Automatics and the elderly

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un_known, Apr 23, 9:45am
deaf and blind i understand, but since when do you need to be able to talk to drive.
waipawa, Apr 23, 9:58am
Back-seat drivers require the power of speech in order to control the vehicle.
nightboss, Apr 23, 10:02am
I think there should be another category of licence for some elderly. In the same way an "L" plate lets other drivers know of learner drivers, there could be an "S" plate for some senior drivers, based on assessment by their Doctor.
Restrictions are in place for "L" platers, similar could be in place for "S" platers. (eg: Daylight hours only, 50km/h zones only, within 20km of home).
Many of the seniors on our roads are very capable but not all, an "S" plate option could allow enough independance to shop, health visits, keep contact with friends and family etc all while keeping them safely off roads at high risk or high traffic times.
socram, Apr 23, 2:16pm
You haven't defined 'some' elderly.At what point do they swap over! Just the testing by a doctor!In which case, there is a strong logic for re-testing ALLdrivers after ten or twenty years.Doctors can test for obvious stuff such as poor eyesight and really poor reflex time, but reflex times do not really equate to reaction times, given that several of these quoted incidents involve people travelling many, many metres and they still can't find the brake pedal.
Limiting to 50kph zones and 20kms could be a problem, given that places such as Hamilton are ringed with 60kph zones and from around here, the only ways into town or south are via motorways, one with an 80kph limit and one with a 100kph limit.
The dangerous ones are those who see nothing wrong with the way they drive, so the only true assessment is by direct observation by someone qualified, in a variety of situations.

Sitting in our local cafe (daily) and observing the traffic outside, negotiating a roundabout or trying to parallel park, I can assure you that most of those displaying incompetence, are far from being old!
woody1946, Apr 23, 2:29pm
We run a little home business with mainly women customers, so I put in a area for them to turn around, well you should see the trouble some of them have with it The deck gets it fair share of knocks, the kerb is black from tyre skuffs the lawn has grooves in it,we have given up on the garden and the wine barrels, but strangly enough the septic tank cleaner man was able to turn his great big tanker around without a problem
nightboss, Apr 23, 3:11pm
What confuses some elderly is change, this may explain the incidences described above. Below is a solution that worked for our family.
My father is 85 and he still drives, recently his car of 15 years needed replacing due to WOF (rust) fail. Every armchair expert in the family wanted him to try this car and that car, what he wanted was "his" car, so I found him an identical model and year as his with less milage and in top condition. He does not have to adapt to new switches and levers positions, it feels the exactly the same and he loves his "new" car to bits.
nightboss, Apr 23, 3:18pm
Let the details be sorted by the politicians, what we want is ideas. Ideas that keep all users safer on our roads. A graded licence system works well (mostly) for new drivers on "L" plates. I think there is room for a graded licence system at the other end of our driving years, an "S" plate.
And yes Socram, I too think we need to be tested on our knowledge of road rules at regular intervals. My suggestion is we have those scratch tests at time of licence renewal, at the least it would make us all study at least every ten years.
planespotterhvn, Apr 23, 7:03pm
How is that going to prevent full throttle braking with the accelerator pedal!
What about a full throttle cut out! The accelerator is obviously being pushed hard to the floor, as if it were a brake pedal with hydraulic backpressure behind the pedal.if the car senses that strange type of behaviour it cuts the ignition and locks the brakes applying the ABS.what do you think!
planespotterhvn, Apr 23, 7:16pm
Boy racers and overtakers may hate that feature!
foxdonut, Apr 23, 11:27pm
Half of you dickheads can't drive either but you've still got cars.

My 2c
canajanz1, Apr 23, 11:41pm
I think you are right that we need to be tested but a written test is rarely the answer
My dad is a great example of how well this doesnt work . and so was his mother. He has to resit his test every 2 years. He passes. 100% every time. he's not stupid. But his eyesight has deteriorated, his reactions are slow and overdone, he's SCARY!His mother drove BADLY until she was 95.
We need road tests . cheap ones maybe . but on the road. Or a really good simulator<LOL>
nightboss, Apr 24, 5:15am
The above comment is proof that 2c is worth nothing and your 2c is worth less.
elect70, Apr 24, 1:33pm
Thats how that 74 year old ladywent down the bank other weekfor 3 days. doing a3 point turn onhill rd with no barrier, put it in r instead ofd . Perhaps autos should be made with R at the bottom ofshifter !
bellky, Apr 24, 1:45pm
No that's the problem - she's stepped on both pedals at the same time there lol.
planespotterhvn, Apr 28, 11:03am
Saturdays CHCH Press pg E1 left side Oops, Wrong Pedal.
Nearly two thirds of the drivers who mistakenly hit the throttle pedal instead of the brakes in crashes are women, and most of them are over 76.
kernal1, Apr 29, 3:43pm
Help! Almost 'elderly driver' with auto car! 2 strikes.female.LOL Last time, years ago.even younger.forgot to hold clutch when putting car in gear! (Phee.no damage!) My dad, years ago when he brought his 1st auto car had a strap he insisted mum use so she could only use her right leg!
Nevermind the drunks, boy racers etc etc.our roads would be so much safer if elderly females (hell! maybe even males) were banned from driving even manual cars! We sadly read/hear almost daily of 'younger people' not only killing themselves but others. Get real.hopefully you may get older too but the chances of an 'elderly person' killing someone, auto or manual car are far less than yours!
socram, Apr 29, 3:51pm
I am happy with 'D' being at the bottom as there is virtually no chance of selecting reverse by mistake.
Surely, it is all about moving off slowly!If you do that, then if you are in the wrong gear, it isn't too difficult to stop - or is it!Obviously not for some people.