Oblivious old people....

rickeverett

Out yesterday I was in a small line of traffic in the village.

Some old fella overshot the right turn into a Church even with us going 5mph or so. With me positioned 3-4m or so behind (and directly behind so he could see me) he just started to reverse :shock: .
I had to shout and quickly move the bike. Now I usually let things go on the road but once he made the turn I followed him over to mention what a dangerous tit he was.

He didn't even look or know I was behind !

like this bloke ......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-27354787

kajjal

I tend to give most older drivers / people a wider berth when out on the bike. The amount of illness's and life crisis they may be affected by means they are often distracted which is understandable. That is no reason to drive dangerously though.

BrandonA

Did you see the person on the disability scoop at the woman's cycling on TV the other day? He rode across the road behind one rider and only just missed getting hit by the pack.

In regards to car drivers, I don't think age has anything to do with it. Drivers don't respect or sometimes even see or anticipate cyclists. I think one of the key skills a good cyclist needs is the ability to anticipate what a driver is going to do and be ready to take action should they act the fool.

At least no one was hurt in the scenario you were involved in.

sloppyschleckonds

BrandonA wrote:

Did you see the person on the disability scoop at the woman's cycling on TV the other day? He rode across the road behind one rider and only just missed getting hit by the pack.

:roll:

briantrumpet

Kajjal wrote:

I tend to give most older drivers / people a wider berth when out on the bike. The amount of illness's and life crisis they may be affected by means they are often distracted which is understandable. That is no reason to drive dangerously though.

I'm reminded of the time an old bloke slowly started to cut the corner at a T-junction ... as I waited patiently at the T. He spotted me when I was leaning against his window, and after I'd thrown the bike onto the ground to my left to avoid getting run over at about 5mph. Guess what? - he hadn't seen me.

damocles10

I saw that too. Some people under estimate the speed of races.

Good on the ladies for not braking or panicking. It could have been nasty.

Miles253

I think older drivers ought to be tested again, to ascertain whether they are still fit to drive, is this a bit harsh, maybe, is it necessary, I think so. And that's from a driver and a cyclist POV

briantrumpet

Miles253 wrote:

I think older drivers ought to be tested again, to ascertain whether they are still fit to drive, is this a bit harsh, maybe, is it necessary, I think so. And that's from a driver and a cyclist POV

At the moment it's left to doctors and opticians to make a proactive decision to say that older people aren't fit to drive, and I think few of them are willing to be the person who takes away the independence that car driving gives.

A standard vision/reactions test every five years over 70 would at least be a start. I know that my gran kept on driving way after when she should have stopped. Thankfully the accident that convinced her to stop was a slo-mo one into an empty parked car.

kajjal

briantrumpet wrote:

Kajjal wrote:

I tend to give most older drivers / people a wider berth when out on the bike. The amount of illness's and life crisis they may be affected by means they are often distracted which is understandable. That is no reason to drive dangerously though.

I'm reminded of the time an old bloke slowly started to cut the corner at a T-junction ... as I waited patiently at the T. He spotted me when I was leaning against his window, and after I'd thrown the bike onto the ground to my left to avoid getting run over at about 5mph. Guess what? - he hadn't seen me.

My normal problem is parents distracted by children and old people either pulling out into me or deciding they have right of way straight through me in a panic. This doesn't happen that often to be fair. Seeing as I am over 6 ft 6 and wearing a bright coloured top I am a bit hard to miss

bad_moose

That's pretty shocking. I think it definitely pays to give older people a wide berth, they're just too unpredictable and unobservant in many cases to risk it.

I think something needs to be done to get these dangerous drivers off the road. Last year, a girl at my college was run over on her way in one morning. The driver came to a bend in the road and just didn't turn, he ran straight up the pavement into this poor girl. Apparently he'd already been told by the Police that he shouldn't be driving anymore, but he carried on regardless after refusing to give up his licence. Cost an innocent young girl with a bright future her life in this case.

The problem is that even without a licence, you're still capable of actually getting into a car and operating it. If somebody is stubborn enough to refuse to give up their licence, I don't imagine that they'll stop driving even once their licence has been forcibly removed. The only way round that is to take people's cars, but that's probably against the law (?). Plus what happens if a safe, competent driver is also dependent on the vehicle? Very difficult situation to deal with.

chris_bass

There is an old woman in a silver micra that passes me very closely near Henley in Arden most evenings after work and i'm not sure if she knows if i am there or not. She doesnt change her position in the road after going past me, luckily it is a relatively wide (well wide enough for me and her in the one carriageway) but here passenger side wing mirror is always pushed in, at first i thought she just hadnt popped it back out but i'm beginning to think she knocks it on stuff to push it in.

sarm34

nice easy solution to old folk in cars (radical but easy)
Lets face it old folk in cars are just down right dangerous so my plan would be to get the government to pass a bill that when you hit seventy you have to hand over your car keys and drivers licence, if you refuse they shoot you in the head :shock:

and to those who own a caravan , it needs setting fire too with its owners inside them




all in tongue and cheek BTW or is it..... 8)

Mikey23

Old person here... I'm noting some interesting comments. Thanks guys

Just remember that you too will be old one day...

paultheparaglider

Mikey23 wrote:

Just remember that you too will be old one day...

