Driving After Dark

[steve roberts]

Yes back when I used to travel all over the country folllowing speedway it would often require travelling back in the dark. Thought nothing of it in those days but no way would I consider it now!

[Mimmo]

So it appears by reading all your interesting comments, of which many feel its right for them to stop driving in the dark, just confirms what I thought when I opened this topic, it would have an adverse affect on our sport, as you'd presumably be no longer able to attend, unless you're lucky enough to have someone that could offer you transport.

I'm one of the lucky ones if you like, where I find night time driving less distracting than in daylight, when you might be blinded by the sun, or looking at various things as you drive past them, and as I have an annual eye test, which should be mandatory as a couple of you have said, plus annual diabetic eye screening, I consider myself to be safe on the road at night.

Living in the country as I do, I'm extra wary due to the deer that appear from nowhere at night, so I'm also ultra vigilant, and ready for any emergency braking.  I also have to make a lot of 4-hour round trips to hospital in the dark, so that my sick wife can undergo treatment she can't manage without.

But my reasons for starting this topic in the first case, weren't so that people could start saying "I stopped driving because.......", it was purely to express my worry as to how clubs would survive if those of a certain age could no longer attend due to their age, because it is the aged group to a large extent, that attend, or do voluntary work at stadiums.     

 

[old bob at herne bay]

In the free world of the United Kingdom, I would like to think that people have a choice when or not to drive  their vehicle.   Age certainly isn't the only issue as to whether you should be driving at night.

By all means introduce a compulsory eyesght test for ALL drivers periodically , rather than the present honesty system, but a blanket ban based on age alone is surely not justified. (and probably illegal under "human rights" legislation !!)

 

[enotian]

1 hour ago, Mimmo said:

So it appears by reading all your interesting comments, of which many feel its right for them to stop driving in the dark, just confirms what I thought when I opened this topic, it would have an adverse affect on our sport, as you'd presumably be no longer able to attend, unless you're lucky enough to have someone that could offer you transport.

Interesting that (and I have an interest) up to now nobody has mentioned public transport.

Such a ban (although not something I would agree with) should not mean the end, for those affected, in attending any events during non daylight hours.  However, I would imagine that the vast majority of people could not even contemplate using public transport at night as an alternative. 'Could not' being the operative words.

I'd suggest that if such a ban was in place the standard, frequency, reliability and safety of public transport would have to increase dramatically to avoid making a vast section of the public prisoners in there own homes......     ......getting good at that this government.

 

PS I drove home in the dark last week without putting my lights on like a total moron.  I'm 48. 

[Ray Stadia]

1 hour ago, Mimmo said:

So it appears by reading all your interesting comments, of which many feel its right for them to stop driving in the dark, just confirms what I thought when I opened this topic, it would have an adverse affect on our sport, as you'd presumably be no longer able to attend, unless you're lucky enough to have someone that could offer you transport.

I'm one of the lucky ones if you like, where I find night time driving less distracting than in daylight, when you might be blinded by the sun, or looking at various things as you drive past them, and as I have an annual eye test, which should be mandatory as a couple of you have said, plus annual diabetic eye screening, I consider myself to be safe on the road at night.

Living in the country as I do, I'm extra wary due to the deer that appear from nowhere at night, so I'm also ultra vigilant, and ready for any emergency braking.  I also have to make a lot of 4-hour round trips to hospital in the dark, so that my sick wife can undergo treatment she can't manage without.

But my reasons for starting this topic in the first case, weren't so that people could start saying "I stopped driving because.......", it was purely to express my worry as to how clubs would survive if those of a certain age could no longer attend due to their age, because it is the aged group to a large extent, that attend, or do voluntary work at stadiums.     

 

I think, sadly, the survival of speedway clubs, goes a lot further than some speedway supporters not being able to attend meetings, due to driving in the dark. 

[Mimmo]

26 minutes ago, enotian said:

Interesting that (and I have an interest) up to now nobody has mentioned public transport.

Such a ban (although not something I would agree with) should not mean the end, for those affected, in attending any events during non daylight hours.  However, I would imagine that the vast majority of people could not even contemplate using public transport at night as an alternative. 'Could not' being the operative words.

I'd suggest that if such a ban was in place the standard, frequency, reliability and safety of public transport would have to increase dramatically to avoid making a vast section of the public prisoners in there own homes......     ......getting good at that this government.

