Senior Drivers To Wear "s" Plates

[GTR-N1]

A proposal is being put to the Victorian Gov't that Senior Age Drivers should have "S" plates on their cars.

Thoughts?

So besides sight testing and knowing the road rules...

S Plates:-

1) Should this be subject to more frequent driving tests as we grow older?

2) Should the type of testing for senior drivers include cognitive assessments regarding short term memory?

3) Should testing include the capacity for senior drivers to be able to turn their heads effectively?

4) Should menopausal women and andropausal men have psychological assessments for mood disorders, which would also pick up if the driver has a personality type that signifies defiance against losing their 'independence' by having his/her licence cancelled at a later date?

For instance, I think about whether or not I should even hold a licence in 15yrs time, when I see on occasions in my home town, an elderly person going around the roundabout anti-clockwise. They often forget to indicate. They can sometimes reverse park by sound rather than sight.

[Hadouken]

I'm cool with seniors just displaying an S. Just so that I am prepared for the a) slow driving characteristics or b) sudden use of the brake pedal for no apparent reason.

[PranK]

A proposal is being put to the Victorian Gov't that Senior Age Drivers should have "S" plates on their cars.

Thoughts?

So besides sight testing and knowing the road rules...

S Plates:-

1) Should this be subject to more frequent driving tests as we grow older?

2) Should the type of testing for senior drivers include cognitive assessments regarding short term memory?

3) Should testing include the capacity for senior drivers to be able to turn their heads effectively?

4) Should menopausal women and andropausal men have psychological assessments for mood disorders, which would also pick up if the driver has a personality type that signifies defiance against losing their 'independence' by having his/her licence cancelled at a later date?

For instance, I think about whether or not I should even hold a licence in 15yrs time, when I see on occasions in my home town, an elderly person going around the roundabout anti-clockwise. They often forget to indicate. They can sometimes reverse park by sound rather than sight.

1) Yes absolutely. I don't think this is particularly discriminatory, its a fact that we become less responsive as we age and the extent of that degradation is not a blanket rule.

2) Yes, I think that any driver should have sound cognitive ability.

3) Yes, or they drive a vehicle with a reversing camera and/or other aides.

4) Hmmm, unless we plan to test the emotional wellbeing of all drivers we shouldn't focus on introducing that to the elderly only. That said, I'd like to know if there are any reports on accidents caused by people in a poor frame of mind.

I'm sunned that you've seen elderly people driving the wrong way around a roundabout. That should be the type of offence that see's you shelved for life. No more license for you. Personally my pet hate is reversing without the shoulder check, this is particularly important to parents when their kids don't come up to the top of the boot, no mirrors would reflect them.

Good topic Tez.

[blind_elk]

1) more frequent than ..... never. You get tested, get your licence, then if you're unlucky you might get tested again in your 80s. Maybe ALL drivers need re-testing, throughout their driving career.

2) Sorry, I forgot the question. No, wait - I had Weet Bix for breakfast.

3) It's not just older drivers who need to be able to turn their heads. So many ordinary drivers fail to look around before performing many basic manouvres.

4) Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me!

What a ridiculous idea. (although that opinion is probably coming from the "why are they picking on me" realm). Older drivers - older than 49 WTF!! Really, the majority of "accidents" are caused by people who are basically incompetent. Too many crashes now because the driver "mistook the accellerator for the brake". And having made the mistake, are too stupid to realise it and correct it!

And there are lots of younger drivers who have no idea how / when to use indicators.

What next? "R" plates for drivers convicted of Road Rage? "D" plates for drink drivers?

[Kinkstaah]

It feeeeels discriminatory.

Like the above poster, I'd be happy with re-doing license tests/capability tests to retain a license, something that may be progressively difficult for seniors to complete.

