AndyBaker

Just nearly got taken out by an old guy in our village, I was only doing about 20 mph thank god when he pulled straight out and turned left in front of me. Thing was he didn't even look right and I think because of his age which at a guess was certainly over 85 I don't think he could turn his head sufficiently.

Worst bit though was as he turned left he went straight over the kerb and thank goodness there was nobody on it.

Now do I tell the Old Bill as I have his reg and risk him losing his independence or do nothing and then find out later that he's really hurt somebody?

Mouser

Was he driving a Honda Jazz by any chance? :

Dale17

Tricky one, no one likes a grass mate, but if he's a danger then maybe.

RICHARD J

iTrader: (4)

Youv got to report him, it's his choice if he kills himself, but what if he wipes out a child or even a group of them. Sounds like he's not competent to drive anymore & comes a point when we have all got to stop for safety's sake.

greenonedave

It seems that the police have very few powers to prevent lesser able older people driving around, there was a recent case where a bloke in Colchester killed a girl on the pavement several days after his local plod suggested that he stopped driving.

AndyBaker

Mouser it was and I'm NOT joking.

Mouser

Not much of a guess really.

You should mention the incident to the Police especially as you have his number and let them decide what to do.

AndyBaker

Thanks guys, feel a bit bad but I have kids.

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

You sometimes have to be cruel to be kind

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

Never seen the point of old people, they're practically f*****g dead anyway !

Shamelessly stolen from 'Stella Street' !

RICHARD J

iTrader: (4)

I was involved in a similar incident recently where an old guy was endangering himself & others & the police responded to multiple complaints by contacting the family who persuaded him to sell the car & use public transport. His Nephew told me that he only drove 4 miles to the supermarket once a fortnight & had now realised he was better off financially & evryone was safer.

AndyBaker

Good result or everybody

jef

iTrader: (13)

ive had at least 3 very near incidents with elderly drivers. one reversed into my stationary car! he then got out and told me i had driven into the back of him, even through i was sitting with engine off, in a parking bay waiting on my wife??!

then ive had 2 cases of old people coming onto a large roundabout, then turning right into oncoming traffic and driving onto on coming traffic, people were swerving/braking to avoid him as he just trundled by almost unaware?

once you loose confidence or ability imfraid its an accident waiting to happen - with the risk of severe consequences

Matteeboy

Very old guy just missed me in the supermarket car park today. If he can't spot a three tonne van, how can he spot a toddler?

jef

iTrader: (13)

in most other areas of life youd be expected to express ability, why its not applied to people with up to 2 ton missiles.

its not a dig at old people really, but it should be risk assessed and actions taken to reduce the risk/harm to others.

stuwoac

this does annoy me this is why they get given a free bus pass

I know down here buses are a bit lacking but I would be very happy to take a elderly neighbour to the shop if I was going if they asked

also many older drivers I meet in the lanes drive 200% better that the new age lady with the car that is way to big for them and cant reverse

AndyBaker

:lol[QUOTE=stuwoac;10911302]this does annoy me this is why they get given a free bus pass

I know down here buses are a bit lacking but I would be very happy to take a elderly neighbour to the shop if I was going if they asked

also many older drivers I meet in the lanes drive 200% better that the new age lady with the car that is way to big for them and cant reverse.

David Lock

Old people should be put down at birth

========

But do they actully cause many serious accidents?

dl

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

I've almost been taken out on the motorway due to an elderly man. He was in the slow lane, I'm over taking in the middle lane at about 80mph, and he suddenly decides to pull into the middle lane to overtake a lorry (obviously didn't check any of his mirrors and no indication). Anyway, I had to suddenly swerve into the fast lane and almost hit a car in that lane.

Leslie

Do you honestly think you have the right to complain when you were breaking the law by driving at 80MPH?

Was the car in the outside lane overtaking you at more that 80mph, or were you "undertaking" him at the time?

Les

AndyBaker

Again priceless

AndyBaker

The actual cheek of daring to drive at 80 on a motorway. Bring back the death penalty

specialx

come on Les what ever speed he was doing does not give the old chap a right to pull out without checking it was safe does it?

I saw an OAP reversing out of a maccys drive through the other day he was so flustered that he could/wouldn't listen to droves of people trying to get him to go through the correct way! In the end white van man ran over and took his keys out of the ignition calmed him down then explained the correct way to drive through!

My dad is 74 and already his lane discipline is terrible and he drives so slow it causes a trail of disaster behind him! Me and my brother have siad we will take his keys off him if it's gets any worse, in a country where the government even tells me how I should feed my children the mind boggles there is no law for being to old behind the wheel.

Dr Hu

I like the ones who pull up to the petrol pumps and it physically takes them a good 10 minutes to get out of the car and lean heavily on the rear wing whilst they fill it up, then shuffle slowly to the shop.

They must have the reactions of a cat.... NOT!

360ste

iTrader: (1)

That does not suprise me, the time it takes them to pick A apple or banana when in a supermarket beggers belief.

Leslie

No, more like the cheek of complaing about someome's driving when you were breaking the law yourself!

Les

Leslie

Well there is the point that if the elderly man was doing 70, he could be said to be within his rights not to be expecting someone to be overtaking him, although I certainly agree that one should always check before pulling out of the lane.

If you are breaking the speed limit while overtaking on a motorway I reckon that you as the overtaking driver should be expecting the possibility that the other car might well pull out into your lane and you should be ready for that. He has not answered the question I asked and that is was he undertaking the car that he said he nearly hit?

I reckon that although the elderly chap pulled out in front of him, his own driving style was not so immaculate that he has the right to complain!

Les

legb4rsk

Hard to take a car away from the elderly but sometimes the best thing.
My mum had an accident and told me she was reversing out of her drive & the car shot backwards across the road and hit a tree.....all by itself.
She lives on a busy road & I dread to think of the consequences if someone was coming down the road................could have wiped out someone totally innocent.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Once you reach 75-80 you should have to have a bi-annual driving refresh test, just to make sure your still able to control a vehicle.

scoobynutta555

So you're driving at 70 miles an hour and you switch lanes without indicating, or it seems looking, and some sort of defence would be you shouldn't expect anyone to be driving above 70, or indeed any speed if they're already beside you? Seriously just 10mph over a 70 limit?

That's even if the guy who nearly got hit was in fact doing 80, an indicated 80 is usually out at least 5 mph over the real speed.

I can't for the life of me see why there isn't a competency test, or at least a proper eye test, for someone over the age of 70/80.