Old people shouldn't drive!

[KeWLKaT]

Ok, so today here in Montreal we got our first heavy snow/rain of the winter. Everyone was going crazy, but I already had my winter tires and black rims :rolleyes: . Here's what happened:

http://www.imghst.com/uploads/kewlkat/old****.gif

As I was going home, about 2 miles away from my house, the situation happened. Some old guy decided to cut me in order to get into a small mall. Ok, big deal, I was gonna let him do it... He came right next to me on the left lane, put no flasher on (at that point i was in his dead angle) and started moving to the next lane on his right (where I was!) that's where I honk and slam the brakes.

The f*cker, instead of continuing, also slammed the brakes, and since we got a lot of snow, and he's not driving a GT XD like me, his old p.o.s. Caddillac tailwhipped and he made a 90 degree turn before stopping right in front of me, a little less than half a meter away.

I slowly open the window, and start look at him. He doesn't say anything, doesn't even look, and continues going strait, into the mini-mall entrance....

I was stunned. If the abs and traction system on my car werent there, he would probably be dead by now. And he didn't care! He probably is around 70 years old.

I think that older people should get regular driving tests (every 1-2 years) once in a while, because most of them can't drive properly and are a menace to society!

:mad: ...One of them almost ripped off my front bumper today!

[XTRAWLD]

I agree that older people should be getting regular testing. My father turned 71 last month and isn't the best driver, but he's been driving for YEARS without any major accident....there was only one incident when he was young. Mind you, I hate getting in the car with him but he gets around. I would think that if he goes for testing, chances are he wouldn't pass a written test where he'd have to remember things and understand any newer laws - like distance to stop at a TTC bus or something - but if on the road, he just might be able to pass. I think that they should have regular schooling as well to remind them about HOW to drive correctly and get those bad habits quicker. Lucky nothing happened to you!

[Gman]

They would never be able to pass laws to make older people take drivers tests. WHY? because the older population VOTES, and they vote in higher % numbers then any group and the group behind them (the second highest voters) isn't about to help pass it cause they will soon be that age and then they would have to live by the same laws.

No one is going to willing pass a law that may someday take away their freedom to drive.

[silet]

You got that right!!!

[KeWLKaT]

Yea... I agree, but seriously, just to take a test... That's not SO bad. I mean I've witnessed a lot of old people hogging the road and going in strait lines where there are minor curves and such...

I just think that at their age, they don't have the same reflexes anymore, it should be treated.

[billydog]

if you take away old peoples right to drive, it will isolate and take away many peoples freedoms to move about. Im not saying that old people should or shouldnt drive, as you know there are many good and bad drivers around.

[Gomez]

Everyone should be tested periodically throughout their lives. There are some people who are terrible drivers and there's just nothing they can do about it. Old people are bad drivers because they're scared and too cautious, while young people are bad drivers because they're not cautious enough.

The government's take, or state government's for the US, is like the above post; there are a lot of good and bad drivers. There's no way to discern except through periodic testing. Even though that is my suggestion, I concede that it would be a huge waste of a lot of people's time and the government money.

[KeWLKaT]

Less accidents is worth the money, they will save on health and security and all the other related costs because of each accident.

[Gomez]

That is very true, but for governments that's too subjective. Bad drivers are not the sole reason for accidents.

[Jlivan]

This is the time where they all come down here for the winter. Today I was driving behind one that was going 45 in a 55. He was Braking on & off and nobody was in front of him. When I finally was able to pass him he was so far up in the steering wheel I thought he was one of the bobble heads on the dash.

I agree that after a certain age that they have some kind of regular driving test. I am not saying to take their driving away but at least make their own lane ;).

[CTele02]

Traffic jams are the most annoying thing to be in! It wastes everyone's gas and everyone's time! And most of the time its not even an accident... Its just SLOW and STUPID drivers. I've had my fair share of people braking when NOTHING is in front of them for a mile on a straight way... Makes zero sense. And I hate when people travel in "packs". Usually these result when several cars are side by side moving at the same speed. When they could just be lined up in one lane so other cars that dont waste their time traveling at 60mph can easily pass on the left side without having to worry about a slow *** in front. I agree that there should be more tests periodically but the tests today are way too easy.. I learned nothing from them that i didn't know after traveling in the back seat for most of my life. All i had to do was a 3-point turn that i will NEVER use! Driving school doesn't go into "highway" driving. And if that's the case then there should be a separate school and class of licenses that you require to use the highway, and the ticket should be a thousand dollars for not obeying. Thus only "qualified" drivers can use the highway where speeds can cause fatalities easily. The rest of the idiots can stick to local roads where speed limits hardly exceed 50mph. Sorry for the harshness but driving is a serious thing, and many traffic jams can be avoided by removing poor drivers from the roads.