After actually driving in Europe (Germany!!!), you realise that the problem isn't speed limits, its people just being f**king abysmal drivers down here, and makes you far angrier about people complaining about hoons, car mods, just general stupidity going on makes you rage hard. Something like blanket "S" plates highlights this kind of stupid, whereas the Euro thinking would default to "Lets train people of all ages"

[GTofuS-T]

This

After actually driving in Any other country (Germany!!!, Japan, USA), you realise that the problem isn't speed limits, its people just being f**king abysmal drivers down here,

S plates seems stupid and doesn't really fix a problem, just allows for targeted discrimination.

Unfortunately GP's make too much money from old ppl to report their inability to drive safely to the authorities, so a blanket age retest would be the only way to capture that, but I know some 80 year olds that are more capable than some 50 year olds.

They should be training kids younger and at school, what happens when a shit driver trains their child? more shit drivers. the NSW L & P plate system with speed restriction is stupid and dangerous.

[Rockit]

S plates seems stupid and doesn't really fix a problem, just allows for targeted discrimination.

I agree with this. I soon turn 72, so can be regarded as part of the target group. This is a complex issue with no simple solution, and will continue to compound with an ageing population. There have been some salient points raised in earlier posts; - where does one start or end?,

We siblings in our family were fortunate that when my late father had a very minor incident in his car in a shopping mall car park, the police became involved. We were all absentees from the locality, my sister being the closest, carried the work load. We decided the time was right to get the co-operation of the police to do the dirty work for us, and get my father off the road before anything more serious could occur. They requested that my father do a licence test if he wanted to continue to drive. Not being prepared to attempt this, his driving days were over. He never found out for sure, but held a grudge against my sister until he died, for what he assumed she had done. Doing this had its adverse consequences.

We found it strange that even though he lived next door to the local taxi driver, and it would have been convenient and cheaper to have used this service, than maintain his own car, he just wouldn't do it. I understand the reluctance to switch to taxis is common.

I think that there are a lot of people in the community who are "in the know" who should accept the responsibility, or even be compelled where necessary, to act in the best interests of the community, not the individual,. For example there are stringent tests one need go through to maintain a heavy truck licence. Teachers are compelled to report instances where they consider child abuse might have occurred.

Current 3 yr licence renewal periods for those over 75 don't necessarily help much, once on the slide, the speed can pick up fast.

Edited November 11, 2015 by PranK
Fixed quoting

[Nismo 3.2ish]

Well I have read all of this , twice or was it 3 times and can only ask.

What was the question, did I answer it

[jiffo]

Yes, another brain fart from none other than the insurance industry ??? WTF.

We have APIA chasing our business on one hand and then some other branch looking for a soft target.

Elderly drivers (and soon to be not so elderly) require an annual GP report before licence testing.

This is a better system than the previous wall chart eye test and you're good to go. My 90 year old grandad always passed the eye test using only his 'good' eye.

What if you're diabetic, might have a hypo so perhaps we need "D" plates as well.

Medication, sleep apnea, the list goes on.

You won't see the number plate on my car, there'd be to many extra plates added.

I'd rather see real driver instruction instead of what's presently happening, ridiculous log books etc.

No actual highway speed testing or bad weather.

Drivers speeding up on passing lanes as these nice wide spaces are the only conditions they feel competent enough.

And the blind spots of today's cars…. Stiff necks forget about it, may as well park by braille.

[Dobz]

Defensive driving test to obtain P's, compulsory defensive driving test at 10 year intervals from there on. Each test is a refresher training in defensive driving and you get three go's at the final test. Get three strikes and you hand back your licence. Display a competence to make quick decisions and handle a car in an emergency situation and you can keep driving on the roads.

It's my opinion this sort of testing at least helps people become aware before they put themselves in a stupid situation causing an accident.

[junkie]

S should stand for Shit driver. Plates issued based on fine and accident claim history

[Hertz Donut]

^Yeah my first thought was "what about D plates for dickheads?"

It might have changed since I got my licence (and I cbf checking) but in NZ we have/had a graduated requirement for senior drivers. You get your licence and it lasts until you're 70(?) years old when you're tested again, then at 75 and 80. From then on you have annual/biennial testing to ensure you're still competent. Means no need for anyone to be self-policing and no need for family to try and prise older relatives out from behind the wheel with a crowbar.