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Reading this really cheered me up this morning. tinyurl.com/7ntylrg
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Good for them it's these loonies on the Mobility Scooters that do me in!!
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>> it's these loonies on the Mobility Scooters that do me in!!
If you can't dodge them Bigtee, chances are you'd be happier in one yourself...
Followed a mimsing red Land Rover down a bit of Roman A road just now. It had a searchlight at the back and a lot of clobber inside it: a camper perhaps, or local farmer or gipsy. But 35 mph at most down a stretch where 70 is usually feasible is taking it rather. I detest that sort of driving. Eventually overtook it and drew away in the 30 limit just after that, where it had doubtless dawdled down to 25.
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>> Followed a mimsing red Land Rover down a bit of Roman A road .......... But 35 mph at most down a stretch
>> where 70 is usually feasible is taking it rather.
It's just possible that it couldn't go any quicker. The most I could get out of my 1936 Wolseley Fourteen was about 45 mph.
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>> >> Followed a mimsing red Land Rover down a bit of Roman A road ..........
>> But 35 mph at most down a stretch
>> >> where 70 is usually feasible is taking it rather.
>>
>> It's just possible that it couldn't go any quicker. The most I could get out
>> of my 1936 Wolseley Fourteen was about 45 mph.
>>
I got 55mph out of my 1929 Riley 9....
As far as elderly motorists are concerned..
"There have also been calls from motoring groups for road signs to have bigger lettering to cope with Britain’s ageing motoring population"
madf celebrates his 100th birthday next week
Last edited by: madf on Tue 14 Feb 12 at 15:11
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>> "There have also been calls from motoring groups for road signs to have bigger lettering to cope with Britain’s ageing motoring population"
Of course the law states that being unable to read a number plate at 20m is not compatible with having a driving licence.
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Didn't see the large-print road signs idea mentioned in the article, Madf.
The article itself is pretty meaningless. It takes as its premise the idea that people think all elderly drivers are unsafe because a few are plainly unfit to drive and commit egregious and lethal errors. But those who argue against it make the same mistake in comparing them with young drivers and saying that the older ones take fewer risks.
The truth, of course, is that there are plenty of fit, capable older drivers, just as there are plenty of thoughtful, prudent young ones - and a few in each category who should be kept off the roads for the public good - but the safe ones don't make headlines so we can ignore them. Move along - nothing to see here.
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>> The most I could get out of my 1936 Wolseley Fourteen was about 45 mph.
Decoke, plugs and points, oilchange... should have been good for 60 plus. 55 anyway.
Carbon deposits inside the cylinder head could improve performance by raising the effective compression ratio. But ports especially in side valve engines could get terribly reduced by carbon. Even in the inlet ports although I could never understand how it happened.
Those old engines could run smoothly and start reliably even in the most disastrous state of tune. But they only went well at low urban speeds and drank fuel unless correctly tweaked.
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I don't read the data as meaning that there are one million drivers over 80 years old. But that there are one million driving licence holders over 80 years old.
I'm pretty sure my mother still has her driving licence "in case she needs it", despite not having driven for at least 6 years. I persuaded her to not replace her car, and put the money she would have spent on annual fees (insurance, servicing etc) into a taxi fund. She's hugely up on the deal - she still feels it extravagant to take taxis, though she is getting better.
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>> >> The most I could get out of my 1936 Wolseley Fourteen was about 45
>> mph.
>>
>> Decoke, plugs and points, oilchange... should have been good for 60 plus. 55 anyway.
>>
It had a hole in the top of one of the pistons!
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If you can't dodge them Bigtee, chances are you'd be happier in one yourself...
Dodge them im going to squash them if they pull out on me again!!
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Given their insurance loading, it's the x million drivers under 25 years old you should worry about.
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>> Given their insurance loading, it's the x million drivers under 25 years old you should
>> worry about.
Direct line wont offer you insurance if you apply and you are over 80.
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>>Direct line wont offer you insurance if you apply and you are over 80.
How do you know that Zeddo, Granny tell you?
