A 90-year old man with poor (uncorrected) eyesight, and in the early stages of dementia, drove his car at 70mph – the wrong way down a dual carriageway – in to an oncoming motorist.
The unfortunate oncoming motorist was killed in the collision.
The 90-year old driver, when he appeared in court, had to use a walking frame.
This is one terrifying every day aspect of British life that our government (prop David Cameron) could sort out immediately.
If they (and David Cameron) wanted.
We need compulsory driving re-tests for every motorist over the age of 50.
We also need compulsory ‘fitness-to-drive’ medical exams.
As the population of this country becomes ever-older, and as our public transport services continue to be whittled to the bone by successive parliaments, the older population will continue to drive.
Whilst I would support the independence of the older generation – and I would support it wholeheartedly and vocally – we can not allow those who might be insufficiently skilled or mentally (or physically) unfit for the task, to continue to drive.
I firmly believe that every motorist should be compelled to take a full theory and practical retest every 10 years, until the age of 60.
At 60, the retests (and fitness-to-drive tests) should be compulsory on a five-year basis.
At 70 years of age, the tests should be much more frequent.
This isn’t victimising anyone.
This is protecting the public-at-large from a significant group of motorists who have never faced the rigours of todays driving test.
And that’s why we should have a compulsory retest every 10 years.
When did you take your driving test?
Are you aware of the legislative changes that have come in to being since you passed yours?
So come on, David Cameron, this is your chance to put a significant stamp of improvement on this country.
In years to come, you could look back and say ‘I did this’.
Wouldn’t that be something nice?
Wouldn’t that be a lasting legacy that would benefit the whole of the country?
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
100%.
And would sign your petition if you was to start one.
Tsk…
“…were to start one.”
I knew what you meant.
🙂
I know exactly what you mean. The old dear across the road from my mum is 80, half blind, barely able to walk and is still driving. The whole neighbourhood is terrified. On the morning of my dad’s funeral, as the hearse was turning into the top of the street, she reversed out of her driveway straight into a chipper being used by some tree surgeons across the road from her. The hearse had to wait for the resulting chaos to be sorted before proceeding to our house. I suppose it would have made my dad laugh, although at the time my mother didn’t look terribly amused…
Trouble is, we tend to take driving far too casually at any age. Best way to murder someone would be i a well-designed car “accident.” My mother was damaged for life when hit by a driver as she was walking across a zebra crossing & after a bus had pulled up for her. The **** driver overtook the bus and flipped my mother in the air, like the proverbial rag doll. When it came to the court case, the magistrate said he’s been punished enough by all these people saying in public how bad he’d been. No fine, no points off his license. Nothing.
Absolutely right. It always makes me suspicious when I see an old codger driving at half the speed limit – like their eyesight isn’t up to scratch. But I also think that youth speeding should be addressed. It frightens me when I see pimply youths screaming through my village with their disgusting blingy cars.