Did you actually read and understand fully what I said about the elderly driver in my post with respect to his responsibilty.

Les

 

You can be breaking the law and still driving safely !

Based on our antiquated motorway speed limits that is........................................

 

In other words-you consider yourself to be above the law then.

You must be terribly important...not royalty or an MP are you?

Les

 

No, I have diplomatic immunity !

I can only imagine that you don't drive much on UK motorways ?

The vast majority of traffic tends to travel at 80mph or more, the police don't even waste their time and resources trying to enforce the 70mph limit, the country would grind to a halt if they did.

Driving 'illegally' does not mean that by definition you are driving 'badly' the two things are completely different.

If you choose to obey a 40 year old law that was imposed without research in the first place, that is up to you.

I drive to the road and conditions and rely on judgement and observation.

 

I agree with the voices

 

+2 with the voices!

Road safety is much better than doing a few mph over. I'd much rather see someone going passed me at 80mph than somebody swerving over the road as they talk on their phone, eat, smoke, read a map, or a just simply have no perception of road awareness!

And anyone who says they haven't creapt over 70 is in my eyes telling porkies! Even if you stick cruise control on, going down hills it goes beyond the speed limit. Not disagreeing with the fact it's unlawful or say I speed, however, even the speed cameras are supposedly set to give you 10% +3/4mph (80/81mph), and if you do 70 on a motorway you get left behind by most traffic!

 

And regarding the original post, yes, I would inform the police!

We had to phone them as for 2 days in a row we saw an elderly lady come out of a junction, go around the roundabout the wrong way on to 40mph dual carriageway (main road) and head towards a busy traffic light controlled system. Luckily it was at a quiet period of the day. Certainly a hazard you aren't expecting to see, surprisingly we haven't seem her or her car since!

 

+3 with the voices, the voice of reason

 

That principle is all wrong. Laws are made principally to protect the members of a society and you are not important enough to pick and choose which laws you may or may not obey, diplomatic immunity or not!
It largely depends on whether you are prepared to accept living in an organised society which has self imposed rules. Should we all just do whatever we want regardless of how it affects others,is that your idea?
One point of course is that although cars handle better these days, human reactions and basic ability have not changed over the years. You might consider yourself to be a star as far as your driving ability is concerned,but then you are likely to be biased!

If you feel so strongly about the maximum then you do of course have the right to complain to the authorities and lobby your MP to get the limit changed. In the meantime the law states the maximum speed you are allowed to use.

Les

 

There is still a law kicking about that states that no one may carry out their profession or calling on Christmas Day (think it dates from the 1620's)

Technically this means that police officers working tomorrow should place themselves under arrest ?

Another example of a pointless, outdated law that no one bothers to obey !

I agree with speed limits where there is proven, scientific evidence to support a lower speed, for example statistics showing that pedestrian deaths or serious injuries are reduced by lowering some limits to 30 or even 20mph.

The national speed limit of 70mph on the other hand was decided upon without the benefit of any proven benefits (except, perhaps, for better fuel economy during the oil crisis ?)

If you want to stick to this maximum, no problem.

All I ask is that everyone on the road maintains a high level of awareness and observation just in case not everyone else follows your example.

The majority of accidents are caused by bad driving not outright speed.

I always fall apart laughing when some road safety campaigner who thinks we should still have a man with a red flag in front of the car states that the majority of accidents are speed related.

Of course they are you cretin !

If the car or cars were stopped, there couldn't be an accident, so speed was a factor !

 

as I sit here enjoying my Xmas minced pie (and a glass or two all I can say to that my friend is OUTSTANDING. accidents are caused by BAD DRIVING not necessarily speed merry Christmas

 

The police can fill in a form in relation to someone who is no longer fit to drive due to medical problems and send it to the DVLA. The DVLA do take it quite seriously TBH - but if they dont know they cant do anything - and of course it does not stop them driving if they really want too.

 

Nuff said.

 

When my late dad (God bless him) was getting on for 70 years old he sent his licence back to DVLA and got me to sell his car for him. He had the common sense to realise he was getting close to the point where he would no longer be a safe driver due to his age and poor health. He was still a pretty good driver in my opinion, but he said he knew in himself his reaction time and physical abilities were a lot less than they used to be.
Wish you were still with us Dad

 

Your old man sounds like he was a class act, I still have my dad at 74 who is just taking the same difficult decision but like you just said I also wish he was still with you too. . Andy

 

+4 with The Voices. Absolutely spot on mate.

BTW, anybody can pick and choose the laws they obey, provided that they are aware of and prepared to live with the consequences of doing so.

Right or wrong is a whole different debate.

 

My father did the very same at about 73. He just woke up one morning and said that's it. Honorable man.

 

at the end of the day, is driving in excess of 70mph on a road where this is the limit an offence?
paying attention to road conditions and driving accordingly is common sense, but if you stray over the limit are you breaking the law - and what does that law actually state?

its like nundreds of laws in this country, considered out of date, non applicable ect ect - but if caught breaking them you still MAY end up in some kind of trouble.

id agree for the speed limit thing in some cases its ludicrous, in others its not.

 

Too difficult for you to think of something to say then!

Les

 

Can't be ar5ed.

 

Or are even capable!

Les

 

I had an old gentleman (well, not so gentle tbh) who I pulled out in front of at a junction, as he kindly let me do so by slowing down. But even then, he was pointing at me like a ***** and muttering some indignant fennachennabennah at me that I could hear anyway, Ha! May be he didn't really slow down and that was the speed he drove at i.e. 1 mile per hour. I don't know what he expected but what I do know is that some elderly people are just impossible!

 

Oh don't talk to me about OAP drivers. You're sitting behind them at the lights when they change to green, about half a minute later they finally decide to pull away and you just manage to follow them across the junction before the lights change back to red. You're coming upto the next set of lights still behind them just as the lights are changing to red and what do they do? you guessed it they sail through the red light.

 

I've said what I have to say in my previous post. You on the other hand obviously have unresolved issues as you keep resurrecting the thread.

 

Old Bill informed (not that I enjoyed it) and they said they would follow it up by having a quiet word. Just hope it works before the old guy takes himself out or somebody else. Andy

 

I think you guys are being a bit harsh, look at Jeremy Clarkson, he is doing okay for an old codger.

But seriously, they are dangerous on the road but now and then you do see some old guy who knows how to drive.

 

Did it occur to you that you might be the unresolved issue?

Les

 

I'm the unresolved issue in many peoples lives

 

Les

 

Its a bit harsh stopping old people driving, but some of them it is downright dangerous.

I live a little out in the sticks, a few elderly homes around and so theres a fair few of em driving round here.

What always gets me is when they get to the shops, it takes some of them 5 mins to get out of the car, get the walking stick and then struggle to barely walk into the shop. If they can't even walk how can they be driving a car with any kind of control......