;>)
Last edited by: bathtub tom on Mon 10 Dec 12 at 20:37
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I tested the theory by lying.
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>> Good for them it's these loonies on the Mobility Scooters that do me in!!
>>
But the future is:-
www.wimp.com/mobilityscooter/
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>> But the future is:-
>> www.wimp.com/mobilityscooter/
>>
I hope he'll make one for me!
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www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9729775/Elderly-driving-laws-must-be-changed-says-coroner-after-89-year-old-dies-on-M40.html
"The pensioner had become confused in the days before the crash and had experienced difficulty in telling the time, often mixing am and pm, the inquest heard. "
The printed version added
"The last time she contacted her family was 11:30PM the day before the crash, when she had confused the time for a hairdresser's appointment and arrived at night."
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One of the big problems in this country is rural transport, the lack thereof, and the ambition of a lot of people to live in the country
A lot of couples when they retire decide to buy a house or bungalow in the country. All is well whilst they, or at least one of them can drive. As they age they continue to drive as their is simply no alternative. Rural bus services are practically non-existant these days at least around here.
Quite often in the current generation of elderly people only the husband can drive so they feel unable to give up driving even though they become less confident of their abilities and don't perhaps want to drive any more.
When they eventually have to give up or a so often happens the husband dies they are left isolated and trapped with no shops, doctor or other services nearby and living in a house with a large garden they cannot manage.
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>>-
>> or a so often happens the husband dies
>> they are left isolated and trapped with no shops, doctor or other services nearby and
>> living in a house with a large garden they cannot manage.
>>
You are describing two of my neighbours to a tee. They rely on Mrs RR to ferry them into town for their weekly shop.
Last edited by: Robin Regal on Mon 10 Dec 12 at 20:56
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The sad fact in that case is she broke the law, although she may not have been aware she was doing so. She'd have not passed the current medical with most doctors (can't say all as one has times of complete normality with many dementia conditions).
Difficult one, not surprised the law is not being changed as Altzheimers or whatever it was can take effect quite quickly.
And a blanket ban on anyone over a certain age is grossly unfair as some are still ok in the marbles department at 100, yet early onset Altzheimers is reputed to have struck a few people in their 30s!
No easy answers.
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I'll have you know that despite being 95 I have all my faculties. My nurse lets me out every day and undoes this white jacket with cords at the ends of the sleeves. I much prefer spending my time with crossed arms.
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About 37 Million in all so about 36 million under 80. Full stats, given in FOI answer here but I can't be bothered to do the maths! tinyurl.com/b2m7xwj
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"Rather than seeking to prevent older people from driving, we should make them more aware of the risks they face, and offer them driving assessments to help them eliminate bad habits. Driving helps older people play a full and active part in society."
You could say exactly the same thing about people in the 17-19 age group, but strangely, no one ever does.
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>> You could say exactly the same thing about people in the 17-19 age group, but
>> strangely, no one ever does.
>>
I wouldn't say that, there's quite a lot of talk of about the risks for younger drivers and there's assessments like pass plus aimed at younger drivers.
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>>
>> I wouldn't say that, there's quite a lot of talk of about the risks for
>> younger drivers and there's assessments like pass plus aimed at younger drivers.
>>
I know, but it starts from the presumption that they have a right to drive, despite the risks, so we try and find ways to reduce the risks.
Contrast the assumed starting point with older drivers - their perceived risk means they should not be driving at all, unless we can find ways to reduce the risk.
No one ever starts with the presumption that 17-19 year olds too risky to be driving.
No one ever patronisingly says that it's good for them and helps them socialise.
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>>
>> >>
>> >> I wouldn't say that, there's quite a lot of talk of about the risks
>> for
>> >> younger drivers and there's assessments like pass plus aimed at younger drivers.
>> >>
>>
>> I know, but it starts from the presumption that they have a right to drive,
>> despite the risks, so we try and find ways to reduce the risks.
>>
>> Contrast the assumed starting point with older drivers - their perceived risk means they should not be driving at all, unless we can find ways to reduce the risk.
