https://olskin.com.au/senior-drivers-in-australia/

“ From October 1, 2025, no Australians aged 60 and over will be permitted to drive between the hours of 10:00 PM and 05:00 AM. ”

Apparently the government will require anybody 60 or older to display a yellow star on their vehicle so police can identify and  round them up as efficiently as possible.


And before anyone takes the bait- it’s fake news.

They should also stop over 60's from going into Bunnings and clogging up the isles.

Quote:

And before anyone takes the bait- it’s fake news

Seems to be a lot of that around lately regarding older drivers.

Some people obviously have too much spare time on their hands.

I was also going to say the the biggest danger to elderly drivers at night is all the young hoons roaring around the streets almost every night.

Heard a couple of these myself during the past week. The roar of cars hooning up and down the streets usually followed by the screaming of police sirens sometimes with the added "entertainment" of the noise of a police helicopter.

The 'record' so far (for me) is listening to a chase that lasted for about three quarters of an hour at nearly midnight just recently.

Carl D wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 10:49am:

Quote: And before anyone takes the bait- it’s fake news Seems to be a lot of that around lately regarding older drivers. Some people obviously have too much spare time on their hands. I was also going to say the the biggest danger to elderly drivers at night is all the young hoons roaring around the streets almost every night. Heard a couple of these myself during the past week. The roar of cars hooning up and down the streets usually followed by the screaming of police sirens sometimes with the added "entertainment" of the noise of a police helicopter. The 'record' so far (for me) is listening to a chase that lasted for about three quarters of an hour at nearly midnight just recently.

I think I heard that one.

I was staying in Carlisle at the time.

You hear lots of chases in that area at night, mainly because of Orrong Rd.

Hey Greg.

The other one we've been getting here for some time now is the motorbike from hell.

It must be the loudest motorbike in Australia and possibly the entire world, probably has illegal exhaust modifications or something.

The owner would go roaring around the streets here late at night several times a week just to annoy everyone, so it would seem.

Actually, I haven't heard it for a couple of weeks now so maybe the police finally caught up with him? Here's hoping.

Carl D wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 11:07am:

Hey Greg. The other one we've been getting here for some time now is the motorbike from hell. It must be the loudest motorbike in Australia and possibly the entire world, probably has illegal exhaust modifications or something. The owner would go roaring around the streets here late at night several times a week just to annoy everyone, so it would seem. Actually, I haven't heard it for a couple of weeks now so maybe the police finally caught up with him? Here's hoping.

I actually understand the reason why bikes are tricked up to be loud.
It’s to alert others on the road to their presence.

However being ridiculous loud is just someone with a need for attention mental illness.

Carl D wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 11:07am:

Hey Greg. The other one we've been getting here for some time now is the motorbike from hell. It must be the loudest motorbike in Australia and possibly the entire world, probably has illegal exhaust modifications or something. The owner would go roaring around the streets here late at night several times a week just to annoy everyone, so it would seem. Actually, I haven't heard it for a couple of weeks now so maybe the police finally caught up with him? Here's hoping.

Yeah, I've heard that guy.

I think I saw him once near Lathlain oval.

Noisy bugger   >:(

Carl D wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 10:49am:

Quote: And before anyone takes the bait- it’s fake news Seems to be a lot of that around lately regarding older drivers. Some people obviously have too much spare time on their hands. I was also going to say the the biggest danger to elderly drivers at night is all the young hoons roaring around the streets almost every night. Heard a couple of these myself during the past week. The roar of cars hooning up and down the streets usually followed by the screaming of police sirens sometimes with the added "entertainment" of the noise of a police helicopter. The 'record' so far (for me) is listening to a chase that lasted for about three quarters of an hour at nearly midnight just recently.

I used to hear that at night at Mum’s place, hoons then sirens. Here—blissfully silent at night.

Well, I'm happy to say that I've finally taken the plunge and got rid of my car on Friday. It was 15 years old (2010 Hyundai Getz) and it was getting more and more expensive to keep it running and I had no intention of ever buying another car.

