bad i know but what would you have done?????
i was walking along the pedestrian pathway outside the shops on herries road(tesco) when this black granada being driven by this old guy about 75 drove straight at me and my 12 week old son who was in his pram,swearving at the very last minute.......he missed my pram by about 4 inch. iwas soooo angry.i shouted at him to stop but he carried on driving,finally pulling in the carpark outside tesco.i followed him into tesco to see what he was playing at just to be confronted by this arrogant,nasty,spiteful old man who started shouting swear words at me that gorden ramsey would have been embarrased about.i asked him if he was aware of what he had just done and he told me he was f'ing miles away and that I was crackers!! the bloomin cheek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i told him to get his glasses cleaned or his eyes retested as he had nearly hit my pram.he told me to <removed> you silly cow and go away.i told him i was going to report him to the police and he just laughed at me.so thats exactly what i did.
the police went to see him next morning. when the copper rang me up to tell me he had been to see this pensioner,he said the old man had said he hadnt realised what he had done and that it was me who had been swearing at him, not the other way around.they said they had advised him on careful driving but there was nothing else they could do as he hadnt actually hit my pram.
i hope this visit from the police was enough to scare this man because if not and if by any chance i do see him again i will kick his bloody car in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rant: :rant:

I've told my family to take my car keys away from me when the time comes i'm not road worthy anymore. Many old people don't even feel it when they bump into another car, i've seen them trying to back out of a parking space going back and forth and not even knowing (or pretending ) that they don't feel their car bumping into others while doing so.

Last year we had some old guy drive into some shoppers by mistake of course killing about ten and injuring many more.......charged with manslaughter and doing time soon.

Drivers should be forced to re-take the driving test when they reach say 70 years old to make sure they can still cope with driving.

My Dad was an awful driver, I used to avoid getting into the car with him if I could. The thing with older people is, that like my Dad they never took a driving test, only learnt 'in the war'. He was so impatient and bad tempered when he was driving I used to pity my poor Mum.
I agree with Poppins, I hope someone takes my keys when I get too old.

im glad you reported them! glad you are ok too. i aggree that people say over 70 should have to re-sit a driving test, cos about 99% wouldnt pass i dont think. things have changed so much since they learnt, and their eys sight / reaction times etc must be slower than a younger person.

i like it when the old and permentantly baffled say things like "I've been driving 50 years and i've never had an accident" look in your rear view mirror you'll have caused hundreds :hihi:

I cant believe some old people sometimes, they do things then blame you and say its your fault. They shouldn't be driving at that age anyway, can you imagine them taking a driving test by today's standards, they would never pass! Hope it didn't shake you up to much stiffmyster.

Well done for reporting him! Most old people cannot drive. It annoys the hell outta me. :rant: lol

Glad you and your little one are both ok :D

The majority of pensioners shouldnt be allowed to drive, me and hubby were driving along Wordsworth Ave and a pensioner pulled straight out in front of us, he smashed all the passenger side of our car in. He said he had only just got his car back from another accident, there crazy.
Glad you and baby are ok though stiffmyster.
An good on ya for reporting him.

I cant believe some old people sometimes, they do things then blame you and say its your fault. They shouldn't be driving at that age anyway, can you imagine them taking a driving test by today's standards, they would never pass! Hope it didn't shake you up to much stiffmyster.

i had jelly legs for the rest of the day!!!! but to not even acknowledge he was in the wrong!grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!:loopy:
if he had hit my pram, i would have hit HIM! right on the end of his nose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i thought oldies did have to take a retest at 70 :confused:
am i wrong about this? does anyone know ?????

I think it important to point out that many older people are perfectly good drivers- so please don't come over all ageist on us for the sake of it.

There are bad drivers of all ages, colours and genders. It doesn't mean that there aren't good drivers of all ages, colours and gender though.

i thought oldies did have to take a retest at 70 :confused:
am i wrong about this? does anyone know ?????

No- they have to fill in a declaration that they are still fit to drive and take an eye test. So if they still believe they are fit to drive that's what they'll sign to.

I'm sorry to hear about your scary experience- and glad to hear that the only thing damaged was your peace of mind.

I am 74 and am still driving. From some of the antics I see much younger folk getting up to in their jazzed up cars with big noisy exhausts and speed stripes down the side it is they who need to be retested not me. My experience on the road both as a private motorist and travelling long distances when I was working is far superior to some of the idiots I see. Just as an example: How many cars do you see driving in the rain without their headlights on? I see regularly about 60% of cars in these conditions driving with either just parking lights on or none at all. Similarly when the light is getting a bit dim you see dark coloured cars without any lights at all or just parking lights. Just because it is still daylight - of sorts - doesn't mean you should drive without any illumination which can be seen by other drivers.