[ButterBean]

if you take away old peoples right to drive, it will isolate and take away many peoples freedoms to move about.

Driving is a priviledge not a right.

One of the hardest things I think my Dad and Uncle had to do was to have my Grandfather's license taken away from him. It comes down to the rest of us have to suck up the responsibility for our parents/grandparents/elderly neighbors whoever and help them along. It's a pain in the a$$, but you know when they karted us around as younger people, it wasn't because they wanted to.

OK, rant over. I think that not just older people but everyone should get re-tested at least every other renewal period. Just because I could pass the test 8 years ago, doesn't mean that certain things haven't changed.

The problem is that so much of what changes happens at a gradual pace that we don't notice. I know that the last 10 years I didn't need my glasses for driving. I don't need them now, but the sure make a BIG difference when driving.

[only1db]

i think EVERYBODY should be tested every five years (when you have to get your liscense renewed)...but a real test not a drive around the block once test....get out and drive!! they should assess you on how you observe different traffic signs how you corner and how you accelerate....but thats me....i have always thought i am a better driver then three quaters of the pop....but because i have tickets...everybody thinks i'm a bad driver...oops just mean a drive a little faster then everybody else....and get caught because everybody speeds they just dont seem to get caught!!! o well...thats my .02

[KeWLKaT]

Yep!

I clearly remember one of the biggest accidents last year: a little girl was getting off of the school bus. And old man with a van crashes into her, kills her, and crashes his own van into a snow mountain, causing himself almost fatal injuries.

Why? Nobody every knew how? Nobody knew.

This year, an old man with a huge chrylser. He's on one of the biggest streets in montreal. Instead of going forward, the man accidently had forgotten his automatic transmission on reverse. His car flew backwards, killing 2 and injuring 3 people sitting on a park bench.

Comon, it's ridiculous!

Btw, you guys get your liscence renewed every 5 years? It's 2 years for us :(

[ButterBean]

Every four years for us here in Georgia, I believe that it's pretty much the same throughout all of the states.

[KeWLKaT]

Grrrr... Well, for once, the Americans have an advantage over us ;)

[CTele02]

I was just on the highway and i noticed a ford escort driving pretty close and dangerously, and switching lanes without signalling. So when i get a better look its some lady holding/reading some paper on her steering wheel!!! I mean talking on a cell for 2 min is as far as i go as distractions but at least id still have my eyes on the road!

[Gomez]

I agree with Only1db. Drivers should have to learn how to drive on highways.

During your driver's test, the instructor should tell you that you'll have to turn onto "Apple St." in the next few minutes. No right turn or left turn, there's just a street you have to find without slowing down too much and impeeding the flow of traffic. That is something everyone has to do at least once a month in some way, whether finding their exit on a highway or following directions to a place you've never been.

Back to Highway driving: When I first got my license I drove, for the first time, on the highway with my sister. She told me the paramount rule: "You should never have to touch your brakes on the highway," in regards to normal traffic and driving conditions. There should never be a reason to slow down. That's why there are two lanes and a speed limit.
And she taught me something that I think a lot of people don't know, but I'm sure everyone on EXD knows: Left lane is the passing lane and right lane is the riding lane. Everyday I see people doing the speed limit in the left lane. Is it possible they don't know? Do they ever wonder why someone is always up their *** whenever they drive on the highway? Or do they just have no concept of actual rules of the road?
It's a shame that things will be like this until they invent cars that talk to each other.

[KeWLKaT]

Everyday I see people doing the speed limit in the left lane. Is it possible they don't know? Do they ever wonder why someone is always up their *** whenever they drive on the highway? Or do they just have no concept of actual rules of the road? True that! I hate it!

I think people should get on the highway for their driving exams too...

[only1db]

the whole highway things is the American way....i'm here and i'm not going to move...go around me!! <<<< pisses me the f off!!! ....i try to autobahn flash about a thousand or so feet so they have a chance to move over before i get there...a lot of people do move over but then there are those that take as "i'm boss move over"...i take as ...i'm moving faster than you have the common curtosity to move over

road manners are just wonderous in the good ol US of A

[KeWLKaT]

The worse is when people drive on two lanes at the same time for a LONG time (while theyre switching lanes)