Driving Habits

I most certainly agree with DB's opinion regarding Seniors' bad driving habits. Almost 60 myself, I can see that I've slowed down a little and that one day I too will be in that category and do not look forward to the day when others will think the same of me.

Mindful of the above, I now proceed with a little more caution around senior drivers and allow them a little more time to maneuver about. I also try to exercise a little more patience with them and try not to position my vehicle in such a way that they feel threatened, a situation that will most certainly cause them to feel anxious and flustered and cause them to make mistakes.

I do feel however, that after a certain age, say 70, mandatory road tests be conducted not the kind we now undergo but a more practical kind to test reaction times and actual practical knowledge of the road. We could start with merging for instance and proceed to making left turns at busy intersections.

Once a very aggressive driver, having learnt and honed my skills on the streets of Montreal, I would have liked the luxury of hindsight to fully appreciate the fact that though I thought myself a very good driver, using others on the road as obstacles on a slalom course, isn't what actually constitutes good driving skills but rather bad manners and selfishness.

Though not there yet, I caution senior drivers to not act as highway speed enforcers. If you see another driver hell bent on getting ahead of you, please move over and get out of the way. It's that simple. And, when trying to get through a difficult intersection or making left turns, if you could actually move into the intersection a little so you can be ready to turn when there is space, that would certainly be much appreciated.

Richard Begin