It is the same with signals. Cars turn without signalling and often if it wasn't for experience and anticipation many an accident could be caused. Among young drivers they very often are. Then you have those who think that just because they have signalled they are intending to turn right seem to think everyone else should give way to let them. No bloody patience most of them.

Don't just think that we all loose our marbles and go senile when we reach 70. Most of us have more sense and road craft than many younger folk on the roads.

maybe retaking a sriving test every 5 years for any age would give us all better driving habits

by sriving i did mean driving

When I was learning to drive a few years ago I saw a pensioner turn the wrong way onto a roundabout (one of the busy city centre ones as well) and nearly cause a pileup as half a dozen cars swerved to miss him. I remember my instructor shouting 'F'ing hell!' as we watched this guy go flying past us.

Blimey, nothing like tarring everyone with the same brush eh!
All old people are bad drivers, all young people are bad drivers, etc... What a load of old tosh.

Anyway, I think the OP did the right thing, and I hope the visit from the police makes this guy think about how he's driving, whatever his age.

i like it when the old and permentantly baffled say things like "I've been driving 50 years and i've never had an accident" look in your rear view mirror you'll have caused hundreds :hihi:

Silly, arrogant, unwarranted, ageist comment of the week ! :rolleyes:

The OP is complaining about the conduct of a careless, ignorant and as it turns out foul-mouthed driver who happens to be old.

There are many such drivers on the roads these days and I supect that most of them will not be old

Don't the DVLA have a reporting system for bad old drivers now?

It bloody annoys me that you can drive a car in this fashion but any other near death imposition is attempted murder :confused:

Don't the DVLA have a reporting system for bad old drivers now?


That sounds like a good idea, - any grey-haired driver gets in your way on the road pass their number to the DVLA and have their licence revoked.

Pity we can't do the same with boy-racers :rolleyes:

That sounds like a good idea, - any grey-haired driver gets in your way on the road pass their number to the DVLA and have their licence revoked. Pity we can't do the same with boy-racers :rolleyes:

Strix is ok irl, really! There are bad drivers and good drivers of both sexes in all age groups ... it's just that with the blithe ignorance of youth, some of the younger ones don't even realise how badly they drive!

They've abolished indicating, junked MSM, have stupid noisy exhausts fitted and always have the pavement side window rolled down with their "music" playing at full blast so as to make sure everyone notices them :hihi:

Maybe everyone should have to take a retest every 10 years ... that'd sort the sheep from the goats.

That sounds like a good idea, - any grey-haired driver gets in your way on the road pass their number to the DVLA and have their licence revoked.

Pity we can't do the same with boy-racers :rolleyes:
Oi! I want the driving age raised to 25 too ;)

Last time we went to Barnsley,an old man driving this car, going "the wrong way round a roundabout !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :loopy:

Last time we went to Barnsley,an old man driving this car, going "the wrong way round a roundabout !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :loopy:

Wasn't that your husband Pattricia ?:suspect:

WOW, i hate how they view it as...if the pram got hit then we can do something, why wait for tradgedy when we can prevent it, the freaking law stinks
I hope you are ok now
Oh...and it isnt bad that you called the police, i would have done the exact same thing

I am 74 and am still driving. From some of the antics I see much younger folk getting up to in their jazzed up cars with big noisy exhausts and speed stripes down the side it is they who need to be retested not me. My experience on the road both as a private motorist and travelling long distances when I was working is far superior to some of the idiots I see. Just as an example: How many cars do you see driving in the rain without their headlights on? I see regularly about 60% of cars in these conditions driving with either just parking lights on or none at all. Similarly when the light is getting a bit dim you see dark coloured cars without any lights at all or just parking lights. Just because it is still daylight - of sorts - doesn't mean you should drive without any illumination which can be seen by other drivers.

It is the same with signals. Cars turn without signalling and often if it wasn't for experience and anticipation many an accident could be caused. Among young drivers they very often are. Then you have those who think that just because they have signalled they are intending to turn right seem to think everyone else should give way to let them. No bloody patience most of them.

Don't just think that we all loose our marbles and go senile when we reach 70. Most of us have more sense and road craft than many younger folk on the roads.
I didnt say you needed retesting! i meant the silly old fool who tried to run us over!:rant:

WOW, i hate how they view it as...if the pram got hit then we can do something, why wait for tradgedy when we can prevent it, the freaking law stinks
I hope you are ok now
Oh...and it isnt bad that you called the police, i would have done the exact same thing

To easy to abuse the system then isn't it. I fall out with you about something, report you for bad driving. Your word against mine. At the moment you'd get a talking too, under your idea, you'd loose your license to be on the safe side.

When I was learning to drive a few years ago I saw a pensioner turn the wrong way onto a roundabout (one of the busy city centre ones as well) and nearly cause a pileup as half a dozen cars swerved to miss him. I remember my instructor shouting 'F'ing hell!' as we watched this guy go flying past us.

