Driver left shaken after Summerfields crash

Main thing is that noone was injured, but I have to say that I am surprised that there are not more accidents in this carpark. Some of the turnings are so tight so that it is impossible for two vehicles to pass at the same time.

Boy. Must have just missed that

Not the first time a driver has mistaken accel for brake. My car was 'written off' by such a driver a few years ago.

My friend was almost killed by an ELDERLY driver some years ago.

I will say perhaps the politically incorrect thing here which is rarely mentioned but... I personally do not think that elderly people should drive. We've read quite a few similar instances to this one over the years and it is always 'elderly drivers' who appear to go for the accelerator when they really meant to use the clutch, with disastrous consequences. Sure, they do not do it on purpose, but that is precisely the most telling element of the problem.

There are certain things that are best consigned to a drawer if you are elderly. I think your driving licence is one of them.

Steph - at what age is 'elderly' and it would be very harsh to judge by age alone? Maybe a driving test for the over 70/75's is a good idea but not to take all that age group off the road regardless of capabilities. Many teenagers who pass the test drive responsibly but many show off when they have a car full of friends which can lead to horrific accidents and I believe statistically the over 60's are safer drivers than the young. It comes down to the person, not the age.

I think the maximum age should be 70 !

Some 80 year olds run marathons and a lady went skydiving on her 100th birthday.
The practice nurse told me this week 85 is the new elderly.
The problem is some older drivers don't know where the accelerator is when driving.
ALL drivers should have a 'refresher' test every 10 years. Just watch 'Britain's Worst Drivers', should be on some repeat channel somewhere.

I agree Sandra Cox, the best solution is for there to be a refresher test for people of a certain age. as someone in my forties I would welcome a test at 60,70 and periodically afterwards.
This was a very lucky escape on a normally very crowded shopping centre, less than an hour later and it would have been packed with children after school.
Hopefully this particular driver does the sensible thing and hands his/her licence in.

My father-in-law is 93 years old and has recently passed his Advanced Driving Test. He is very fit and healthy for his age and is a better driver now than ever. A driving test should be obligatory at the age of 70 and every 5 years thereafter. Some people age faster than others.

I saw this happen. How on earth no one got killed I do not know! If the dangerous driver is EVER allowed back behind the wheel then the laws really need to be changed. Retest at 70 and then once every year there after.

I had the same conversation with my husband about elderly drivers after driving down to Windsor and an elderly drivers erratic behaviour on the motorway. I agree that anybody over 70 should take a re-test every couple of years. I admire somebody of 93 passing an advance drivers test but you never know at an elderly age whether somebody could suffer a stroke or heart attack at the wheel even though they may not have a history of health problems. The same goes for young drivers, the minimum age should be 21 like in other countries, I know young people whose driving was good at the beginning and as they get older they do start driving faster and as is said above show off to girlfriends and friends. Thankfully nobody was injured here as it is such a busy shopping centre.

Gill
Lets hope we don't get any 'show off' 90 years old trying to impress their girl friends.

Automatic cars could be the route cause of this and similar accidents. Over 70s manual gear boxes only!!

I think that Gibraltar (19) is the only place that has an over 18 minimum. Certainly some States in the USA go as low as 14 with 16 the norm, with a very easy driving test

To all you myopic writers who are only too quick to imply that only those over 70 ever have road accidents; over the past month there have been a number of road fatalities caused by teenage & early twenties drivers either driving far in excess of speed limits or incapable of reading the road and handling cars.
Accidentally hitting the wrong pedal, clutch, break or accelerator on manual or break & accelerator on autos, is not unheard of. However, it is certainly not confined to or the sole preserve of any one age group.

Manuel I agree let's get this in perspective. I am sure there are more accidents caused by people using phones at the wheel than elderly who mix up the pedals. you don't see many elderly drivers texting at the wheel

That said eye tests shoud be compulsory for all drivers from 65 onwards. Most of the dangers of older people driving are from poor eye sight and they know that if they go for a test they will have their licence revoked. So they can legally avoid it at the moment by not having a test

Oliver, AIUI any driver has no reason to fear an eye test, provided suitable corrective lenses are worn when driving, as per practical driving test. Cataracts/reduced instinct reaction times may be a factor for older drivers, but no driver should be looking at his feet when changing gear, accelerating, braking. As stated earlier, the only equitable solution is for everyone to undertake a modified driving test every 10 years. Can you remember all the changes in motoring law/penalties since you passed your test?

Far, far more accidents, are caused by young drivers than by old ones, and they tend be more serious. There is a combination that recurs: "elderly driver, automatic car, accidents like the one featured in this report". We had a family car parked outside our house written off some years ago by such a driver.

However, the really dangerous drivers are at the other end of the age range. Look to the standards of initial driver qualification rather than the re-test of older drivers.