a black box that when you enter an area with a restricted speed limit (30mph) the vehicle simply won't go over the designated speed.

Very young and very old drivers should have a symbol attached to the vehicle, similar to the 'P' plate system for new drivers. Then other road users could be alerted and take appropriate action.

There are a very high number of elderly drivers where I live, which can make driving interesting shall we say. I had an incident of one reversing into me when I was behind them at a petrol pump. They used my car as their stopping point before driving off completely oblivious. Now I just use their presence as a factor for having increased risk assessment and reaction skills

I would hate to have my independance taken away from me when old, but I would hate killing someone more.

In my younger day's I did some very stupid things and thankfully was only ever involved in 1 accident involving another car, oddly enough he was retired and used the right hand lane togo straight accross a round about and I used the left hand lane and he pulled across in front of me, I hit his rear corner and spun him round and off onto the side of the road. He was adament it was my fault but I was taught that if there are no signs indicating which lane to use on a round about then the left hand lane should be used for straight on, the police backed me up but still said I should have been prepared for him to pull across in front of me and therefore we should accept join responsibility for the accident

I was taught that you can use either lane for a straight ahead, provided that:-

1) Lane markings do not indicate otherwise (eg LH lane is left turn only).

2) Your exit route has at least 2 lanes.

What is slightly dodgy is changing RH to LH on the exit.

Bit Harsh.. I've found HGV drivers to be the most predictable and Considerate motorway users by a long way! The only thing I wish wouldn't happen so much is HGV's overtaking up hills!

Abit harsh???? do you actual drive, I spend most of my time on the motorways and all you see is lorries tailgaiting, pulling into lanes when cars are already in it, the saying goes if you cant see my mirrors i cant see you, fair enough but if i am in my lane dont bloody come in it so you can nearly kill me and spend the next five minutes overtaking the lorry infront, or its white van men driving anywhere but where they should, oh and then you have the BMWs that seem to want to marry your rear number plate, I aint saying car driver are saints cos we aint but lorries are far bigger and when it does go wrong they are far more likely to walk away then the car driver, basically I hate driving in England its just rubbish full of people who dont want to give way, give a inch or give a sh!t for your well being. blimey what a rant. you wouldnt know I drive on the M25 everyday.

When i say old i mean over 80! Or at least re test them!

This morning on the way to work coming off a round about onto a dual carriage way i was following a lady in a brand new A5. Infront of here was this old man (with hearing aid) in a toyota something. When he decide he was lost and stopped dead in the slow lane at rush hour! Now its a very busy road traffic in both lanes! The A5 hits the brakes hard and turns right slightly going into the right hand lane! I could turn at all car in the right hit brakes as hard as i could and went up the back of the A5 all cars sreaching to a holt around him!

Turns out he was lost thinking he could reverse back to the roundabout or wait or turn in the road!!!!! Resulting in me having to pay my excess and losing all no claims bonus and making a mess of the front bumper wing, light and bonnet!

Lucky for him the A5 managed to just miss him by turning so he has got off with nothing, after trying to report him to the polive for the dangerous driving, not just me lady in A5 and witness went to report him too! The police wont do anything, as he 'wasnt involved'

I say give anyone over the age of 80 a driving test this man is a danger to himself and others around him! and has now made me out of pocket!

I don't see how a hearing aid affects their ability to drive. I have a friend who is deaf in one ear and has an aid in the other and she can drive just fine. That is a purely ageist comment.

From what I am seeing you went into the back of another carm, and if this is the case then no matter how hard they stopped, the accident was your fault as you were too close as you couldn't stop in time to avoid them.

A child could have run out in front of him or something could have gone wrong with the car causing a full stop to happen. Even if they did a full emergency stop you should have a sufficient gap to react to this and come to a complete stop.

This incident has little to do with his age and more to do with the fact you were driving too close for the conditions.