Who's more dangerous behind the wheel — drivers 70 and older, or 30 and younger?

[David G]

Younger drivers are more dangerous... if you go by % of driving population vs. % of accidents/infractions.

But then if you look at it by # of miles driven...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/column-wh...120011750.html

[ron ll]

You’re gonna have to pry my steering wheel from my cold dead hands.

[LOKI]

Any dumbass with a cell phone in hand is by far the most dangerous. Here in my province you get a big fine and license demerit points for the offence. I watch your American cop shows and see officers on the phone while driving! So many times I would have been in an accident if not very wary of these distracted drivers... Same goes for pedestrians that step out in the road in front of traffic while engrossed in whatever is on their device!

[wizbang 13]

I never wrecked a car awake or sober.

[Paul Pless]

how old are you david?

[Ted Hoppe]

70+ and stoned? Or 30 and stoned?

glaucoma is a b!tch!

[Rich Jones]

Grandpa died peacefully in his sleep.
His passengers, however, died screaming in terror.

[rbgarr]

Per Loki above: Regardless of age I now look for drivers on cellphones, whether oncoming or behind (tailgating is often a sign that they are). I'd say around twenty percent of drivers are from my observation which frightens me. I will pull over to let someone pass who's tailgating. If I had to unexpectedly slam on the brakes I bet they wouldn't even register my brake lights before slamming in.

I was riding in the back seat with my grandchildren outside Seattle. My daughter was driving and pulled out her cell to make a call. Before I could suggest I make the call for her a cop following behind stopped us. $215 fine on the spot.

[skuthorp]

They are changing the law here to make it an offence to even have your phone within reach when the car is running, even parked. The result of stupid people wh will not obey much less restrictive laws.

[CWSmith]

I pulled out of the Starbuck's drive thru and took a parking space to check my cell phone. I pulled up by a decked-out van driven by a man in a wheelchair. I had to admire the tech he had to help him and I asked him for his story.

He was riding his bike when a driver (I don't remember if the driver was drunk) who was checking his cell phone hit him. He'll spend the rest of his life in a chair and the driver will never know punishment that compares.

I don't care how old you are or how quick you think you will be, if you let yourself be distracted while driving I hope you never drive again.

[Ted Hoppe]

They are changing the law here to make it an offence to even have your phone within reach when the car is running, even parked. The result of stupid people wh will not obey much less restrictive laws.

why bother? the car makers are making the cars into entertainment centers with larger screens. Screwing around with a phone in the car is proof that you are either to cheap or poor to have a car that can do apple play.

[John Smith]

I'm 77 and my license is clean. Got one ticket the judge threw out. Wrote about that before: Intersection and a "STOP HERE ON RED" sign.

I've come to believe there are various types of humans. Those who are careful to follow the rules and generally think 'safety' when driving. Others don't even care if they have no license, which they lost for a reason.

I expect there are a lot more teenagers the old people. My mom's friend one day decided she wasn't safe to drive anymore and simply stopped; gave her car to her son. My mom believed she could drive well past having lost her ability to get to the car.

I'd like to believe I'll know when I should cease driving and I'll do so.

[Keith Wilson]

There should be a factor for the seriousness of the accident. I'd bet old folks have more fenderbenders per mile, young ones more injuries and deaths. Speed, mostly.

[Jim Bow]

Recently, a State Trooper on TV said the smartest drivers on I-5 stay in the two right lanes, and pace themselves with the flow of traffic I did it on my last two drives to Seattle. much less stressful than the left lanes, including HOV. Not more than 10 minutes difference in my mind.

[CWSmith]

On a related topic, I noticed that my "new" car (it's 2 years old) not only has cruise control, but it uses radar to slow down if you are closing on the car ahead of you. My old car would have just plowed into that slower car. Good tech! With cruise control and accident avoidance together with lane-keeping, the thing ALMOST drives itself.

[Mrleft88]

On a related topic, I noticed that my "new" car (it's 2 years old) not only has cruise control, but it uses radar to slow down if you are closing on the car ahead of you. My old car would have just plowed into that slower car. Good tech! With cruise control and accident avoidance together with lane-keeping, the thing ALMOST drives itself.

One of the most dangerous good ideas ever. If you need a radar to tell you you're too close, you shouldn't be driving.
Unfortunately, people will keep driving with cell phones, and while tired, distracted, impaired no matter what. I will not answer, or call anyone while I'm driving. It doesn't matter if I'm 20 miles from the nearest cross road or building. I won't do it. I'll pull over in heavy traffic to answer a call on the side of the road, but not while I'm moving.

