To worry about cycling in an area with an older demographic?

[Mumcouchtotri]

I've moved to an area in the south west with an old demographic and I really hate to say it but some of the driving is unsafe. You can be doing nsl and someone turns onto athe road causing you to slam on the breaks and do an emergency stop. Or you can be cycling and overtaken by someone that almost scrapes your handlebars. I used to cycle all the time in bristol but here it just seems unsafe for me, let alone the children.

I've read some reports that come to the conclusion that reactions in older drivers are as bad as drink drivers.

Aibu to think that something should be done to make the roads safer and that many people on the road are a danger to themselves and others?

I'm thinking about getting a camera to report some of the unsafe drivers to the police. Is there any point in doing this?

[Mumcouchtotri]

Agree with pp that the short journeys in daylight once of twice a week is why these dangerous drivers are hidden in statistics. They might also be unaware of the damage theyvhave done.

[insancerre]

I live in an area with a high number of elderly drivers
Some of the driving is shocking. Its quite an affluent area as well, so all the cars seem to be quite powerful, which would explain why so many people have their garden walls demolished by elderly drivers who lose control of their big, powerful cars

[Spudlet]

Terrible drivers come in all age ranges. However, aging can bring slower reactions and problems with sight and hearing, which coupled with much busier roads, can lead older drivers into bother. I have had some interesting cycling experiences with older drivers... But just as many with younger drivers too, tbh. The best thing to do is to learn how to cycle assertively, assume drivers will do something daft and plan accordingly, and make yourself as visible as possible with extra lights and high-viz / reflective clothing.

Where I live (rural area) there is a dial-a-ride service which, afaik, goes door to door. We need more of these! Older people should not be forced out of their homes for no other reason than a lack of transport options. We also need more cycle paths - decent ones, not glass-strewn potholed nightmares that are more dangerous than the road (scowls at local council) and, if you ask me, assumed liability (I would happily take out third party insurance as a cyclist in return for this).

[Nanny0gg]

I'd like to see the stats which show the age-ranges of people who have had accidents with cyclists.

Aibu to think that something should be done to make the roads safer

Yep. Ban cyclists.

and that many people on the road are a danger to themselves and others?

Yep. Often cyclists.

[LogicallyLost]

oooo love this topic, comes up every once in a while with our group in RL.

personally i think that everyone should have to have physicals every couple of years to continue to drive once they reach retirement age. the idea that you can self certify is IMO insane.

[MissElizaBennettsBaubles]

My DH had to drive into a ditch to avoid a head-on crash with an elderly female driver who was on his side of the (national speed limit) road, attempting to overtake a truck. His car was a write-off and he suffered v. bad whiplash and a shoulder injury which still hasn't healed 4yrs later. She was prosecuted and fined. Thankfully I think she surrendered her licence.

My friend's husband was killed by an elderly French man driving a camper van on the wrong side of the road.

My FIL (78) still drives despite having v slow reactions. I hate to think what would happen if a child ran out in front of his car.

Am not against older drivers - I know there are many excellent safe ones - but I do think that they should have mandatory eyesight/reactions tests. A car in the wrong hands is a deadly weapon.

[ispymincepie]

My dh has always said that drivers over 70 should be called into the dvla annually and tossed a tennis ball. You need damn fast reflexes if a child were to step out in front of your car.

[Atenco]

I agree that elderly people should have to resit the test every so often, but more importantly "Campaign for better busses"

[HalloToJasonIsaacs]

I think the aging population of people who would be devastated to give up their licences is going to be one the major pushes behind the adoption of autonomous vehicles, and it can't come a day too soon for me.

[exexpat]

The rules for renewing your driving licence over age 70 are ridiculous, IMO. There should be some kind of in-person medical fitness/reaction time assessment, and if possible a scaled-down driving test if any major medical issues are flagged up.

My parents are both nearly 80. My father has not driven for nearly 15 years following an illness which left him partially paralysed. He can now walk again, but has limited strength and mobility in his legs. He has also had strokes, heart attacks, a pacemaker, diabetes etc. He is mentally alert but his physical strength and reactions are nowhere near adequate to drive, not to mention being totally out of practice, but he recently insisted on renewing his driving licence 'just in case' and had no problem doing so. Crazy. He would be a danger on the roads. Luckily, he has no intention of actually driving, as far as I know, but no one could legally stop him if he decided to.

My mother is the same age, has different but equally severe health issues, gets anxious and easily flustered, and last drove about a year ago, but she also has a current, recently renewed driving licence.

My parents live in an area with no public transport, and get by with me and others doing shopping and driving them to appointments, and they can afford taxis when no one else is available, but if they had fewer people to help or less money, I can see that they might be tempted to drive short distances to shops, doctors etc.

It really should not be up to them to decide if they are fit to drive, and it should not take a potentially fatal accident to stop other people in similar states of health from driving.

[CockacidalManiac]

My dh has always said that drivers over 70 should be called into the dvla annually and tossed a tennis ball. You need damn fast reflexes if a child were to step out in front of your car.

That's not a bad idea

[sentia]

My dh has always said that drivers over 70 should be called into the dvla annually and tossed a tennis ball.
I'd fail that test and I'm not yet 40 . But I've always been rubbish at ball sports, I'm not sure it correlates to reaction time.

I would be interested to see the cost/benefit analysis for mandatory periodic testing of certain groups of high risk drivers based on insurance claims data. The testing wouldn't be cheap obviously, but there are definitely groups of drivers who would benefit from additional checks and appropriate driving restrictions depending on their results (70 drivers etc).