Speed cameras .... - Page 3

Prince · 02-02-2008, 06:41 PM

My driving skills haven't lapsed...they've got significantly better! I would fail because I generally hold the wheel with one hand (unless I'm driving at high speeds). I don't have to talk to myself, I don't have to check my mirrors everytime I increase my speed by 2mph and I look at junctions so much quicker than any learner does. I'm sure you agree that you learn to drive after you pass your test.

To justify my other point...about older drivers. I'm talking about 60+ drivers. An 18 year old driving at 30mph is a lot safer than a 65 year old driving at 30mph because if god forbid somebody steps in the way...the 18 year old's reaction speed (on average) will be quicker. How often do you complain about the driver in front...only to realise it's someone who's over 60? I don't mean any offense by any comments, we're all free to express our opinions. But when I watch my grandad drive...I know he shouldn't be!

Maybe random testing would be a good idea?

fingers · 02-02-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince

My driving skills haven't lapsed...they've got significantly better! I would fail because I generally hold the wheel with one hand (unless I'm driving at high speeds). I don't have to talk to myself, I don't have to check my mirrors everytime I increase my speed by 2mph and I look at junctions so much quicker than any learner does.

This goes with what Old Git said about people thinking they are brilliant and invincible. Being confident enough to hold the wheel with one hand doesn't make you a better driver, nor does not taking as much time to approach and look at a junction, or not checking your mirrors before conciously altering your speed, regardless of how much your doing it by. (if you like I can give a very long explanation for this but cant be bothered right now

) When you have been doing something for a while, the experience will give you confidence but not necessarily make you better, and confidence will make you careless. If driving skills got better the longer you or anyone had been doing it, then surley old people would be the best drivers in the world and would never need a retest. Familiarity breeds contempt!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince

I'm sure you agree that you learn to drive after you pass your test.

I believe you learn how to drive after you learn how dangerous a car can be and how valuable life is. Most people don't consider these things untill they either hit their mid 20's and have somehow been involved in an accident and/or have Kids. Untill either of those points you think your invincible and "it won't happen to me", everyone does. It has to happen to someone and someoneelse usually causes it (what ever 'it' is).

Botom line is, everyone will pick up bad habits, forget things and probably become over confident, regardless of their age. We are all only human.

Prince · 02-02-2008, 07:43 PM

I think we could probably argue this one all night. I think our age and experience makes the difference in opinions.

fingers · 02-02-2008, 07:45 PM

I believe you could be right.

waynne · 04-02-2008, 06:46 AM

We have an agreement

. The old and the young unite

TorqueCars close the generation gap......

Now whos going to be first to say "oi leave my age out of this." I'm betting fingers....

fingers · 04-02-2008, 08:57 PM

I may be rapidly approaching 30 but I'll never grow up.

My toys just keep getting more expensive.

Prince · 04-02-2008, 09:44 PM

I'm approaching 20! I can't afford the toys I want!

pgarner · 05-02-2008, 07:39 AM

wait till your married at got your own house
then can you not only not afford the toys you just dont bother looking

HDi fun · 07-02-2008, 06:21 PM

Blimey, I'm approaching forty in the next year or two. I feel sooooo old. I think my reactions are still OK, although possibly not quite up the the immediacy they were when I was 19. Having said that, anticipation grows with years of experience and I can only hope that it helps mitigate against slower reactions. Otherwise I'm doomed.

waynne · 08-02-2008, 03:38 AM

I think experience counts over fast reactions. You get to see a problem before it happens in theory. I'm not quite there yet, how are you planning to have your mid life crisis?

pgarner · 08-02-2008, 05:43 AM

think theres a point where reactions come back into it, for instance my reactions are prob slightly faster than HDI's whit the 15 ish year gap (going with him being 38 as im in a good mood) but yes he has much more experience than me so we would prob do about the same in an emergancy . however a 76yo who has been driving for 60 years is going to have more experience than the pair of us put together but his reactions are prob so bad that it would make no difference at all ( if he ever managed to get to 60 in the first place)

Quote:

Originally Posted by prince

I would fail because I generally hold the wheel with one hand (unless I'm driving at high speeds)

wheres you other hand while your doing this. dont say on the gearstick as you will knacker the gearbox

Prince · 08-02-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgarner

wheres you other hand while your doing this. dont say on the gearstick as you will knacker the gearbox

My other hand is either resting on the gear stick, or holding the bottom of the steering wheel. That's how I like to drive...it's more comfortable.

HDi fun · 09-02-2008, 08:56 PM

It's not only how many years that you've held a license to drive that measures experience. It's miles covered and attitude as well. I've clocked up over 600,000 miles in the 21 years I've been driving. That's a lot of time to screw up and make a mess. And a lot of time to learn from screwing up.

My Dad is 71 and he's starting to lose the finer points of his driving skills. Again, high mileage driver but age takes its toll.

At 38, I'm just about managing to kid myself I'm still young. And I hope that experience teaches me to lay off the fast driving when I really am no longer up to it.

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