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

[dreamer24]

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?

Frequently.

As a very intelligent former doctor I think my neighbour knows herself about her eyesight and whether she is fit to drive. I have been in the car with her and feel very confident with her.

I think 75, then 80, 85 etc it could just be one of those automated hazard aware ones and an eye exam.

it would also screen out those who are bad drivers.

Are you serious? No a doctor doesn’t just have automatically the ability or want to properly assess her
own skills.

It shouldn’t be her call, nor should be it the call of her neighbour. Neither are best placed assess her ability properly.

It’s ridiculous to suggest a person can’t have poor decision making because they were a doctor.

You do know they can (and some do) buy replacement keysreplace the lock. It really isn't as simple as that if the driver in question is determined not to give up.

Tesco etc do home delivery. My 91 FiL and 87 MiL get their food shopping delivered by Sainsbury every week. He thankfully no longer drives and has only recently accepted glasses and hearing aid. She only drives during the less busy times of the day. They went down to one car 8 years ago.

We have been encouraging them to use Uber.

The aging process is difficult. None of us want to accept that we are ‘slowing down’, reaction times are not as quick etc.

May I ask what age you are and whether you have any mobility issues? My parents thought they also lived within a few minutes' walk of pharmacy, post office, convenience store, library, bank and bus stops. A slightly longer walk to the ferry, or take the bus. Big supermarket also walkable - back in their mid 60s. My Dad became unable to walk for more than a few minutes several years ago. It was a major achievement for him to walk to the end of the road to buy the paper or a carton of milk, and he needed a long rest afterwards. My Mum, at nearly 92, can get there and back all right, but is finding all walking increasingly tiring and difficult.

In addition to that, the pharmacy has re-located and the bank branch and post office have closed. Very common problems in rural areas.

We all age at different rates, but most people by their late 80s/early 90s have had to slow down a lot.

I expect if everyone was made to sit a proper driving test 90% of any age would fail without a lot of lessons. I do agree some kind of eye test and hazard awareness should be carried out every few years after a certain age though

I think older driver 70+ should be tested regularly.
Some delude themselves they’re still safe, so an official person telling them they’re not is needed.
I also think the police should be stopping anyone driving badly and getting them to read number plates etc to test vision. I’ve known people to drive without glasses when they should be wearing them. That should be instant ban if you’re found to be doing that.

My mother moved to a town centre apartment so she could walk to shops, doctors, library and cafes. Hated it at first but now loves the independence

Bring on the driverless cars! In 50 years people will be marvelling that humans were ever entrusted with the dangerous job of driving.

My DH drives many miles each week for work and says although lots of older people drive extremely slowly it's the youngsters, especially males, who are the dangerous ones.

Almost every day he sees them breaking the speed limit, overtaking on bends, brows of hills, over solid white lines etc.

Local papers and the local police facebook page are full of accidents caused by youngsters, quite a few fatal sadly. Lots of racing on local roads too, often 2 abreast.

I would far rather be in a car with my 88 year old neighbour that one of the many young idiots.

I think it is reasonable too. So long as they are not charged for taking them.

What I'm trying to say is that she's a very intelligent woman and also a very responsible one. She would not take risks and neither would many elderly people, which is why my mother has stopped driving. Having been in the car with both I am confident as their passenger. There are plenty of much younger people with whom I do not feel as confident as a passenger.

You are losing sight of the fact that some elderly people can continue to drive well and some elderly people are actually sensible and responsible. It is terribly ageist of you.

We can't just have a blanket rule that says pensioners should stop driving!

Then they should be sent to prison if they kill someone through their dangerous driving, regardless of their age.

They can’t have it both ways.

My friend's father was still driving at 99, when he died (his death was nothing to do with driving). Because friend was so worried about her DF's capabilities on the road, he agreed, aged 97, to do an advanced driving course and take a test at the end of it. He passed! However, he was an exception, living alone, still editing an online newsletter and very active in the community. I do agree that there should be medical checks and perhaps a re-sit requirement after 75 or 80. In the UK at 70 you have to renew your license and complete a self-certified medical questionnaire, but that's all. I know a couple in their 80s who definitely shouldn't be driving, but they persist. Their children won't allow the grandchildren to be passengers in DGPs cars, which has caused massive huffing and upset, but I would do the same in their shoes.

What will you do if at some point you become physically unable to drive or feel you are not safe driving?

I’d have to use the infrequent buses I suppose.

I don't think it's ludicrous at all. you're right some can drive well up to a very old age but many many more will have a very natural decline in reaction times, vision etc. And i have been with enough elderly people to also know that their dependance on a vehicle to have independance can lead them to be very stubborn and lie to themselves about their abilities to continue driving safely. Whilst we should take into account their personal need to have independence we should also consider is it right to put other people at risk of death so they can go shopping?

Of course there are lots of other stupid drivers of all ages out there but that doesn't negate the fact that elderly people should be tested regularly to keep their license.

Although, saying that, many people are happy to offer lifts from and to the village.

Someone posted on the Facebook group about struggling to book a taxi to get home from a planned night out and three people offered to drive the 30 minutes out to get her at 1am.

I tend to book a hotel if I plan on having a drink but the community spirit is phenomenal where I live.

Just to clarify, I don’t think travelling by taxi is always cheaper than running a car (I don’t think I said that). What I do think is that getting rid of you car when very elderly will free up a lot of money which can go towards taxis. For many people at that stage of life, obvs depending on where you live, and how often you go out, the taxis will be cheaper. We did this calculation for my mum and she was then able to use taxis whenever she wanted without thinking of them as an extravagance as they were paid for from her “car budget”.

That sound so lovely.

@RosesAndHellebores You are losing sight of the fact that some elderly people can continue to drive well and some elderly people are actually sensible and responsible. It is terribly ageist of you.

It’s a fact that the skills needed for driving degrade over time with age.

You being sensitive and taking offence to this fact is neither here nor there.

Some older people maintaining their ability to drive does not change the fact that age lowers ability as a general pattern.

Biology doesn’t give a shit about ageism.

Are you equally offended because of “ageism” at the thought of a 13 year old driving?

If a 13 year old were driving that would be illegal. Let's try to be factual rather than ageist. It is a shame you cannot appreciate that some elderly people can drive safely. Similarly some in their teens and 20s do not drive safely.

MIL can still do the cryptic crossword due to having the knack, being acutely intelligent and very well read. Still sharp at 88 despite Parkinsons although never drove. Mother can still play a cracking hand of Bridge. Both skills many can't master. Both women who, like my neighbour, make sensible decisions.

Not all elderly people are irresponsible' decrepit or incapable. You are making sweeping statements and are being very ageist.

If MNet took ageism as seriously as racism and disablism, you'd be banned.

I’m working age and no mobility issues. But I’m not convinced that many people without serious lower limb injuries (And adapted vehicles) are simultaneously incapable of doing a 200m walk (albeit taking longer than 5 mins) and capable of safely driving a vehicle that can easily kill bystanders. That’s a very narrow range of capability.

My elderly neighbours (done in their 80s) all generally walk it!

going back to my grandfather he did a walk like that daily with a frame in the last few months of his life.