Driver, 93 ,banned over biker death

[Sifoeman]

I agree that we must have standards and that we only allow competant riders/drivers on the roads. It is obvious that we need some "test" of competancy and all must pass or be banished from the roads.

I do however have to ask why we are talking of banning people who we consider are too old but at the same time applaud those who, in the name of charity, drive for extended periods.

There is a link on this thread for "The Long Way Round, 5 cities in 24 hours". Surely tiredness is just as great a killer as doddery old f@rts behind the wheel?

If we wish to set standards then we also have to ensure that we are only allowed to drive for a maximum of 8 hours and then have a compulsory break of 8 hours..... or is it OK as it is being done for "Charity"

Be VERY interested on your reactions.

I do like putting the cat amongst the pigeons,,,

Your man in Africa

[Snaphappy]

I agree that we must have standards and that we only allow competant riders/drivers on the roads. It is obvious that we need some "test" of competancy and all must pass or be banished from the roads.

I do however have to ask why we are talking of banning people who we consider are too old but at the same time applaud those who, in the name of charity, drive for extended periods.

There is a link on this thread for "The Long Way Round, 5 cities in 24 hours". Surely tiredness is just as great a killer as doddery old f@rts behind the wheel?

If we wish to set standards then we also have to ensure that we are only allowed to drive for a maximum of 8 hours and then have a compulsory break of 8 hours..... or is it OK as it is being done for "Charity"

Be VERY interested on your reactions.

I do like putting the cat amongst the pigeons,,,

Your man in Africa

Difficult to answer, but for me I'm aware of the risks and will prepare as best I can, I also know that if its too much I can and will stop, the rally you have mentioned has breaks not sleeping breaks but good for an hour or two shut eye,
Time regulations were brought in to protect employed drivers from being exploited by their employer, over here there is no HGV movement on Sundays without permission from the ministry, and Monday morning is the worst time for accidents, caused by drivers failing to rest over their rest period and on many cases still with an alcohol count.
I hope others that are willing to partake in The Longest Day Rally prepare as I will and I hope others watching from the outside contribute a bit of pocket cash to make it worth the pain

[Whealie]

There is a link on this thread for "The Long Way Round, 5 cities in 24 hours". Surely tiredness is just as great a killer as doddery old f@rts behind the wheel?

I'd agree. I did last year's Longest Day from John O'Groats to Land's End. About mid-afternoon I hit that wall of tiredness on the motorway and the sign came up saying service in 22 miles. That was a hard 22 miles. Dangerous even.

I swore I'd never do anything like it again.

But this year's event has two significant breaks built in and is actually a much shorter journey. So I am doing it.

But the biggest motoring insurance claim ever was down to tiredness, so you are spot on.

In February 2001 Gary Hart’s Land Rover fell from the M62 motorway onto the railway line near Selby after he had spent the night texting is lover. His car derailed an express train into the path of an oncoming freight train. His car insurer, Fortis, and its reinsurer (the often specialist insurer that covers mainstream insurers against extra-large claims) Munich Re, paid out more than £22m in liabilities and damage claims for that incident. His motor insurance premium was about £400.

[Lumiya]

There is a link on this thread for "The Long Way Round, 5 cities in 24 hours". Surely tiredness is just as great a killer as doddery old f@rts behind the wheel?

Yes and when someone kills someone else due to being tired behind a wheel then they get the book thrown at them (look at the selby rail crash)... where as a 70+yo gets a suspended sentence and a 90+yo gets a ban...

I'm sure that both of them will be really put out for the rest of thier lives on this planet without a driving licence (yes that is a sarcastic comment) where as the family of the person who they killed have lost a loved one forever and will have to cope with that pain for a long/long time to come



Both of them should be in prison serving 5+ years for manslaughter

[Sifoeman]

I agree that both should serve time for their actions, the point I was making is that we have to look at all aspects of road use and the consequences of ANY legislation.

I agree that we may need to have an "age test", but we may also have to look at restricting time behind the wheel or in the saddle as they can also result in loss of life. And then we start looking at other things that cost loss of life and make more legislation and on and on.......

Sadly, common sense seems to have gone out of the window and we have all allowed it to happen. Yes we have to have rules but where do they start and stop?

Laws are made to deter people from commiting crimes but only law abiding people comply and criminals take no notice of them - so why do we have them?

I agree that we may have to put an age cap on drivers and riders, but it is a fact that people are living longer and are fitter than 50 years ago so what age is too old? We may also have to restrict the time we drive or ride so how long is too long?

The man with the can of worms in Africa

[Lumiya]

I don't think it needs to be an AGE test at all, Both young and old alike can have problems with reactions, eyesight and bothering to read up on the new additions to the highway code. I think testing for them alone perhaps every 5 years would reduce the number of drivers and also accidents caused by these drivers..

[Sifoeman]

Ok, so a test every five years, how many new testing departments are you intending and what will it cost - are you a Civil Servant by any chance????

And how many hours are we going to be allowed and where will you fit the Tacho?

[Lumiya]

Ok, so a test every five years, how many new testing departments are you intending and what will it cost - are you a Civil Servant by any chance????

And how many hours are we going to be allowed and where will you fit the Tacho?

Why on earth are you going rediculous with your comments??

It's not a full test that's one 2 one but all the tests can be done by multiple people in parralel with other test..

It simply works in other countries... How long though would it take for a simple eye test, reaction test and highway code test (only for the updated data)??

There's too many numpties out there who don;t care, can;t see or are simply not suitable to driving/riding..we've all seen them or even had them pull out on us with our own quick reactions saving us..

[AlanH]

But the biggest motoring insurance claim ever was down to tiredness, so you are spot on.

In February 2001 Gary Hart’s Land Rover fell from the M62 motorway onto the railway line near Selby after he had spent the night texting is lover.

I think another point worth noting regarding tiredness and the Hart incident at Selby is that Hart was found guilty on ten counts of causing death by dangerous driving. He got five years and served half that. So, if you are doing a 24 hour ride and crash due to tiredness, you could quite easily be found guilty of dangerous driving.