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

496 replies

dreamer24 · 28/09/2024 22:52

news.sky.com/story/woman-96-admits-causing-death-of-pedestrian-after-she-panicked-and-mounted-the-kerb-13204265

A 96 year old woman killed a woman in her 70s after she lost control of her car. Due to be sentenced on Monday, apparently. It's obviously completely tragic that a woman has died, but I can't imagine a woman who is almost 100 will get a custodial sentence?

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CassandraWebb · 29/09/2024 00:15

Delphiniumandlupins · 29/09/2024 00:12

Do you think under 25s should be allowed to drive then? Doesn't their poor decision-making and impulsiveness make them more dangerous drivers? The cost of insurance for young drivers would suggest so. It's not just the penalty for being a new driver as older, recently qualified aren't charged the same for insurance.

Oh I definitely think they should have a restricted licence. But they do to a degree don't they? For first year or two you can lose your licence far more likely easily

CassandraWebb · 29/09/2024 00:14

sweeneytoddsrazor · 28/09/2024 23:56

So a question to all those that want elderly tested regularly and not allowed to drive after a certain age are you prepared to ferry your elderly relatives around? Take them shopping , to hospital appointments, drive them to meet friends for lunch and so on. Or should they stay at home

Does that apply to disabled people too or is it just elderly people who get a free pass to drive because otherwise someone will have to ferry them around?

Like many others who are far younger than pension age I have to reapply every three years and go for medical tests. If I lose my licence I can't get to work or get my children to hospital appointments or school. But I don't see anyone wringing their hands about my lack of independence if that happens. And I would accept it, because if I am not safe to drive then I shouldn't be on the road.

XenoBitch · 29/09/2024 00:14

Delphiniumandlupins · 29/09/2024 00:12

Do you think under 25s should be allowed to drive then? Doesn't their poor decision-making and impulsiveness make them more dangerous drivers? The cost of insurance for young drivers would suggest so. It's not just the penalty for being a new driver as older, recently qualified aren't charged the same for insurance.

Maybe a more intense and strict driving test for under 25s could be a solution.

Delphiniumandlupins · 29/09/2024 00:12

dreamer24 · 28/09/2024 23:34

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway
I'm not seeing any ageism? Just debate around the ethics of older drivers, including sentencing and safety on the roads. I don't think it's ageist to acknowledge the biological reality that brain function does decline with age. It's no more ageist than to acknowledge that teenagers are often shit at decision making and impulsive because their brain isn't fully developed until age 25. Again, that's just science and biology.

Do you think under 25s should be allowed to drive then? Doesn't their poor decision-making and impulsiveness make them more dangerous drivers? The cost of insurance for young drivers would suggest so. It's not just the penalty for being a new driver as older, recently qualified aren't charged the same for insurance.

PigeonLady · 29/09/2024 00:08

FloydGerhardt · 28/09/2024 23:58

this lady looks pretty competent.

Thats an exceptional case 100yo for a start.

And the only driving manoeuvre shown (turning into the road at the 1 min mark) she clipped the corner!!! 🤣

But no sorry I disagree. I work in a care home. I’m well aware of what the range of ageing is; both of those in care and those independent elderly who visit. The carpark can be entertaining during breaktimes.

To wonder how on earth they will sentence a 96 year old?!
Coruscations · 29/09/2024 00:07

It is madness to allow anyone at all out on the roads.

Errm - what?

XenoBitch · 29/09/2024 00:06

OrwellianTimes · 28/09/2024 23:59

I have an elderly relative with dementia who was cleared for driving at a point where she couldn’t remember where she was or what she was doing on any given day. The family took the car away after she drove off and got lost one day.

There needs to be a much more thorough testing system past 80 years old imo.

My friend's husband is late 70s, has dementia and diabetes. He is still allowed to drive!
I have been in the car with him after he had a meal, and he actually fell asleep at the wheel and veered over into the other lane. Terrified me, but his wife was busy nattering in the back seat and didn't even notice. I did tell her. This was years ago, and he is still driving.

QueenOfHiraeth · 29/09/2024 00:06

sweeneytoddsrazor · 28/09/2024 23:56

So a question to all those that want elderly tested regularly and not allowed to drive after a certain age are you prepared to ferry your elderly relatives around? Take them shopping , to hospital appointments, drive them to meet friends for lunch and so on. Or should they stay at home

I do ferry my elderly mother around after she decided for herself, no accidents or injuries involved, that a combination of slowing reflexes and arthritis meant she was unlikely to be safe driving much longer. I am grateful she was responsible.

