Kick Those Shoes Off and Relax. It's the Delta 2017 Tea Break

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

In 3 weeks time !!! I applied for my licence when I went to Spain at the beginning of December to make sure that I actually got it, it was waiting when I came back and I noticed it had the omission, not that it particularly bothers me as I don't really need to go out collecting scrap anymore

Do you still keep your towing categories, B E or are you down to a B only?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

As far as I'm concerned it's a "no contest" I have been most ways over the years and now with all the new roads I would head down the Mediterranean highway and cut across from Valencia just like you say.
If I happen to be about at the time I might meet up and mechanic for you !

Thanks, that was my preferred route! The AP7 is all toll'd, from what I can see?

Bit of a challenge but 2 cars at Ricard, then I'm racing at AIA w/end after. It's do-able, as long as costs are OK for all.....

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

Do you still keep your towing categories, B E or are you down to a B only?

Yes B E until I renew it in three years, by that time I'll probably be in some old fogies home with Eric !!!!

[GORDON STREETER]

The thing is with age and driving is who decides on what and when people should and shouldn't do. As most of us know certain people of "any age" shouldn't get behind the wheel of "anything" on the road.
I know that we all think we are perfect drivers while others are dangerous and a liability, maybe we can discuss it and I'm sure there will be some controversy !!!!!

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Thanks, that was my preferred route! The AP7 is all toll'd, from what I can see?

Bit of a challenge but 2 cars at Ricard, then I'm racing at AIA w/end after. It's do-able, as long as costs are OK for all.....

Yes it is tolled and although there isn't much in the mileage it's quicker, depends what you want ?

[terence]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Yes B E until I renew it in three years, by that time I'll probably be in some old fogies home with Eric !!!!

Oh you poor sod!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Yes it is tolled and although there isn't much in the mileage it's quicker, depends what you want ?

Tolls not a problem, but Spain doesn't have an online calculator like France!

Watching a Lancaster engine change on pbs. Just like old cars- engines are not the same so lots of parts have to be swapped as well! (It's the Canadian Lanc so has Packard Merlin....)

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

The thing is with age and driving is who decides on what and when people should and shouldn't do. As most of us know certain people of "any age" shouldn't get behind the wheel of "anything" on the road.
I know that we all think we are perfect drivers while others are dangerous and a liability, maybe we can discuss it and I'm sure there will be some controversy !!!!!

Maybe everyone should have a medical after a certain age, or at least eye sight tests.
The mother in law was still driving even after she'd had a few blackouts but kept quiet about them and it only came to light after she'd manage to demolish a post and end up in hospital. Even then she refused to stop driving until one of her sons notified the DVLA and they eventually revoked her licence. Apparently doctors can't dob you in to the DVLA

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

Apparently doctors can't dob you in to the DVLA

Actually, medical professions have a legal requirement to notify the DVLA if they believe that a patient shouldn't be driving, and are supposed to advise the patient of that requirement.

I know it was 14 years ago, but I was present when my father's doctor told him that if he didn't stop driving voluntarily, then she would have had no option but to request the DVLA to revoke his licence. He also had blackouts, and his depth perception (depth of vision) was absolutely cr*p!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

Maybe everyone should have a medical after a certain age, or at least eye sight tests.
The mother in law was still driving even after she'd had a few blackouts but kept quiet about them and it only came to light after she'd manage to demolish a post and end up in hospital. Even then she refused to stop driving until one of her sons notified the DVLA and they eventually revoked her licence. Apparently doctors can't dob you in to the DVLA

Very difficult and very hard. My Dad was physically capable of driving but dementia meant he sometimes couldn't remember where he was going. That almost became a standing joke, but then he had a very slight fender bender, came home and by then had forgotten all about it. Luckily the 3rd party was very understanding..... We had to eventually get his doctor to write a letter for us to give to the DVLA. Not a nice thing to have to do.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Actually, medical professions have a legal requirement to notify the DVLA if they believe that a patient shouldn't be driving, and are supposed to advise the patient of that requirement.

MiLs doctor didn't want to know and said he wasn't allowed to contact the DVLA (patient confidentiality and all that), sounds like he might have been a bit lazy

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Not a nice thing to have to do.

