To wonder how on earth they will sentence a 96 year old?!

We took my MIL’s keys off her, it really is that simple. Blaming lax rules doesn’t absolve you of personal responsibility because it’s an uncomfortable conversation.

I don't understand the reporting to be honest. The accelerator fell under her foot and she panicked and applied too much pressure, presumably rather than applying the brake. So, the root of the issue appears to be as much an ill-maintained car as dangerous driving. Had it been regularly serviced and was the MOT current are reasonable questions imo.

Clearly a driving ban is required but not, in my opinion, a custodial service.

If people remain fit and well they should continue to drive. Age is just a number. My neighbour, 93, still drives to the local shops and local venues/days out. She is perfectly safe but has better sense than to venture beyond the local A roads.

My mother was similar and rove until late last year when she developed a heart condition and now suffers enduring dizzy spells despite successful surgery. I think it unlikely she will pick up her car keys again and she's only 88.

I'm in my mid sixties, still working full time, still capable of driving to Southern France, on my own. Some of the ageist comments on this thread are disgraceful and like race, sex, religion, disability, etc, are a protected characteristic.

Yes. That’s why I moved to a market town where there are a couple of taxi firms, and pharmacy, mini supermarket and post office all within 5 mins walk

There should be an end to self declaring of fitness to drive, and medical or other requirements should start to be regularly tested at an age well below normal retirement age. I think it is in your forties for lorry drivers and so should apply to car drivers too.

I also would have the theory test re-taken at regular intervals for everyone.

Taxis won’t drive out to the village.

Do you have experience of living in rural areas?

Do taxis stop on the entrance to the village/town, refusing to enter?

FloydGerhardt
I completely agree. The only thing I disagree is the statement that travelling by taxi overall is always cheaper than running a car and people are irrational to think otherwise

If you are not safe to drive then you can't drive..it doesn't matter what the implications are.

Access to Work does help with things like taxi fares for disabled people who can't otherwise get to work.

That doesn’t mean someone should continue driving because it’s cheaper than the alternative it’s not ok to risk everyone else’s safety because there’s not a cost effective option.

Where I live, there aren’t any taxis!

JustKeepSwimmingJust.
I do take your point, and for access to shops etc makes perfect sense. However where I work is nowhere near any public transport links. There's no simple solution.

Are you very elderly and do you think you would fail your driving test if you had to retake it? I thought this was the group we were talking about, not people of working age.

She will get a ban. No question about it.

Either you are safe to drive or you aren’t. How much money you have or where you live doesn’t come into it.
Thats your issue.

And who should have to pay for this?

I used to live in a foreign country that tested everyone annually after their 70th birthday. Once someone failed that test they had 24 hours to move their car off road and then their licence and insurance became invalid. It worked well.

I live rurally and have watched several elderly family members manage aging and driving. Giving up their car is a major cost saving. Then they took taxis, asked family to do errands or escort them when out and about for other reasons, or took advantage of special old age transit options. It was less convenient but safer for all. They also had less need to be out and about as they aged.

This is a very important area of taking personal responsibility.

This is why people upthread are talking about thinking about where you live to not be dependent on a car. For instance if you are fit and well enough to work, a bus or train ride should be manageable. So if not living near work, at least live along a railway to it.

when recovering from a chest infection so not having the stamina to walk the mile to the station or drive it I was getting a taxi to the station (less than £5) and the train to near work.

That's what I do. It's just a very convenient piece of all-purpose ID. I haven't driven for years (no need of a car) and have no intention of doing so ever again. In fact, it's been so long now that I'd definitely need some driving lessons! Remind me ... which pedal is the brake?

I think one of the problems may be that they allow you to self-certify that you're fit to drive and don't query that enough.

KnittingPattern are you going to pay my taxi fare?. A £30 tank of petrol lasts me 8/9 days. A one way taxi fare to work is £35. Even excluding insurance and mot costs it would be massively more ecpensive.Your statement is the irrational one in this case

Many cars dont have much of a resale value really though, and that's if you can sell it. In Ireland anyway garages don't want to take a car unless it's as a trade-in for a brand new one and selling on the second hand market isn't great either as many insurance companies wont take on a new insurance of someone buying a car which is over 10 years old. Dad's car is 12 yrs old and passes it's road worthy every 12 months.

One issue is that if the older person has early stage dementia they may not even realise they are unfit and be very resistant to the suggestion they are not fit. This happened with my father. We took his keys and removed the car. He went out and bought another one. So we had to do the same again. After that we set up a taxi account with a local company and covered cost of trips as he wanted to visit my mother in her care home everyday- we tried public transport and he just couldn’t cope with that. He saw paying for taxis as the height of decadence, hence we paid and told him fares were much less than they were. The drivers got to know my father and were very helpful and kind. We all worked full time and lived a couple of hours ago so could only cover weekends.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway
She Can and should go to jail unless other than age there are mitigating factors. Have some compassionate for the victims family. Bring old is no excuse. Bet your double dtandard wouldn't have applied if someone you knew was killed or the driver was male.

It’s a choice for them to continue to live rurally as well. Where I am you can get a taxi card over a certain age which takes quite a bit off the cost of the taxi

It’s not just the petrol though is it, it’s the value of the car.

Even the idea that apparently an older person rurally is a reason they shouldn’t retake their test because taxis are expensive!
Well either they are fit to drive in which case what’s the issue, or they aren’t fit to drive in which case I don’t give a fuck where they live. Living rurally is not a reason for anyone to get behind the wheel if they aren’t fit and able for the roads.