[CWSmith]

If you need a radar to tell you you're too close, you shouldn't be driving.

Actually, one of the reasons I was so slow to realize what the car was doing is because it was responding to a car that was SURPRISINGLY far ahead.

[ERGR]

If I need to call someone when driving I pull over, stop, and then call. If someone calls me when I'm driving I answer with the controls on the steering wheel. The sound is on the car speakers and there's a microphone somewhere. I talk while continuing to drive, and I don't find it more distracting than talking to my passengers. I finish the call with the controls on the steering wheel.
If the call tends to be distracting I simply say that I'm driving and that we can talk later. I don't see the problem with answering a call while driving.
/Erik

[David G]

If I need to call someone when driving I pull over, stop, and then call. If someone calls me when I'm driving I answer with the controls on the steering wheel. The sound is on the car speakers and there's a microphone somewhere. I talk while continuing to drive, and I don't find it more distracting than talking to my passengers. I finish the call with the controls on the steering wheel.
If the call tends to be distracting I simply say that I'm driving and that we can talk later. I don't see the problem with answering a call while driving.
/Erik

Older drivers are the ones most likely to be able to afford the Swedish CV90 combat vehicle... so that would make them more dangerous... no? <G>

[Garret]

If I need to call someone when driving I pull over, stop, and then call. If someone calls me when I'm driving I answer with the controls on the steering wheel. The sound is on the car speakers and there's a microphone somewhere. I talk while continuing to drive, and I don't find it more distracting than talking to my passengers. I finish the call with the controls on the steering wheel.
If the call tends to be distracting I simply say that I'm driving and that we can talk later. I don't see the problem with answering a call while driving.
/Erik

This. You have to take the 3 minutes to set the car up to do it though. Yes, you have to have one capable - if you don't - then don't do it.

$200 fine here for handheld cell phone use, but unfortunately they don't fine people for using the dumbass touch screens in modern cars that are just as distracting.

[CWSmith]

There is a HUGE difference between using a hands-free device and fumbling with a cell phone.

[rbgarr]

Recently, a State Trooper on TV said the smartest drivers on I-5 stay in the two right lanes, and pace themselves with the flow of traffic I did it on my last two drives to Seattle. much less stressful than the left lanes, including HOV. Not more than 10 minutes difference in my mind.

I am okay with driving in the right lane as much as possible on the highway right at the speed limit... or even below when it's 65 or 70. My truck gets better mileage at about 62. Some get annoyed at me but i can live with it.

I do have to watch out and shift left when idiots on entrance ramps don't speed up to merge safely into traffic, sometimes without even looking to see if anyone's already in the lane.

Oftentimes, after awhile, I'll notice there's a line of cars behind who are perfectly happy to do the same speed as I do.

[David G]

i'm in deep sh!t. i'm nearing 70, but when i drive my miata, my brain thinks i'm 25.

Had the same experience when driving the Fit over the mountains. It turns out to be much sportier than I'd expected. On a par with the much older Fiat & Alfa I used to race. Herd it hard, and it asks for more. Even with the fwd. And very forgiving.

[John Smith]

One of the most dangerous good ideas ever. If you need a radar to tell you you're too close, you shouldn't be driving.
Unfortunately, people will keep driving with cell phones, and while tired, distracted, impaired no matter what. I will not answer, or call anyone while I'm driving. It doesn't matter if I'm 20 miles from the nearest cross road or building. I won't do it. I'll pull over in heavy traffic to answer a call on the side of the road, but not while I'm moving.

My rental car had that feature. Car cut me off. this feature reacted faster than I did, so that's on the plus side.

I always go with the flow of traffic.

[CWSmith]

Forty years ago I used to go to an arcade about once every week and I liked some of the driving simulators.

I learned to sit around for 10 or 15 minutes before driving home or I was a menace on the road. It stays with you.

[Art Haberland]

They are changing the law here to make it an offence to even have your phone within reach when the car is running, even parked. The result of stupid people wh will not obey much less restrictive laws.

what are you supposed to do, lock it in the boot?

[skuthorp]

Not in reach. Don't know about hands free. I so seldom get a call it doesn't matter, not many people have the number.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

My hearing aids have a blue tooth connection to my phone. Great hands-free conversation, though I often won't answer. Texting while moving is something I won't ever do.

[woodpile]

Had a couple close calls while working in Fl. with the little old ladies driving with their fufu dog sitting on their lap, the people i worked with warned me about that. In general though have to agree it's the young idiots with their cell phone's in their face.