 

PS I drove home in the dark last week without putting my lights on like a total moron.  I'm 48. 

As far as speedway and my long journey to hospital, public transport wouldn't be an option, as the nearest bus stop is miles from the stadium, and even if fit enough, I don't think many elderly people would feel safe walking that far in the dark in this day and age. 

[Knowle]

Irrespective of age I think that there are dangers caused by ridiculously bright headlights  now being permitted especially in new tall SUV type vehicles bearing down on us mere mortals in our Polos etc. 

[Vince]

On 3/30/2021 at 10:13 AM, steve roberts said:

Regular eye tests should be the criteria regardless of age.

I think that is absolutely right, I spend the majority of my working life driving in the dark and it is very clear that many drivers struggle to see where they are going.

Then again I would say that regular testing of all drivers should be compulsory too. Not like the standard driving test with it's ridiculous emphasis on stuff that isn't very important but just a quick round the block with an emergency stop thrown in and a few questions(first one should be what lane do you use on the motorway if you aren't overtaking!) to make sure that drivers have the basic abilities and reactions to be reasonably safe.

My grandfather was still an excellent driver at 85 and I have an uncle of 80 who still drives his camper all over mainland Europe every year perfectly well. On the other hand my mother at 61 was dying of cancer and driving around full of morphine until I stopped her as the doctors wouldn't and I have a 19 year old niece who passed her test 3rd time but shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a car.

[steve roberts]

1 hour ago, Vince said:

I think that is absolutely right, I spend the majority of my working life driving in the dark and it is very clear that many drivers struggle to see where they are going.

Then again I would say that regular testing of all drivers should be compulsory too. Not like the standard driving test with it's ridiculous emphasis on stuff that isn't very important but just a quick round the block with an emergency stop thrown in and a few questions(first one should be what lane do you use on the motorway if you aren't overtaking!) to make sure that drivers have the basic abilities and reactions to be reasonably safe.

My grandfather was still an excellent driver at 85 and I have an uncle of 80 who still drives his camper all over mainland Europe every year perfectly well. On the other hand my mother at 61 was dying of cancer and driving around full of morphine until I stopped her as the doctors wouldn't and I have a 19 year old niece who passed her test 3rd time but shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a car.

Absolutely agree! Passing a driving test is just the beginning...the real test is the expertise one accumulates thru' driving in varying circumstances/situations and is a forever ongoing exercise. Some people seem to think that by passing a test they suddenly become fully competent at driving. Personally I think that people who pass their test should be made to place a provisional "P" plate on their car (voluntary as things stand I believe) during the first year (?) and if they fail to comply with the basic skills required (exceeding the speed limit for example) should be made to sit another test.

There's too many idiots out there of all ages...male and female.

Edited April 1, 2021 by steve roberts

[*JJ]

20 hours ago, E I Addio said:

It’s not some busybodies being silly . If you look at the reasons it appears that while accident ratios in most age groups have remained stable , their has been a sharp increase fatal accidents to over 70 age group drivers in recent years. If your health and nigh vision are ok you have nothing to worry about but it would be foolish not to bear in mind that our faculties deteriorate as we get older.

I do bear this in mind, and always stop for a break half way along a journey. As for accidents: most are caused by young men under 25!

[Skodaman]

15 hours ago, enotian said:

Interesting that (and I have an interest) up to now nobody has mentioned public transport.

Such a ban (although not something I would agree with) should not mean the end, for those affected, in attending any events during non daylight hours.  However, I would imagine that the vast majority of people could not even contemplate using public transport at night as an alternative. 'Could not' being the operative words.

I'd suggest that if such a ban was in place the standard, frequency, reliability and safety of public transport would have to increase dramatically to avoid making a vast section of the public prisoners in there own homes......     ......getting good at that this government.

 

PS I drove home in the dark last week without putting my lights on like a total moron.  I'm 48. 

For a while two years ago, I used public transport to get to matches but it was impossible to get home again on the bus. My wife had to pick me up from the stadium!

[steve roberts]

20 minutes ago, Skodaman said:

For a while two years ago, I used public transport to get to matches but it was impossible to get home again on the bus. My wife had to pick me up from the stadium!

If I remember speedway journalist and all round enthusiast Bryn Willliams used to travel around the country via public transport or lifts from colleagues because he never could drive. That's dedication for you but there's no way I would have relied upon public transport to get to matches personally...how he managed it is beyond me?

