ooh what a heated discussion
young people have the physical ability to operate a car, but alot lack the responcablity. i think even i shouldn't be alowed to drive after some of the stupid stuff i have done.
but old people, the definition of old, is a physical change, and it doesn't how sharp their mind is, it is still a change that will impare driving. as stated the problem is guaging when this age should be. but it is still a fact that old people have slower reactions.
with the case of the old lady, it should be an instant and permenent ban. because she wont get any better at driving and it wasn't just a little mistake, when you get something that wrong you should know about it.
as for the women and men drivers, i think they are equal in competence, but i think men tend to drive either proactively or aggresively where as women tend not to feel so in control of the car, so they tend to treat the car as if they are not totally in control, thus going slowly etc. but like ems said, this isn't something that is fact, its just usually the case.
a retest is a bad idea for soo many reasons. the cost and time, having to take time off to take your test. not being able to get to work cos you failed. for people who drive for a living this could loose them their job. loosing your job and license in one day isn't going to do the world any good.
i think the best option is to threaten people. young people, if they screw up by driving bad in their first 4 years then a retest. if old people show any signs of slower reactions, either when they go to the doctor, or if they are spotted by the police doing something stupid then they should have a reactions test and then a retest.
there is an old lady near me who CANNOT park. she cant do it, she can barely walk. and yes taking the car from her, means she looses her indepnedence and cant take her dog to the dog walk. but there are kids in the car park that she could kill. i think it is more important for public safty that people who cant drive proplely are taken off the road until they can prove that they can drive. with old people, this would usually mean they wouldn't drive again.
and like other people said, i think that the stats are wrong simply because the people who come up as the most dangerous are the people who spend most of their time on the road. i am a young male, and i drive to work and back, and often drive for work and drive on weekends so it is vary rare that a day goes by when i am not in a car for atleast an hour. that means that obviously i am more likely to have a crash than my mum, who rarely drives and drives short distances. i think these statistics should take into account the amount of time spent on the road too.