The only reason I kept it for so long was so I could take my elderly aunt out shopping and socialising and to take her to medical appointments, etc. but now that she is sadly in full time aged care I decided it was time to go carless especially seeing as I'm on the age pension.

There's also too many dangerous idiots on the roads as well these days.

I get free travel outside peak hours Monday to Friday and all day weekends and public holidays on public transport with my WA Seniors Card so why pay for running a car if I don't need it? It's also quite easy to visit my aunt in aged care with public transport (I did that last Tuesday to try it out).

Just thinking about all the money I will now save on petrol, insurance, registration and repairs. In fact, when I took the number plates back to the licensing centre in Cannington on Friday they said they will give me a partial refund on the registration that I last renewed for 6 months in June. Cool.

I then took the short walk to the Beckenham train station (lucky I had my umbrella because it was cold and wet all day), caught the train into Perth City and cancelled my car insurance and roadside assist with RAC and they will be giving me a partial refund for those as well. Wow, I'm going to be rolling in the money. Might have to buy myself a new big screen TV.

I'll keep my drivers licence until it expires in 2028, it comes in handy for photo ID and also if I ever have to drive someone else's car for any reason.

Best decision ever. I wish I could do the same!

Definitely as I ( hopefully) near retirement I will be able to live with a reliable public transport system close by and ditch driving.

Don’t underestimate the value in a walk to keep you happy and healthy.

Regarding the idiots on the road I completely agree.

The longest construction of the shortest piece of road at the most expensive cost has finally after 5 years been completed on the m1 behind Palm beach ( Gold Coast).

It’s average quality but now it’s open and the speed limit has increased from zero a hour to 100 it’s just so much more dangerous.

People overtake on the inside, go slow in the fast lane, fail to indicate and just randomly cut across lanes as they realise that they are going past their exit.

I don’t drive without a camera on . It’s simply too dangerous.

The roads have never been better, our cars never safer, our road toll never higher.

I suggest it’s because drivers have never been so stupid!

I've been driving with front and rear dashcams for many years now. They really are a necessity these days.

I've kept both of my dashcams, they're pretty basic Blueskysea B1W's that were released in 2017 and I got mine in 2018.

They've worked well for me for 7 years (they are now unavailable because the company that was making them no longer makes dashcams).

You can even use them for home security and the 32GB cards I have in them give you about 4 hours of recording time before they 'loop back' and start recording over older footage.

Mate I am so jealous.

It’s like owning a boat…the happiest day in your life is when you sell it.

The money you will save is significant and might equal to a holiday.

My only concern is bad weather but that is why we Uber!

I guess you also are doing your bit for the environment!!

I hate cars and wish I could work without one.

P.s and no more looking for somewhere to park and driving laps around the block.

Did I mention i  am jealous 😤

Carl D wrote on Sep 7^th, 2025 at 10:56am:

I'll keep my drivers licence until it expires in 2028, it comes in handy for photo ID and also if I ever have to drive someone else's car for any reason.

Keep it for as long as you can, or even your passport.

After being on the pension for 20 years Centrelink told both of my parents that if they didn't produce photo ID their pension would be cancelled.

Neither of them had a valid drivers licence or passport.

It was a nightmare for me to sort out.

Keep either you passport or licence current, even if you never plan to travel overseas or drive again.

Thanks Dave and Greg.

I'll wait and see what happens with the renewal of my drivers licence which will expire in April 2028.

If they toughen up on the requirements for older drivers to have their licences renewed like having to take medical and driving tests (I'll be 70 going on 71 by then) I might not bother with the licence and just get a photo ID card instead.

Apply for a photo card - WA Government

WA residents aged 16 and over can apply for a card that helps them prove their identity without a driver’s licence or passport.

I don't have an Australian passport but I do have a UK one which will expire in 2027 and I'm not sure at this stage if I'm going to renew it. Plenty of time to consider options, I guess?