[foamfence]

22 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

If I remember speedway journalist and all round enthusiast Bryn Willliams used to travel around the country via public transport or lifts from colleagues because he never could drive. That's dedication for you but there's no way I would have relied upon public transport to get to matches personally...how he managed it is beyond me?

These days a lot of tracks aren't accessible by public transport, we used to have loads around Yorkshire and Lancashire, you could visit several meetings every week.

[Mimmo]

1 hour ago, steve roberts said:

If I remember speedway journalist and all round enthusiast Bryn Willliams used to travel around the country via public transport or lifts from colleagues because he never could drive. That's dedication for you but there's no way I would have relied upon public transport to get to matches personally...how he managed it is beyond me?

Bryn seldom used public transport, 99.9% of the time it was lifts from friends.

[steve roberts]

56 minutes ago, foamfence said:

These days a lot of tracks aren't accessible by public transport, we used to have loads around Yorkshire and Lancashire, you could visit several meetings every week.

I know that Bryn was closely associated with Hackney and Crayford so travelling within London was somewhat easier but to think he used  to announce (?) at the Isle of Wight  and covered meetings at both King's Lynn and Oxford was quite a feat considering he was based, I believe, in Kent (?)

[steve roberts]

1 minute ago, Mimmo said:

Bryn seldom used public transport, 99.9% of the time it was lifts from friends.

Thanks for that!

[E I Addio]

3 hours ago, *JJ said:

I do bear this in mind, and always stop for a break half way along a journey. As for accidents: most are caused by young men under 25!

My Dad became a driving instructor to top up his pension after he retired at age 65. He was 66 when he passed his advanced driving test and carried on as a driving instructor until he was about 72 or 73. He had the patience that comes with age and built a terrific reputation for getting so called “hopeless cases “ through the Driving Test”. There were a number who had failed 4or 5 tests with other driving schools so the school he worked for gave them to him and as far as I recall he got them all through first time with him.  It’s not that he was a better teacher than anyone else but he fifty years experience behind him and he got his pupils to relax behind the wheel and really passed on all the little hints and tips that come with a lifetimes driving. So I think when we talk about older drivers, if their eyesight is good and they have a reasonable degree of common sense, what they lack with reactions perhaps not being what they used to be they usually make for in experience. As you say, the highest insurance risk group is for men and women under 25, when really their eyesight and reactions should be at their peak.

Edited April 1, 2021 by E I Addio

[steve roberts]

4 minutes ago, E I Addio said:

My Dad became a driving instructor to top up his pension after he retired at age 65. He was 66 when he passed his advanced driving test and carried on as a driving instructor until he was about 72 or 73. He had the patience that comes with age and built a terrific reputation for getting so called “hopeless cases “ through the Driving Test”. There were a number who had failed 4or 5 tests with other driving schools so the school he worked for gave them to him and as far as I recall he got them all through first time with him.  It’s not that he was a better teacher than anyone else but he fifty years experience behind him and he got his pupils to relax behind the wheel and really passed on all the little hints and tips that come with a lifetimes driving. So I think when we talk about older drivers, if their eyesight is good and they have a reasonable degree of common sense, what they lack with reactions perhaps not being what they used to be they usually make for in experience. As you say, the highest insurance risk group is for men and women under 25, when really their eyesight and reactions should be at their peak.

Reminds me many years ago I had visions of becoming a Driving Instructor and passed the inital test but I backed out at the last moment...don't think my patience would have sufficed!

[E I Addio]

6 hours ago, Vince said:

 was still an excellent driver at 85 and I have an uncle of 80 who still drives his camper all over mainland Europe every year perfectly well. On the other hand my mother at 61 was dying of cancer and driving around full of morphine until I stopped her as the doctors wouldn't and I have a 19 year old niece who passed her test 3rd time but shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a car.

I was watching one of these Motorway Police programmes a couple of months ago. They stopped a 19/20 year old woman, two weeks after her driving test, doing 100 mph, while talking on her mobile phone.

As with most areas of life you can’t educate the terminally stupid !

[stevehone]

4 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Reminds me many years ago I had visions of becoming a Driving Instructor and passed the inital test but I backed out at the last moment...don't think my patience would have sufficed!

same, but the cost was unreal