Had the same horrible thing to do with mother. I forced her to see things like they were but on the nice way of course because of her strong character and because she was a really safe and fast driver. We went to the parking lot and I was standing saying nothing just waiting for her to explain how and why the 2 front wings and three of the 4 doors of her car were damaged. Took long and hard to stand minutes. Hated doing this.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

MiLs doctor didn't want to know and said he wasn't allowed to contact the DVLA (patient confidentiality and all that), sounds like he might have been a bit lazy

Yep! Had a quick look on the DVLA website, and it states quite clearly that medicos have to inform them if they believe a patient's licence should be revoked. I believe that they can actually advise the DVLA if it should be permanent or a temporary stoppage.

[Gerard C]

Gordon, did you have have a look to your spanish licence? In principle if it was issued before year '79 you are allowed to drive a camping car whatever it weights. So, a heavy truck later converted and homologated as camping car is concerned. Well, thats what we have here along with a new "permis remorque" B 96 easier to obtain than BE or EB down here.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Gordon, did you have have a look to your spanish licence? In principle if it was issued before year '79 you are allowed to drive a camping car whatever it weights. So, a heavy truck later converted and homologated as camping car is concerned. Well, thats what we have here along with a new "permis remorque" B 96 easier to obtain than BE or EB down here.

Gerard I don't have a Spanish licence only my British one that I have had since 1964 and it does still have B E.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by gary396

Interesting isn't it that as far as I know 'driving licence ages' haven't changed much. Whereas successive Governments tell us that pensionable age needs to keep increasing as people are living longer and those in their 60s & 70s etc are medically 'younger' than in years gone by. The argument seems to work one way but not the other?

I should add of course that none of this yet applies to me as I'm a lot younger than most people on here.

There does indeed seem to be a lot of what is generally known as "disconnect" in Government thinking.

I suppose the phrase "Government thinking" is a disconnect in itself. In fact more like an oxymoron.

[Gerard C]

Gordon, sorry for my misunderstanding. What they call down here "code 79" is in fact automatic. Some of my blokes have it stamped on their licence but never bothered to understand the meaning. But OK, converting a truck to an homologated CC may be not worth.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by gary396

Interesting isn't it that as far as I know 'driving licence ages' haven't changed much. Whereas successive Governments tell us that pensionable age needs to keep increasing as people are living longer and those in their 60s & 70s etc are medically 'younger' than in years gone by. The argument seems to work one way but not the other?

I should add of course that none of this yet applies to me as I'm a lot younger than most people on here.

I don't think we are medically younger, the medics can keep us alive longer now but we still physically go downhill at the same rate now as in the past. As for working longer, I find the medical I have every five years gets tougher and tougher. I noticed on the last one I had in October there's more questions about mental health head injuries and blacking out which is no doubt due to the arse who killed the people in Glasgow.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

I don't think we are medically younger, the medics can keep us alive longer now but we still physically go downhill at the same rate now as in the past. As for working longer, I find the medical I have every five years gets tougher and tougher. I noticed on the last one I had in October there's more questions about mental health head injuries and blacking out which is no doubt due to the arse who killed the people in Glasgow.

It's a pity that similar impositions do not seem to be required for politicians and, perhaps, doctors in some instances.

I suppose politicians are "tested" at elections every few years but I'm not sure that really counts towards competence.

I would also suggest similar tests for Civil Servants but I have a suspicion that most of them are quit adept at vacating the work pool without vacating their career and pension at any sign of illness or stress.

Just what kind of work are older people expected to do when economics forces everyone to work longer even though some will not be considered capable of doing whatever they have been doing for their working lives yet it is likely that the majority of them (us in effect) are not realistically in a position to re-train for anything else?

One can see why autonomous vehicles seem so attractive to regulators - at least in theory. Just so long as they are not asked to consider the less predictable social consequences and restructuring required they will no doubt be delighted with the potential controls being offered to them.

[bauble]

Groan! Where's Bauble when you need him?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by bauble

Groan! Where's Bauble when you need him?

I'm sure they're not doing it on purpose Bob!

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I'm sure they're not doing it on purpose Bob!

Another interesting avatar, Mike!

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I'm sure they're not doing it on purpose Bob!

Course they are, rotten lot.

[bauble]

A friend of mine once pointed out that grass grew slower during Formula 3 races, so why are so many on this forum racing the cars.? Why not just paint them and watch it dry, save a lot of money and concern about length of hoses etc.

Naturally this theory did not apply in the 1950's.

[Peter Mallett]

Interesting viewpoint. Think about British F3 in 1978. Warwick, Serra, De Angelis and Piquet. All became great Formula one drivers and all competed against each other. I watched a lot of it and paint drying was a long way from the truth.