Driving Age Limit
Another pensioner has maimed and injured a person which led to his death due to dangerous driving, and now a judge is trying to get a change in the law to test that older drivers are still fit to drive.
An 86-year-old man, who was registered deaf, had previously had eight heart bypass operations, had suffered a stroke and only just had mobility, ploughed into three pedestrians after accidentally putting his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake.
He mounted the pavement and hit an elderly couple and a 24-year-old woman. The wife, 77, had to have her leg amputated and is still in hospital with serious hip injuries while her husband 78, died three months later, which his family believe is a consequence of the accident.
The driver, was given a suspended eight-month sentence for dangerous driving and fined £2000 with orders to pay £250 costs plus a three-year driving ban.
Currently in the UK there is no upper age limit for drivers, although at the age of 70-years-old, the driver needs to reapply for their license and every three years after, and it is also up the driver to declare if they are still fit to drive.
It always astounds me to see a frail pensioner shuffling across the road with walking sticks etc, easing themselves into a car and driving off. How can they possible have the same reflects that they had as a younger person to be able to make a quick decision and be able to drive a vehicle safely, quite simply they can’t!
Of course, not all elderly are bad drivers, most are more careful than many of the young guns on the roads today but many should have hung-up the keys a long time ago.
In my view, at the age of 65-years-of-age, a person should have a test every year, if they are competent drivers, with a full proven eye test, then no problem. As we all know, health does deteriorate with age!
5 comments so far
1 Domina // Nov 9, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Fascist.
2 Ken Williams // Apr 6, 2009 at 9:46 pm
They may not be able to drive, but they can proof-read, spell and punctuate what they write. Unlike you apparently.
3 Joy Ryder // Apr 17, 2009 at 10:33 am
Hi Ken, Thank you for your comment. I actually do the blogging, for which I am unpaid, as I am losing my sight and it is difficult for me to work, so thanks again for that!
4 Eyetesting // Nov 19, 2009 at 9:42 pm
This article pinpoints a REAL problem. I test the eyes of the elderley, whilst they wish to drive, an AWFUL alot fall below the driving standard of reading the number plate at 20.5 m. In the US your licence states if corrective eyeglasses are required. Why not in the UK? THe elderley can have cataracts which affects their contrast, poor night vision and glaucoma their perpherial vision. For far too long they have got away with “granfather clauses” in the law. I concur with your insight MUST have a regular eye exam pass in order to keep your licence to drive.
5 MR MICHAEL FULTON // Aug 17, 2010 at 3:29 pm
MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS KILLED ON THE 13TH OF JULY THIS YEAR CRUSHED TO DEATH BY AN 80 YEAR OLD MAN DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE WAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AT 10 50 PM NOW IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE WITH ANY DOUBT ABOUT PENSIONERS DRIVING ABILITY’S THEN YOU HAVE KNOW IDEA OF THE DESTRUCTION TO FAMILY’S OR MEANING OF THE WORD LOSS MY WORLD HAS COME CRASHING DOWN ,MY CHILDREN ARE NOW MENTALLY DAMAGED WE HAD TO IDENTIFY MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS DOES TO A LOVING PARENT THE MURDERER THAT KILLED MY CHILD DID SO INDISCRIMINATELY I DON’T CARE IF HE WAS ILL OR DRUNK OR JUST AN OLD FOOL
THIS MANS LIFE HAS AMOUNTED TO NOTHING BECAUSE OF HIS ACTIONS HE HAS KILLED MY CHILD HER FRIEND AND A BABY . AND TO KEN WILLIAMS YOU ARE A CLOWN I MAY NOT PUNCTUATE BUT I FEEL I HURT AND THAT MAN HAS DESTROYED THE LIVES OF EVERYONE WHO NEW US .ANYONE WHO KILLS SOMEONES SON DAUGHTER MOTHER FATHER IN A ROAD ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THERE INABILITY AND INCOMPETENCE SHOULD BE IMPRISONED FOR THE REST OF THERE LIFE.