When I was on a driving lesson a couple of years ago, (I'm 50+) and driving round a roundabout - a young person ( probably a "joyrider") drove the wrong way round the roundabout and nearly hit me!!!

Although I agree that most young drivers aren't the best drivers, they have the ability to mature and become drivers of a calibre that is expected on the roads. I don't supsect anyone here now doesn't shudder about some of the things they did age 17 etc......

Unfortunately, old age pensioners who continue to drive, and don't have themselves tested, are as big a danger on the roads as younger or more inexperienced drivers.

It is the sad fact of age that you cannot have the same reactions, eye sight and in some cases mental agility to drive as you once could, especially now that roads are a darn sight busier than when you were in your prime.

As with anything that might affect the lives of others. If you think that you might not be able to use machinery, that you might not be able to control, seek advice to be sure.

My Dad gave up his licence at around the age of 72 as he considered that he'd lost his confidence. That was one of the occasions that I admired his decision. I've been a professional driver for around 6 years now and have seen really bad behaviour from drivers of all ages.

I am 74 and am still driving. From some of the antics I see much younger folk getting up to in their jazzed up cars with big noisy exhausts and speed stripes down the side it is they who need to be retested not me. My experience on the road both as a private motorist and travelling long distances when I was working is far superior to some of the idiots I see. Just as an example: How many cars do you see driving in the rain without their headlights on? I see regularly about 60% of cars in these conditions driving with either just parking lights on or none at all. Similarly when the light is getting a bit dim you see dark coloured cars without any lights at all or just parking lights. Just because it is still daylight - of sorts - doesn't mean you should drive without any illumination which can be seen by other drivers.

It is the same with signals. Cars turn without signalling and often if it wasn't for experience and anticipation many an accident could be caused. Among young drivers they very often are. Then you have those who think that just because they have signalled they are intending to turn right seem to think everyone else should give way to let them. No bloody patience most of them.

Don't just think that we all loose our marbles and go senile when we reach 70. Most of us have more sense and road craft than many younger folk on the roads.

Well said. I’m slightly older and still driving.

For God's sake just stop generalising! I was nearly hit by a driver gong the wrong way round a roundabout and he was just "joy" riding so age has now't to do with it. Why they call it "joy" riding I don't know - these drivers are downright dangerous and criminals. Nine times out of ten the car has been pinched in any event.

I can understand why someone would want to stop driving at 72 because they had lost confidence. Motorways these days are about five times as busy as they were when I was regularly using them. Anyone who falls into the "weekend driver" class - that is someone who only drives to work and back again every day and goes for a spin to Skeggy at the weekend - could easily feel intimidated on the M1 at any time. These days I only use the motorway system on odd occasions. As for eye testing - I have mine done every year, age doesn't need to have anything to do with it.

Anyone who drives any distance on a regular basis needs to have eyes in the back of their head - hence the rear view mirror. Unless you use it regularly - about once every ten seconds - you could easily be in trouble. Most folk who are stopped by the police never see them because they don't use their rear view mirror and that is nothing to do with age.

There are good drivers of all ages and there are some who should never be behind a wheel again. If you see one coming just give him, or her, room to do their thing then when you pass the accident further along the road just thank your lucky stars it wasn't you who got in the way.

Drivers should be forced to re-take the driving test when they reach say 70 years old to make sure they can still cope with driving.
in total agrement with you here:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

in total agrement with you here:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Great idea. Unfortunately, by the time you get to 70 there won't be any private cars on the road in any event. Of course by then euthanasia at 65 will be all the rage so you won't make 70. :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

A better idea would be to make all newly passed car drivers have their vehicles limited to 30mph with an engine governor for the first twelve months. During this time they would have to display the Green "P" plate on their car and take advanced driving lessons including motorway and night driving. Once they had passed the advanced course they would then be allowed to have the engine governor altered so that the maximum speed would be limited to 70mph. Retests would then be scheduled at the advanced level every five years, including eye tests, until the driver reached the age of 55 when it would become every three years. A final retest would take place at 65 following which the governor would be disconnected so the driver could then kill himself, or herself, by a fit of high speed driving after all the frustration of the previous years. :hihi: :hihi:

I'm 75 too. Needless to say I'be driving a very long time. Before I retired I was a field engineer out on the roads of Northern USA, and southern Canada.
Often as much as 500 miles a week. I don't drive a lot today, my much younger wife taking on the job. My eyesight is still good, though I don't drive at night if I can help it. When I drive I know that my reaction times probably aren't as good as they once were, and I'm much more attentive at what the other guy is going to do. That doesn't mean I dawdle I go with the flow or a bit faster at times. I drive defensively, not aggressively, which is the way it should be. We have the teenage cafe racers too, and a lot more of them die at the wheel than us oldies.