Elderly driver, automatic car, stomps on brake which turns out to be the accelerator, not stopping so pushes harder.crash. Perhaps the elderly should be made to drive stick shift manual transmissions, they may be safer for them.
quater,
Apr 20, 9:02pm
Its the con of autos, They allow people to drive who are perhaps past the driving age.
Define 'elderly'.Maybe all drivers should be made to take a reaction test, as anyone of any age who claims they hit the wrong pedal and travels more than 400mm in the wrong direction shouldn't have a licence, not just the elderly.
serf407,
Apr 20, 9:53pm
A few shop windows have felt the impact of an auto driver selecting D rather than R. The range lettering should be colour coded next to range lever, if is not. An easy upgrade is beeper bulbs in the reverse tail lights. NZ has a aging population so more of the old jokers will be on the road so the cars should be modified to keep them independent as long as possible and less of a menace to other road users.
thejazzpianoma,
Apr 20, 10:22pm
We just need to get them out of the Yaris or Swift and into something with a collision avoidance system. Vehicles with these are starting to get more affordable now. Other features like hill hold, self park, auto lights, auto wipers, brake force assist, stability and radar cruise are a real help to them and other road users around them too.
johnf_456,
Apr 20, 10:34pm
I thought the Fiat speech would come!
thewomble1,
Apr 20, 10:35pm
As far as I know the brake pedal works the same in an auto as in a manual car.it stops the car when pressed. Same with the accelerator. .makes the car go faster when pressed. So it won't matter which type of car he was driving it will have the same result.
n1smo_gtir,
Apr 20, 10:35pm
or just confine them to the tracks they can race3 each other down the quarter mile in reverse.
NZTools,
Apr 21, 6:12am
How is that any different from stomping on the gas pedal in a manual! A stick shift is likely to confuse an elderly person even more.
gammelvind,
Apr 21, 6:29am
Young fellow stomps on gas pedal drifts over kerb hitting mother and child, killing boy. Others doing same stomping loose control and career into house where people are sleeping. Should all young people be made to drive autos permanently locked in low so they can't go fast! The reality is there are bad drivers of all ages, being an idiot isn't related to age.
mugenb20b,
Apr 21, 6:52am
If someone really needs all those features, do you really think they should be on the road! Such cars are obviously going to be driven by deaf, blind and mute people.
sr2,
Apr 21, 7:01am
Living in Milford on the North Shore we have more than our fair share of the ???blue rinse set??? behind the wheel. To be honest they seem to be much safer drivers than those who, (how can I be PC about this!) hold "international" drivers licences.
a.woodrow,
Apr 21, 7:17am
I think a big issue with older drivers is they may be ok driving in normal situations, but when their reflexes are tested in an emergency situation or if something unexpected occurs, they just don't have the reaction speed to avoid an accident
stevexc,
Apr 21, 10:45am
He must have been interrupted or something.
mothergoose_nz,
Apr 21, 12:08pm
had a guy with alzheimers back into the side of my car.he hit it and kept coming.scary.went to see him a few days later about getting my car fixed and him and his wife asked which accident were we.they had another one on the way home and it sounded like they were being hit up for the second one
julian.walls,
Apr 21, 1:27pm
i seem to remember recently a car magazine i reviewed this month which contained a device to prevent accerator and brake been used at the same time - perhaps it should be called anti granny device. years ago in ine early 80s I parked my Ford Escort 1300 Mk1 cross flow in the Williams Car Park in Wellington anda little old lady driving her new Honda Civic Hondamatic confused the accerator with brake writing off her car and 3 others - my car survived only the boot and tail end needed replacing - the other 3 cars were jappers :)
socram,
Apr 21, 2:12pm
Agree.I know three ladies who are totally incompetent and have been for years.It a scary thought that with age, they will not improve. Also agree with sr2.Same problem around here. Equally, mature race drivers such as Alan Woolf are still very competent on the track.
gunhand,
Apr 21, 2:47pm
Well I hope those critisizing the elderly remember to hand there licence in the first time they make a mistake when they get older. Better still go hand it in next time you make a mistake. Many problems would then be removed very quickly from our roads. And the best thing is, you will be old one day as well.
jrlaw,
Apr 21, 3:05pm
O Well I guess none of these who go on about older drivers are not going to get old ! Maybe kill them selves first instead. Just watch for the cars with dents give them a bit of clearance. I am only coming up 76 still feel O.K.
planespotterhvn,
Apr 21, 4:23pm
How is that any different from stomping on the gas pedal in a manual! A stick shift is likely to confuse an elderly person even more.
Quote NZTools
The Manual gearbox has a manual clutch which is usually depressed when braking at low speed and is an extra safety feature to disconnect the drive if a driver tries to brake with the gas pedal.
planespotterhvn,
Apr 22, 4:41pm
Shirley Loft lost for 3 days after reversing off a cliff when she was supposed to drive forwards. Why did she not brake!
sr2,
Apr 22, 9:25pm
I have to agree with you on that one; at the end of the day compared (statistically) to 16 to 25 year old males, elderly drivers are quite safe!
planespotterhvn,
Apr 23, 9:19am
Very common type of crash with the elderly. Common stories of wiping out not one but several house fences, not just a shop window but a continued motion deep into the interior of the shop. What can we do to prevent it! Crash sensors on the bumpers that cut the ignition! Apply brakes!
kevin_the_kiwi,
Apr 23, 9:34am
Give them a lift plus and tell them to sharpen up.
Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread.
Have an account? Login here.