[Norman Bernstein]

I dont know how I did it, but in 52 years of driving, I have never had an accident… and my one and only speeding ticket was when I was 18 (I’m 71 now). It’s not an issue of driving below the speed limit all the time; when on the interstate, I’ll drive at whatever speed the majority of the traffic is going, which is often 10 or 15 mph above the posted limit.

I think it might be because when I drive on secondary roads, I’m usually well below the speed limit… and get passed frequently by the leadfoots. In day to day driving, like going to the supermarket or bank, etc., I’m just not in any particular rush. These days, the ability to get out of the house, on my own (I.e., when one of the aides is home with my wife), being alone is a luxury and a treat.

[McMike]

If you're driving below the posted speed limit, you're just as dangerous as those that go above.

There's a point when a person should consider not driving. If you're uncomfortable going the speed limit on secondary roads, it's reasonable to say that time has come. Here's the problem, very few individuals are self-aware enough to make the call to quit driving for themselves. Doctors and family should be able to flag a person for evaluation and like older cars needing to be inspected every year or two, older people should be as well. Not pleasant but I've seen a few accidents where an old person clearly caused horrible suffering. The flip-side to my opinion is that any driver driving recklessly, should be charged with attempted murder. I look forward to self-driving cars.

[Osborne Russell]

There should be a factor for the seriousness of the accident. I'd bet old folks have more fenderbenders per mile, young ones more injuries and deaths. Speed, mostly.

Is there a need to define "dangerous"?

[Garret]

I was sitting in a car dealership in MA (had to take a Mini in for dealer only work & there was no dealer in VT at the time). Anyway I saw a car pulling into the parking lot next door & saw the kid driving was texting & paying little attention to where he was going. Sure enough, he looked up just in time to see his front bumper hit the window of a store & came to a stop with 4 or 5 feet of the car inside. I had a good view as I was on the 2nd floor & could see right into the car.

I went out to make sure no one was hurt - no one was - & a cop showed up pretty quickly. I heard him asking the kid how he'd managed to do it & the kid mumbled something about the brakes not working right. The kid wandered away talking on his phone & I said to the cop "I watched him do it - check his phone for texts & see if the time matches up". His eyebrows shot up, he turned, went over to the kid, asked him to hang up & give him the phone. Sure enough it showed he'd sent a text right when he hit the window.

There should be significant fines & maybe loss of license for a while for texting while driving - especially for young drivers.

[CWSmith]

I dont know how I did it, but in 52 years of driving, I have never had an accident… and my one and only speeding ticket was when I was 18 (I’m 71 now). It’s not an issue of driving below the speed limit all the time; when on the interstate, I’ll drive at whatever speed the majority of the traffic is going, which is often 10 or 15 mph above the posted limit.

I think it might be because when I drive on secondary roads, I’m usually well below the speed limit… and get passed frequently by the leadfoots. In day to day driving, like going to the supermarket or bank, etc., I’m just not in any particular rush. These days, the ability to get out of the house, on my own (I.e., when one of the aides is home with my wife), being alone is a luxury and a treat.

I guess I'm getting old, but I have gone from being annoyed by heavy feet that pass me on a double solid yellow line to just waving to them (maybe flipping them off) and hoping there is a cop downstream. I'm not one of those pokies with a line of cars behind him, but I'm content to enjoy the drive and get to my destination at the expected time. Very few of those big-@ss pickups that just have to pass me are really so important that they must get there sooner. In fact, they tend to be among the least important individuals on the road. (Did I just that?!)

[David G]

If you're driving below the posted speed limit, you're just as dangerous as those that go above.

There's a point when a person should consider not driving. If you're uncomfortable going the speed limit on secondary roads, it's reasonable to say that time has come. Here's the problem, very few individuals are self-aware enough to make the call to quit driving for themselves. Doctors and family should be able to flag a person for evaluation and like older cars needing to be inspected every year or two, older people should be as well. Not pleasant but I've seen a few accidents where an old person clearly caused horrible suffering. The flip-side to my opinion is that any driver driving recklessly, should be charged with attempted murder. I look forward to self-driving cars.

Indeed, it can be. Not always, but Can Be. Good to know when that is, and maintain situational awareness to see if YOU are impeding traffic. It can even be illegal. In Oregon, iirc, you are required to pull over on a 2-lane and let people pass once the stack of traffic behind you reaches 5 cars. I do it at 3 cars, if possible --

https://www.allstate.com/resources/c...driving-slowly