Coruscations · 29/09/2024 00:06

Afterrain · 28/09/2024 23:24

Doesn't bring back the person who died

Why is this relevant? Nothing will bring back the person who died, up to and including capital punishment.

Snugglemonkey · 29/09/2024 00:05

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 28/09/2024 23:06

Where do we draw the line though? Who gets to decide when people are 'too old' to be in possession of a driving licence? And what age should people have to give it up? 70? 75? 80? 85? I know plenty of younger drivers who are poor drivers - and dangerous, and who need their licence taking off them. Conversely, I know plenty of over 75s who are really good safe drivers. Including a few people in their 90s.

We can't just have a blanket rule that says pensioners should stop driving! It's a lifeline for many, being independent with their car, and most are good, safe drivers If over 70s need to re-test every 2-3 years say, then so should everyone else.

Sad for this woman who died of course, and the story is tragic. The 96 y.o. woman can't go to jail, and it's ridiculous for anyone to say she should. But to say all elderly folk should be re-tested every few years (and no-one else should) is just ludicrous.

She took a life. Of course she can go to jail. I feel she should. Too many older people are not ok yo be driving. I definitely think that there should be an age above which noone can drive without advanced licencing.

It is madness to allow anyone at all out on the roads.

sarsaparillatree · 29/09/2024 00:04

Data from 2023
"There are now 1.65 million holders of full driving licences in Great Britain aged 80 or over.
Data from the DVLA shows that this age group now makes up 4% – or about 1 in every 25 – of all full licence holders in the country.
According to the same data there are now 5.97 million full licence holders aged 70 or over, including 510 aged 100 or over.
The oldest holder of a full licence is 108."

CassandraWebb · 29/09/2024 00:03

Nsky62 · 29/09/2024 00:00

Trying to keep her independence, with often poor public transport, and no self driving cars this will happen

I fully get how much cars give us independence, I can't walk more than a few hundred metres a day so absolutely depend on mine. But that independence should not be at the expense of risking other people's lives (and ruining our own)

katseyes7 · 29/09/2024 00:02

I worked with someone whose mother in law was in her nineties, and still driving.
The family took matters into their own hands and stopped her driving after she'd told them that the day before she'd driven down to the village (fortunately she lived in a tiny hamlet) and 'something didn't feel right but she couldn't work out what it was'.
When they looked in the car, the driver's seat was fully reclined. If you can't work that out, you absolutely should not be getting behind the wheel.
It was much more luck (and location) than judgement that she didn't have an accident. Or much worse.

CassandraWebb · 29/09/2024 00:02

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 28/09/2024 23:06

Where do we draw the line though? Who gets to decide when people are 'too old' to be in possession of a driving licence? And what age should people have to give it up? 70? 75? 80? 85? I know plenty of younger drivers who are poor drivers - and dangerous, and who need their licence taking off them. Conversely, I know plenty of over 75s who are really good safe drivers. Including a few people in their 90s.

We can't just have a blanket rule that says pensioners should stop driving! It's a lifeline for many, being independent with their car, and most are good, safe drivers If over 70s need to re-test every 2-3 years say, then so should everyone else.

Sad for this woman who died of course, and the story is tragic. The 96 y.o. woman can't go to jail, and it's ridiculous for anyone to say she should. But to say all elderly folk should be re-tested every few years (and no-one else should) is just ludicrous.

It doesn't have to be a re-test, it could be a doctor's confirmation.

Plenty of people have medical licenses and have to be reassessed regularly. I do and I don't begrudge it because I take driving a machine with the potential to to kill really seriously. If my symptoms are bad I would never drive, licence or not. We all have a responsibility to determine whether we are safe to drive before we get in the car and to stop it we feel unsafe when driving.

Nsky62 · 29/09/2024 00:00

MaggieBsBoat · 28/09/2024 22:58

That’s awful.
People need to retake tests after a certain age in order to keep driving. That poor woman and her family. What the hell is a 96 year old doing behind the wheel
of a car!!??

