Is she too old to drive? Pensioner crashes into a marquee at a flower show and causes a terrorist alert?

It makes me cross that on something named such as this that we could condemn something for being because of ‘Age’!
Surely here we are all experienced in life to know that age is nothing but a number. There are so many people who shouldn’t be driving now and to there absolute shame they should know it. They are just too selfish to give up. I’m perfectly happy to speak up if I know the person well enough and have done so. I guess I’ve seen too many victims of accidents of elderly people who don’t want to loose the independence and/or have switched to automatic cars ?

I think it is quite ridiculous the way anyone can declare themselves fit to drive.

My dad insisted on going on until I contacted the DVLA and raised my concerns.

Two people were killed at Withington hospital by a man in his 90's.

My mother had to be forced to stop driving. Her cleaner got caught on a DUI and the car got impounded. I persuaded mum that it made more sense to sell it that pay the costs of getting it out and she actually went with the idea. Up until then she would get angry if anyone mentioned it. She was in her late 80s and had lost the use of one of her arms. She said that she was better driving because she lost her balance if she tried to walk. When I asked her about her reaction times she said 'the doctor hasn't said I can't drive so who are you to tell me'. I doubt it occurred to the doctor that she was still driving.
There is no clear age. I am in a retirement flat and there are plenty of people here who drive who I would get in a car with.

niobe I’m interested in your comment about the licence being renewed every three years after the age of 70. Yesterday I completed an online application for my renewal as I will be 70 in October. I am sure at the end of the process that it said it would be valid for 10 years and I commented to DH that I wondered if I would still be driving at 80. I think I am a safe driver but I’m sure I am not as confident as I was 10 years ago and I don’t like distractions like the grandchildren arguing behind me.

I am far more concerned about people of any age but especially my DiL, who regularly drive the next morning after a heavy night’s drinking.
My Dad was reluctant to give up his car and in fact it sat in his garage for well over a year after had given up. We were all worried about his peripheral vision and his reaction time. He might well have passed a test, depending on circumstances. Fortunately he did eventually decide that Ill health meant he was no longer fit to drive.
I know my DH will be a nightmare to persuade to give up, when the time comes, as he is married to his car.
There is no set Age. We all age differently.

I don’t think the age is relevant. More to do with mental capacity and reaction speed. My 91 YO mother still drives perfectly competently but knows her limitations and keeps journeys local and short.

Panache, had you observed the lady driving poorly or did everyone just assume she must be doing so?

The thing is, if we had a test at 70 then any (minor) things we were not right could be corrected and potentially keep us driving longer. And real problems would be picked up then it wouldn't be an issue for family numbers removing keys etc.

As it is, a diagnosis of dementia can lead to people losing their licences and having to take a retest.

I also used to think old people over 70 should be tested, but this year I changed my mind to oldies over 80 (sure you can guess why)! I also have memories from 52 years ago struggling to pass the test for the first time

"Someone (relative, friend, neighbour) should have taken her keys away or at least reported her to DVLA."

But that never happens because everyone is too afraid of offending and upsetting the driver.

Compulsory te-test along with license renewal for over 70s seems like a great idea - I say as someone who is rapidly approaching that age and believes I drive competently.

I don`t know at what age or area of disability might be the time to call a halt on driving.
However I recall this dear lady who must have been well into her 80`s.......tiny,frail and with only one eye........yes just the one...........yet weekly she drove some 14 miles each way from her small town to another to attend church...........we all said she must be under divine guidance because never once did she become a cropper!!!
We actually had our hearts in our mouths,very concerned for her well being...........and of course all other motorists,walkers,cyclists etc she might meet en route.

Everyone thinks that elderly people should give up driving at a certain point, but no one seems to recognise that point in themselves. We shall doubtless be the same when the time comes. What we can do now is to use our votes and our voices to improve the network and frequency of public transport.

I think condemning any over 60 GabriellaG is a bit harsh! As an over 60 myself I think many of us are good drivers, and studies have shown we're no more dangerous than the younger end of the spectrum. It's the system that's at fault as all drivers 'self certify' i.e once you're over 70 you inform the DVLA, or whoever, that you're OK to drive. There are bad/dangerous/dodgy drivers in every age group

Oh dear GabriellaG your posts are coming across as very patronising to say the least.
Not sure why you have put the word disabilities in inverted commas.

I must admit that this will worry me in a few years - am I still safe to drive? My little semi-automatic car has a dashboard symbol which tells me which gear I'm in which is very handy. It's a good reminder that you're in the gear you selected.

And yet I expect young drivers are more likely to have an accident than older drivers.
More of them too.

NonnaW
No...and my post doesn't suggest that.
After 60, we often experience a slowing down of responses and reactions, hearing and eyesight deterioration, more medication for various ailments etc.
That is not to infer that all people over 60 have any or all of the above, nor does it exclude younger people from having the above factors.
People with tics, ADHD and other 'disabilities' have successfully passed their test and driven accident free, however, IMO, it's most often drink, drugs, under 25s and over 65s who have the majority of accidents.

Some years ago, before I was considered middle aged let alone old, I leapt into the car, put it in Drive and shot backwards into the car parked behind me as I had inadvertently gone into Reverse. In my panic to drive forward (at this point, no damage done) I relocated the gear stick to Drive and found I had managed to get it into Reverse again. I’d only moved a tiny bit so I jumped on the brakes...only I’d miscalculated, slammed my foot on the accelerator and rammed the car behind me. My 14 year old daughter put us into park and informed me she’d walk to the bus stop! It was a car I’d driven for years and I never did it again but had I been over 60 I’d have had a great number of people baying for my licence. We all make mistakes, I just made mine all at once.

It is a tragedy anyone is in a car accident whatever the age, however insurance companies price on statistics. Until recently lady drivers were quoted cheaper prices and younger people are in the more expensive range.

Just spoke to someone about the accident. She ended up on the stage in the marquee.
Apparently she had bumped into a car earlier.
We are all different with a wide variety of skills and competence. I’m beginning to agree that we should have an Assessment at regular intervals. I should hate it but it would take the pressure off por relatives.

Was considering changing to an automatic. Don’t think I’ll bother now?. At least with a manual you have to make a determined effort to put into reverse. ??

I don't know if she's too old because I don't know her but anyone who's watched the programme about people driving at 100 would know it's not all about age.

Gabriella are you suggesting that anyone over the age of 60 should be banned from driving? That’s how it comes across. Public transport is very limited in lots of places and to arbitrarily stop people driving because of their age could cause many people a lot of inconvenience. That said, I do agree that older people are not always aware of how their driving skills are deteriorating and may need gentle persuasion to give up, as happened with my sister in law.

Although we cannot dismiss the fact that our powers of concentration can diminish as we age why does there appear to be far more 'nasty' comments from the public ie 'shouldn't be allowed on the road at their age' than an accident caused by a bunch of eighteen year olds' out joy riding.

I agree, Gabriella. In the cases I mentioned above, as well as the tragedy for those killed/injured, I felt for the drivers - imagine ending your life knowing that you have killed or maimed someone, that is so sad.