There are several facets to this debate. Firstly, almost everyone believes they are a safer driver than average. Statistically, that's impossible. By definition, roughly half of all drivers are below average. At 80+, experience is undeniably valuable. But reaction time, processing speed, peripheral awareness, flexibility, eyesight, hearing and particularly night vision often decline with age. Confidence doesn't always decline at the same rate. Many older drivers genuinely believe they're still driving as well as they did twenty years ago. The young have their own blind spots. They overestimate skill, underestimate risk, drive too fast, take unnecessary chances and think they're invincible. Just look at the number of young motorcyclists riding as though the laws of physics don't apply to them. The reality is that dangerous drivers exist in every age group. Three examples from my own experience: Father-in-law (Bangkok, aged about 78): Driving along Sukhumvit Road, he stopped in the middle lane to drop me off. When I told him he couldn't stop there, he immediately cut across the left lane without looking, almost collecting a motorcyclist, just to reach the kerb. I was a nervous wreck. Family rule: my son never travels in a car driven by him. Father (UK): On country lanes he drives too fast, misjudges bends, clips kerbs, scrapes hedges and spots potholes too late to avoid them. He genuinely believes he's a perfectly safe driver. Family rule: my son never travels in a car driven by him either. Real case: A former Mayor of Worcestershire, aged 88, drifted across the centre line and collided head-on with another car. His wife was killed and the young woman in the other vehicle was left with life-changing facial injuries. After a lifetime of public service, that's the tragedy people remember. He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, but died before the case reached trial. The common thread? Every one of those drivers believed they were safe. Just as the bloke who's had five pints thinks he's fine. The person full of cold medication thinks they're fine. The driver with a stinking hangover thinks they're fine. Almost nobody voluntarily says, "I'm too dangerous to be behind the wheel today" And that's precisely the problem. We are all very good at judging everyone else's driving, but remarkably poor at judging our own. The comments in this thread illustrate that perfectly. Some display classic overconfidence (Khun LA), while others fail to recognise that their own position is every bit as irrational as the one they're criticising (Gamma's lack of self awareness that he's full on bonkers !).
