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?

Doesn't bring back the person who died

I know plenty of over 75s who are really good safe drivers. Including a few people in their 90s

I don't personally believe there's any such thing as a 'safe' driver in their 90's.

90+ is OLD. A 90 year old brain, even the best of them, cannot be relied upon to react quickly or appropriately in all situations.

Would you strap your toddler in the car to go for a drive with 95 year old granny? Because they're 'safe'?

But reflexes slow down as we age. Cognitive functions decline. That's just science.

The lady who crashed in Wimbledon had suffered an epileptic seizure... her first ever one that could not have been predicted.

It is no more ludicrous than having incapable people driving and killing others! Retesting every five years after 70. Annually after 80. Fail, you lose your license. Seems reasonable to me.

@Afterrain

no shit Sherlock, but that wasn't what the poster was replying to.

When my grandma was in her 90s we decided she shouldn't be driving (bad sight, poor reaction times, arthritis making it difficult to control the car). I knew someone who was killed by an elderly driver. A new mum in fact so we discussed it a lot as a family. But we found actually there's very little you can do. We tried telling her, she ignored us, my mum phoned her doctor who said he couldn't discuss it with us, my uncle disconnected her car, she called the mechanic... we found there weren't any avenues to pursue so not sure you can blame those around them so much as the rules need to be more stringent.

Personally l believe that you should resityour test every 10 years until you are 65. Then yearly Doctors certification. And resit a test every year from pension age.
My MIL never had to sit a test as she grew up on a farm after ww2. She hadn't a clue on town roads or motorways

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway to be fair, your posts in this thread are slightly dramatic. So you’re saying that to not be ageist, we should never test drivers regularly to ensure they still meet the required driving standards, and yet we also shouldn’t put people like this perpetrator in jail. So what’s the consequence here if others like her go on to kill other road users via dangerous driving? It’s like you’re saying they’re above reproach else society is ageist. It’s widely accepted that functions decline the older we get, and someone’s desire for independence doesn’t trump the need to keep road users safe.

My comment was in answer to the point about the driver paying the family. The victims family may or may not claim. Harsh as it sounds, that’s why we have insurance. Nothing will bring back a dead person, that hardly needs saying.

Maybe retest every 5 years for everyone

I am not sure the system would cope. There are massive waiting lists to even have the first driving test. Everyone having to retake every 5 years would be madness.

You report them to the DVLA and take their keys.

I have long thought that it shouldnt be about age as such. Everyone should have a short retest every ten years in order to be able to renew their photo licence.

And yes I would up that to every 5 years post 60 simply because with age there is a far more likely chance of deterioration in the things you need most such as awareness, speed of reaction, etc. I am 51 so a lot closer to 60 than many on here, and wouldnt have a problem with it.

@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.

Maybe they should put her in a care home.

The woman who went into the school had her first seizure, hardly the same thing.

Many people use their license as ID, but no longer drive.

Whats that got to do with anything?

Doesnt make anything I said less valid. Or are you trying to suggest that people who dont want to get a Citizen card instead of their driving license are a good reason for no one ever being retested to check that they are safe enough to be licensed to drive?! Because thats ludicrous.

Spot on.

I was in a bus once on a main road and I saw this car coming from a side road and it was clear it was not going to stop. I literally watched it plough into us. Of course the bus stopped and when the driver came out the car he was an elderly man who looked shaky and confused. Police took all the passengers details but I wasn’t contacted about it.

Thankfully no one was hurt but it was clear this man shouldn’t have been on the road. It was by no means a tricky junction at all it was daylight , there was great visibility, and he should’ve saw the bus 🤦🏽‍♀️ hope he never got back on the road.

But what you said is not valid as that is not how it works anyway. That is just your dream.

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.

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

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.

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