Elderly drivers - if and when should they be re-tested?

[givemeaspell]

I used to be a regular poster on these boards, however been MIA for a while.  However just wondering what peoples thoughts are on licences with elderly.  There have been quite a few accidents recently, accelorator being mistaken for brake etc.  I know there are also alot of accidents with P Platers.  However, when should someone give up driving?  Who makes that decision? Speaking to a local shop owner the other day and he told me about a guy that is very unstead on his feet and in his opinion should not be driving, is it the shop keepers responsibility to report him? Have people had to tell elderly parents they should no longer be driving (when the time comes?)

interested in thoughts.

[serendipityricho]

Maybe start the other way-18-25 year olds first..........................Richo.

[gec2002]

Yes either way, we will eventually have no accidents

[esayaf]

Won't be an issue for to much longer as driverless cars will be available .

[i-once-was-bump]

I was horrifed at the thought of my father getting a restricted license because a limit of 10km from home would have seen him on some of the busiest roads in the area and the state.

My sister and brother in law decided to come up one weekend and put it to mum and doad that dad could no longer drive and if there were any problems my brother in law would drive their car back to Sydney (I was going to gather up the keys in the morning they were coming up).

My father ended up in hospital on the Wednesday and I managed to see the Dr by himself and told him that we wanted dad to stop driving but mum wouldn't support our decision.

The doctor went in and said to dad that he would have to give up driving until they got his health problems sort out and Dad in a fit of pique bellowed at the dr that if he would never drive again if the dr was going to take that sort attitude when there was nothing wrong with his driving. "I'll show you" were his last words to the dr on driving.

I know of too many elderly couples where they drive the car together, one does the physical part and the other does all the directions and that scares the bejesus out of me.

But that usually starts when one of them lose their license in their 80s.

I think you should think long and hard about driving if you have suffered a serious or long term illness. If you are so sick you have to give up work then should you really be driving a car?

[cezm]

Yes, it worries me that so many red and green P platers (in Qld) don't seem to know the road rules - particularly about use of roundabouts and speed limits.

If they have only recently taken their test and appear already to have forgotten, what will they be like as drivers when they get to 70?

[i-once-was-bump]

They haven't forgotten, it is just their bad attitude.

I drove too fast when I got my license but back then it was more like open counrty roads but all that now is medium to high density housing and very busy roads.

I knew the law was no pubs or clubs for under 18s but I went to pubs and clubs.

It is all about attitude and that the law doesn't apply to them.

Many think they are bullet proof at that age.

[esayaf]

Unfortunately nobody now is actually taught how to drive. They learn some awful skills from their parents and then if they have any professional instruction it is just enough to pass the test. This country is pretty woeful at doing anything and driver education is at the top of the list. Thankfully driving will be become a thing of the past

[bluecat*dancing]

My kids were taught by professionals and it was only after x amount of sessions that we supervised their driving.

I think there was a collective sigh of relief when my old aunty finally hung up her car keys, even though she only drove to the local shops. Due to cancer, she only had sight in one eye and her vision wasn't all that good in the remaining eye. Once, she inadvertantly cut off another car and said,"Oh, look, that nice man just waved at me."

He wasn't waving.

[jean2579]

Since most speed limits around here are either 100 or 110 I limit my driving to 9 to 4 when there is less traffic. Even the back roads are 80. Due to 2 recent cataract ops my vision is excellent but I do know that I do not have the natural reaction time of a younger person and at these speeds that is critical.

[jean2579]

Anyway I am only 71 how does that make me elderley 😡😤😛