senile old duffers

I think that if you took a few weeks of refresher courses then you should be okay (providing the instructor was harsh enough for you to lose the habbits... :)). Either the OAP would learn again how to judge the speed of other cars, or they would lose their license. I have no problems with either of the scenarios.

Incidently, this is a situation I have become a lot aware of since learning to ride. I thought I had good observation in a car (and the IAM agreed :)) but it's nothing to what you do on a bike!

Stu

i think your a little confused and missing the point here peter, of course i have beef against those unisured unlicenced scumbags, but the point im making is that these as you quaintly call them "confused oldsters"(more like mobile gereatric timebombs)can legally drive into there seventies eighties and even further with no medical checks required indeed the last time your average "confused oldster" most likely had medical was when he joined the royal flying corps, there needs to be a cut of point when your licence is automatically revoked,at around sixty (the age at which commercial pilots are required to retire) until you can proof your fit enough both mentally and pysically to be let loose with what is a lethal weapon.

I agree with the idea of retesting, probably once every 10 years until the age of 60 and then anually beyond that. However what about the other end of the scale, the 17 to 21 year olds in their corsa hot hatch or similar, as their over confidence and inexperience is just as dangerous if not more as they are more likly to cause an accident at speed.

[4 forty]

hagis v40,
i totally agree with you,and may i add that a great number of senior citizens take their institute of advanced motorists test, and, pass first time!! there was a test just recently with a young gentleman? which had to be aborted by the examiner due to the reckless driving displayed during his test,

paul [i.a.m.]

Sorry, Ill rephrase that

"I was slowing down from nearlly 90mph on an emergency call with the beacons and siren going."

I hit him at around 15 mph ;) You can only aticipate so much. As he was indicating right I anticipated that her would giveway at the roundabout and turn left

[vjck_uk]

I would think that the insurance companies have done extensive research into percentage of accident per age levels.
Just aks yourselves,who pays the most insurance?.
An under 25 year old or an over 60 year old in the same vehicle?

I think you are right with that one but one other thing to take into consideration is the amount of time and the times at which they use a car i.e.-

An older person (60+) day light hours only and only when nesesary.

A younger person (21-) evenings and late nights as long as they can afford the petrol whenever they can.

If you come accross an old duffer he is usually in front of you driving at 20mph in a 60 speed limt whereas a younger person is trying to overtake you on a dangerous bend when you are doing 60 and he is doing 80+.

The reason for that is that the old duffers causue us to have more accidents because we are trying to avoid them. Same with most woman drivers (not all though).

Thanks Matt, you have just envolked the wrath of my wife x( on that comment, she stongly disagrees with that last comment but agrees about the old duffers.

[JMB]

Matt

Women drivers eh? You have helped me to understand and embrace my limitations. :) It's so nice to be able to mingle with such enlightened chaps.

Oops, got to go now - the old man wants his dinner and he get's angry if it's not on the table ready for him! And then there's the washing and ironing..........

Janet