Only the lucky ones, Mikey. That's the thought that amuses me.

Whatever happened to respect for the elderly, and that is aside from the fact that insurance premia indicate that it is actually younger drivers that shouldn't be on the road.

thegreatdivide

My accident was the result of an elderly woman who should not have been driving. When the Police visited her for the second time she couldn’t remember their initial visit and rather than charge her they asked her to voluntarily give up her licence. She was lucky she hit me – it could have been a family out for a ride.

Mikey23

When I was a sociology student they called it 'common sense theory' and it's why the daily mail continues to be such a popular paper..

Folks come out with their anectdotes about how I had a bad experience with an older person who shouldn't be driving. Therefore all old people shouldn't be driving. Therefore anyone over 70 has no value and should be exterminated. Whether in jest or not it says much about what is in the heart.

Same with young people, disabled, gay etc etc. as I've said before don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant. And @ppg, thanks for bringing up the insurance thing... I have 70%

arran77

I reckon it's not just a case of pointing fingers at old drivers, there are plenty of others on the road who are dangerous, young drivers for example who lack experience after just passing their test are just as bad in my opinion.

ballysmate

Don't forget the middle aged tw@ts in their penis extension cars who think they own the road, nor the youngsters in their boy racers whom I have to slow down for as they negotiate speed bumps with their low slung wide bore exhausts.

mm1

One of my clubmates was knocked off in January and it was the vicar who told the driver it was time to give up her licence, not plod.

Another clubmate, in his 80s and still time trialling at the time of the "accident", was knocked off by a younger pensioner, who locked herself in the car when plod arrived.

I have been hit twice, once by a florist who was late for work and "didn't see" me, she got a long talking to from the copper who showed up after I'd been laying in the road for half an hour but she was not charged.

The first time I was hit was while walking on the pavement with my children (who were aged 2 and 4 at the time). The driver was a known drug dealer but wasn't tested and was eventually charged only with driving without a licence, tax or insurance. On this occassion plod said they "couldn't tell" how fast the scum bag was driving when he lost control and mounted the pavement and I only found out by chance about the charges and driver's conviction because no one bothered to keep me informed.

Even when no one is killed this nonsense messes up lives, but nothing will change as long as law makers and enforcers continue to view driving as a "right".

e999sam

Here's one from the women's Tour of Britain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=548T4-RNRkw

ballysmate

Mm1 wrote

once by a florist who was late for work and "didn't see" me,

Imagine your feelings if she had seen you and still decided to run you over.

Kieran_Burns

Ballysmate wrote:

Mm1 wrote

once by a florist who was late for work and "didn't see" me,

Imagine your feelings if she had seen you and still decided to run you over.

Nice flowers at the funeral or at least a good discount though.

CHRISNOIR

BrandonA wrote:

Did you see the person on the disability scoop at the woman's cycling on TV the other day? He rode across the road behind one rider and only just missed getting hit by the pack.

e999sam wrote:

Here's one from the women's Tour of Britain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=548T4-RNRkw

^^^^Oblivious old people.

e999sam

CHRISNOIR wrote:

BrandonA wrote:

Did you see the person on the disability scoop at the woman's cycling on TV the other day? He rode across the road behind one rider and only just missed getting hit by the pack.

e999sam wrote:

Here's one from the women's Tour of Britain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=548T4-RNRkw

^^^^Oblivious old people.

I am 52

mm1

Ballysmate wrote:

Mm1 wrote

once by a florist who was late for work and "didn't see" me,

Imagine your feelings if she had seen you and still decided to run you over.

At the time I joked that she must have been in a hurry to make up a wreath for the last cyclist she'd met. Coincidentally she is a friend of a friend's wife, who I was introduced to at a recent TT as "this is Martin, who Fiona tried to kill".

Mikey23

I think disability scooter man displayed incredible judgement and timing. Unless it was a suffragette style protest for pensioner rights

Colinthecop

Disability scooter man...? Anyone got a link....?

rickeverett

Colinthecop wrote:

Disability scooter man...? Anyone got a link....?

erm... you read the OP ?

cyclingsheep

I blame.......cataracts

chippyk

I got hit on a roundabout by an old woman who didn't see me, the dragged me down the road and to add insult to injury after I'd got up, reversed over my bike. She was late 80's and sat in a pool of her p*** if I recall correctly, her car also had a Keo Easy shaped dent within 3 seconds of me standing up. The police were good, it happened outside the nick, nice brew, a chat about cycling and a bar of chocolate. They rang me a week later to ask how I was and ask if I wanted them to prosecite or advise her to stop driving. I got a Bianchi with the payouts so all's well etc.

Whilst we're on old(er) people, a cyclist in club kit sponsored by a well known sports nutrition company, waiting to turn right shouted at me slow down you F***ing W**ker when I was driving home last week, then flicked V signs at me after I'd gone past. I was doing 40 in a 60 limit so it's not just drivers who can be tw@ts.

ballysmate

I pm'd Mikey but perhaps he hasn't noticed it.
Or he may just be an old curmudgeon.