Trying to keep her independence, with often poor public transport, and no self driving cars this will happen

FloydGerhardt · 29/09/2024 00:00

AquaLeader · 28/09/2024 23:57

Prince Philip (97) wasn't prosecuted when he pulled out onto a busy road in Norfolk and collided with a Kia. Two women in the Kia needed hospital treatment, one had a broken wrist. Fortunately, a nine-month-old baby boy in the Kia was unhurt.

Plenty people around Prince Philip knew he was unsafe,

Edited

He wasn’t prosecuted because he surrendered his licence, quite common with minor collisions involving elderly drivers.

OrwellianTimes · 28/09/2024 23:59

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 28/09/2024 23:06

Where do we draw the line though? Who gets to decide when people are 'too old' to be in possession of a driving licence? And what age should people have to give it up? 70? 75? 80? 85? I know plenty of younger drivers who are poor drivers - and dangerous, and who need their licence taking off them. Conversely, I know plenty of over 75s who are really good safe drivers. Including a few people in their 90s.

We can't just have a blanket rule that says pensioners should stop driving! It's a lifeline for many, being independent with their car, and most are good, safe drivers If over 70s need to re-test every 2-3 years say, then so should everyone else.

Sad for this woman who died of course, and the story is tragic. The 96 y.o. woman can't go to jail, and it's ridiculous for anyone to say she should. But to say all elderly folk should be re-tested every few years (and no-one else should) is just ludicrous.

I have an elderly relative with dementia who was cleared for driving at a point where she couldn’t remember where she was or what she was doing on any given day. The family took the car away after she drove off and got lost one day.

There needs to be a much more thorough testing system past 80 years old imo.

LadyLapsang · 28/09/2024 23:59

My neighbour is late 80s and a great driver. He had a sports car until last year. He is fit and well and often gets back from the gym while I am having my first coffee of the day. If we want people to have regular health reviews and driving tests that should include all drivers according to evidence. We might start with young male drivers (17-24) who are the most likely to be convicted of dangerous driving and drink /drug driving too.

Didhe · 28/09/2024 23:59

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FloydGerhardt · 28/09/2024 23:58

PigeonLady · 28/09/2024 23:54

Oh for goodness sake. Of course 90yo olds should not be driving!

this lady looks pretty competent.

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AquaLeader · 28/09/2024 23:57

SockFluffInTheBath · 28/09/2024 23:03

There must have been people around the driver who knew she was unsafe and did not stop her. They’re equally guilty.

Prince Philip (97) wasn't prosecuted when he pulled out onto a busy road in Norfolk and collided with a Kia. Two women in the Kia needed hospital treatment, one had a broken wrist. Fortunately, a nine-month-old baby boy in the Kia was unhurt.

Plenty people around Prince Philip knew he was unsafe,

sweeneytoddsrazor · 28/09/2024 23:56

So a question to all those that want elderly tested regularly and not allowed to drive after a certain age are you prepared to ferry your elderly relatives around? Take them shopping , to hospital appointments, drive them to meet friends for lunch and so on. Or should they stay at home

Remaker · 28/09/2024 23:55

In Australia you need to have an annual medical test from 75 to retain your licence. From 85 you need to do a practical driving test every 2 years. My mum couldn’t face the stress of a test so she handed her licence in at 85. Which was probably a good thing.

You can also get a special restricted licence that allows you to only travel a set distance from your home so you can go to the shops, dr etc but not go anywhere unfamiliar.

PigeonLady · 28/09/2024 23:54

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 28/09/2024 23:23

It's not just 'people in their 90s' who have the ability to 'plow into children' as you so eloquently put it. Hmm The woman who did this in that horrific and tragic incident in Wimbledon was in her mid 40s.

Ageism is alive and well on Mumsnet as per usual. 🙄 The sweeping generalisations about older people on here are disgusting.

I'm out! This type of thread really boils my blood! Hmm

Oh for goodness sake. Of course 90yo olds should not be driving!

marmadukedoggo · 28/09/2024 23:53

Where I live from 75yo you need a sign off from your GP. From 85yo you need to do a practical driving test ( like when you first get your licence). In between that are various stages - no driving at night, only 25km max etc). It takes the onus off the family. My mum who was still driving fine lost hers because the opthamologist refused to sign that her eyes were ok. She was in her 80's and can read fine but has lost her peripheral vision.

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