new bike laws, uk?

[Andy BB]

Ah - stats! Lies, damned lies and stats.....

Clearly banning the u-25s would shift the stats upwards! However - and again I'm relying on memory here (I'll try to look it up) the over-60s actually have a very low accident rate over here. Can't remember if there's a jump up at the 75+ age-group.

I'll avoid the obvious crack - no I won't! - about the fact that most of Florida seems populated by OAPs anyway (And before you have a go at me, I absolutely adore Florida!)

 

[santaman2000]

Ah - stats! Lies, damned lies and stats.....

Clearly banning the u-25s would shift the stats upwards! However - and again I'm relying on memory here (I'll try to look it up) the over-60s actually have a very low accident rate over here. Can't remember if there's a jump up at the 75+ age-group.

I'll avoid the obvious crack - no I won't! - about the fact that most of Florida seems populated by OAPs anyway (And before you have a go at me, I absolutely adore Florida!)

Have a go at you? You must be kidding. There's a couple of sayings about Florida (or cities in Florida) to illustrate your point:
1. "Welcome to Florida, the land of the newly wed and the nearly dead."
2. "I once heard that all the old folks lived in Tampa. But it's not true. The old folks live in St. Petersburg; their parents live in Tampa."

But seriously I think the stat I was referring to was a national rather than state one.

 

[Andy BB]

I've just looked up the RAC stats - unfortunately not shown as a percentage, but in short, since 1980v to 2005, there has been a fall in all agegroup accidents, the most dramatic being in the younger age-groups. (possibly since the increase in access to motorbikes from 16 to 17?). However, overall, the risk decreases with age up to and including the 80+. (however, as these are absolute numbers, not as a percentage of population, the lower figures for the older groups may reflect there are less of them still driving at these ages. Against that, of course, people are living longer, so who really knows!)

 

[Andy BB]

and the US stats seem to follow this trend - see US Census stats for 2000.

http://www.allcountries.org/uscensus/1045_age_of_driver_and_number_in.html

 

[santaman2000]

Those figures don't bear out my statement. I cain't recall where I got my stats (really don't even remember the exact numbers) so I'm certainly in no position argue their validity (although I do believe they were more current than 2000.)

That said, old age related accidents (driving competence due to slowed reflexes/impaired senses, etc.) is the elephant in the corner isn't it? We can all argue that younger drivers need more experience, and judgement skills but none of us really want to own up to the inevitable loss of skills that will eventually ground all of us. Especially here where driving is the ultimate symbol of independence.

 

[Andy BB]

Those figures don't bear out my statement. I cain't recall where I got my stats (really don't even remember the exact numbers) so I'm certainly in no position argue their validity (although I do believe they were more current than 2000.)

That said, old age related accidents (driving competence due to slowed reflexes/impaired senses, etc.) is the elephant in the corner isn't it? We can all argue that younger drivers need more experience, and judgement skills but none of us really want to own up to the inevitable loss of skills that will eventually ground all of us. Especially here where driving is the ultimate symbol of independence.

Yup. Although the problem over this side of the pond with elder drivers is that they tend to over-compensate for slower reactions etc by driving slower!

I remember reading somewhere that scientists had identified a "stupidity" hormone (actually probably was called a "non-caution" hormone!) that we have more of as youngsters, that decreases with age. Its why we feel invulnerable as youngsters, and do things that make us shudder as we get older and think back (or is that just me!)