QLD thinking about "older" drivers...

rockylizard · Guru

QLD thinking about "older" drivers...

aussietraveller · Guru

If older drivers who are not the ones highly represented in motor vehicle accidents what reason is there to make them undergo medical each year I wonder what sort of assessment they are going to apply to the young people who are over represented in vehicle accidents, might I suggest a psychological assessment and a risk analysis as I believe many think they are bullet proof and have outstanding driving skills.

Cupie · Guru

I for one have no problems with the idea of being more stringent on the medical certificate requirement, that I understand includes guidelines for issuing GPs.

These things come & go .. no politicians are going to unnecessarily upset the growing number of ageing voters.

Duh · Guru

aussietraveller wrote:
If older drivers who are not the ones highly represented in motor vehicle accidents what reason is there to make them undergo medical each year I wonder what sort of assessment they are going to apply to the young people who are over represented in vehicle accidents, might I suggest a psychological assessment and a risk analysis as I believe many think they are bullet proof and have outstanding driving skills.

Good points David !

Duh · Guru

I hope your Dr told you to keep your eyes on the road John and stop looking at those young nubile maidens walking by, they are no good for your blood pressure.... wink biggrin

(Ooops....sorry for OT sort of)

-- Edited by Duh on Monday 8th of October 2012 02:02:52 PM

yeoeleven · Guru

I had to have a doctor's and optician's certification after I turned 75 but it took me 6 months to return to Queensland to have the checks.

Since I live in the van and travel constantly it is inconceivable that I couldn't pass the test. Next year it will have to wait until I get back to Queensland and the Gold Coast before I will undergo it again.

John

geobuz · Guru

I have to admit I have seen some 80+ year olds doing some mighty stupid things on the roads around Cairns lately (at least they look that old to me), but on our 11500 km drive around eastern and central Australia recently it was more the youngsters - red P Platers - who were the greatest menace on the roads. The truckies were all courteous and the older drivers the same.

I agree, johnq, risktaking is the greatest problem and who are the greatest risk-trakers? The youngsters who think they know everything!

-- Edited by geobuz on Monday 8th of October 2012 08:09:36 PM

milo · Guru

my dad is due for his test at the moment, will be interesting if he gets it this time round..

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Did you Dad do any driving on your recent trip to SA, Milo?

johnq · Guru

In my thirties I imagined that the decrepit aged 60 on were only capable of handling a park bench. Of course I would have treated them better than that, in a helpful (read as patronising) way.

The new old is not as old as the young guard who are taking over the reins imagine. Maybe too there are far too many politicians continually seeking new ways to legislate to justify their existence.

A sad fact about cars is that while engineers have constantly beavered away making cars and roads safer their good efforts are always counterbalance by higher speed and more risk-taking. How many here believe that the maximum speed limit is the correct way to precede from go to whoa, even arguing that "truckies" would bless drivers for not taking into account minor factors as the prevailing conditions.

Anti-social drivers who have constantly abused their licence are permitted to return to the streets, but I ought to be subjected to more stringent tests based on naught but ageism and stereotyping. How does that work?

I submit that therein are the main problems, stupidity (risk taking) and disrespect on the roads. Fix those. Here is a clue: more regulations to inconvenience the many very responsible drivers will not help one iota.

milo · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
Did you Dad do any driving on your recent trip to SA, Milo?

not much , i did 99.9% of it,,

Santa · Guru

South Australia requires annual medical checks for those 70 and older, no big deal.

justcruisin01 · Guru

THey couldn't do a medical check on some of the young ones as they are not all there.

JC.

brickies · Guru

You are so right lots of people forget what causes accident it the nut behind the wheel what ever age it is , This subject go up often it just all talk in queensland you don't have to do an eye test when renewing your licence

Cupie · Guru

brickies wrote:
You are so right lots of people forget what causes accident it the nut behind the wheel what ever age it is , This subject go up often it just all talk in queensland you don't have to do an eye test when renewing your licence

Yep, that's right. On both aspects.

Previously the person at the MRD counter had an eye chart that you had to read. It was determined that they were not qualified to make judgements on eye tests so the practice was dropped some time ago. Can now renew licence on the internet with no tests, only supposed to upgrade the photo about every 10 yrs or so. I didn't bother & was issued a renewal anyway.

Be interesting to see what happens on my 75th if I last that long.