I'd say that the starting point so far is no age limit with a small check at the GPs.
>> No one ever starts with the presumption that 17-19 year olds too risky to be
>> driving.
>> No one ever patronisingly says that it's good for them and helps them socialise.
>>
Again I've seen written that the driving age should be raised, probably as much as those wanting the elderly banned.
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>> About 37 Million in all so about 36 million under 80. Full stats, given in
>> FOI answer here but I can't be bothered to do the maths! tinyurl.com/b2m7xwj
>>
Four drivers aged 106, but none of them in that London.
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A lot of collisions occur because the driver(s) don't concentrate on looking far enough ahead and hence don't spot hazardous situations developing soon enough. Younger drivers seem to only concentrate on the immediate vicinity. Younger drivers may well have better eyesight and quicker reactions, but that all counts for nothing when they're in a situation in which a collision is already in the process of happening.
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The problem is that young drivers tend to get better, As we age we gradually get worse. It's hard to accept that but inevitably there comes a time when we shouldn't be on the road.
It's knowing when that is and getting people to accept it that is difficult
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>> The problem is that young drivers tend to get better, ..............
But probably only after they've had something happen which makes them realise that they're not as observant as they thought they were. I only started concentrating on looking far ahead (and wide) after an incident in which a motorcyclist came out of a side road on the right of the dual carriageway on which I was travelling and rode straight through the gap in the central reservation and straight across the front of me. We collided. Before that happened, whenever I was on a dual carriageway I didn't take any notice of what was happening the other side of the other carriageway.
Young drivers need a collision or two to make them realise that accidents aren't something which only happen to other people.
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"Young drivers need a collision or two to make them realise that accidents aren't something which only happen to other people."
And sadly of course it usually takes a collision of some kind to make elderly drivers realise that they should not longer be on the road.
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>> And sadly of course it usually takes a collision of some kind to make elderly
>> drivers realise that they should not longer be on the road.
>>
I'll think about giving up driving as soon as I realise I no longer drive like a lunatic and my tyres start to last longer!
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Young drivers need a collision or two...
I don't think so, l'Es; are you saying that if you'd not hit the motorcycle that surprised you, it wouldn't have occurred to you to be more observant in future? Yes, an accident - provided it's not a disaster - should be an opportunity to learn and improve, but the ones who become good drivers are the ones who can recognize when they've made a mistake and got away with it; they should have the awareness to learn without having to come to grief.
The dangerous drivers - of any age - are the ones who ignorantly or arrogantly just go on doing what they've always done.
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Spot on m'suer Snail.
There's one of those Police Camera Action videos that shows this perfectly.
.********
Tried to train both my kids to maintain a constant scan bonnet to horizon and all around. Miss B gets it but The Lad thinks he knows it all.
EDIT Wot the........ did I say there to give the filter an apoplexy? (an account of a CCTV clip of an m/way crash!)
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Tue 11 Dec 12 at 12:07
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>> EDIT Wot the........ did I say there to give the filter an apoplexy? (an account
>> of a CCTV clip of an m/way crash!)
Email what you wrote to me and I'll see why the filter kicked in.
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What I posted was an account of a police video that clearly shows motorists immediately behind and incident stopping safely only to be hit by the dopes behind not watching.
Actually I used the word T W U N T - might that be a problem?
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>> Actually I used the word T W U N T - might that be a
>> problem?
>>
Seeing as that's a portmanteau neologism formed from a word starting "tw" and another ending in "unt", both of which are extraordinarily vulgar terms having the same anatomical meaning, I have to suspect that it is.
Also that the swear filter may have had to have a little lie down after seeing it.
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Why not just post the video without using that word?
Or am I missing the point?
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>> Actually I used the word T W U N T - might that be a problem?
Yes
Try looking it up in www.urbandictionary.com/
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It was one of those who knocked my wife's door mirror off.
Edit - Technically, it was an "utter" one she says.
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Tue 11 Dec 12 at 21:47
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One million drivers are over 80 years old - Bigtee