Carl D wrote on Sep 7^th, 2025 at 10:56am:

Well, I'm happy to say that I've finally taken the plunge and got rid of my car on Friday. It was 15 years old (2010 Hyundai Getz) and it was getting more and more expensive to keep it running and I had no intention of ever buying another car. The only reason I kept it for so long was so I could take my elderly aunt out shopping and socialising and to take her to medical appointments, etc. but now that she is sadly in full time aged care I decided it was time to go carless especially seeing as I'm on the age pension. There's also too many dangerous idiots on the roads as well these days. I get free travel outside peak hours Monday to Friday and all day weekends and public holidays on public transport with my WA Seniors Card so why pay for running a car if I don't need it? It's also quite easy to visit my aunt in aged care with public transport (I did that last Tuesday to try it out). Just thinking about all the money I will now save on petrol, insurance, registration and repairs. In fact, when I took the number plates back to the licensing centre in Cannington on Friday they said they will give me a partial refund on the registration that I last renewed for 6 months in June. Cool. I then took the short walk to the Beckenham train station (lucky I had my umbrella because it was cold and wet all day), caught the train into Perth City and cancelled my car insurance and roadside assist with RAC and they will be giving me a partial refund for those as well. Wow, I'm going to be rolling in the money. Might have to buy myself a new big screen TV. I'll keep my drivers licence until it expires in 2028, it comes in handy for photo ID and also if I ever have to drive someone else's car for any reason.

Great move.
We have small carrier bags on our pushbikes and do some shopping on our bikes.

Using a bike for shopping is a lot of fun, a good activity and very economic. There's not much can be carried on 2 bikes. By necessity I can't buy much when on our bikes.   

Leroy wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 10:49am:

They should also stop over 60's from going into Bunnings and clogging up the isles.

Phuk off..... the idiots who block up the ailses are the ones with their dog in the trolley taking them to the Bunnings dog show.  ::)

And they(the dog owners) come in all shapes, sizes & age groups.

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 7^th, 2025 at 7:15pm:

Keep it for as long as you can, or even your passport. After being on the pension for 20 years Centrelink told both of my parents that if they didn't produce photo ID their pension would be cancelled. Neither of them had a valid drivers licence or passport.

In NSW you can get a 'proof of age card'. Cheaper then hanging onto passport or D/L.

Motorists would have to be the biggest 'cash cow' as far as governments and others (insurers, repairers, etc.) are concerned.

To be 'milked', ripped off and taken advantage of at every opportunity. Mind you, that's pretty much the same with all big businesses these days as well.

And, the steadily increasing number of EV (electric) owners who naively believe they are "saving the environment" (but I'm sure they mainly believe they're saving money on petrol) are in for a shock because governments are now going to introduce a tax (which they call a charge.. lol) on EV owners to make up the shortfall on petrol tax.

Well, this cow has finally left the cash cow herd and he won't be coming back.  :)

Speaking of ripped off - I really must have a chat with the supposedly reputable people who have serviced my car for the past 6 years.

The last time I had it serviced at the start of this year they told me the headlights were all "foggy" and discoloured which they were after 15 years and they told me the police could pull you over for it, especially at night because the headlights were not as bright as they were when the car was new.

Well, they told me they put 2 new headlight assemblies on (and charged me for it, of course) and I must admit the lights looked brand new but they were all "foggy" and dull again just before I sold the car.

Someone told me "nah, they didn't replace them, they just cleaned them up with something like WD-40".

Apparently that's a pretty common practice, so I've been told. Charge for new headlights when all they've done is clean the old ones up.

Scammers and con artists everywhere. Glad I no longer have to deal with any of it anymore.

Definitely go in and have a chat, look for the busy times of day when other customers are present.

I had a colleague who had a Prado conversation to  Gas. He jumped into it after work one day and it was chugging and spluttering.
He shut it off and I walked over and asked if he needed help.

He explained it’s the gas delivery system and it almost a monthly event and he has to get it towed to his mechanic and it cost another $458 bucks.

I got him to pop the  bonnet and had a look.

It took about  two minutes before I saw the hose that had become detached and I reconnected it.

Instantly the car started and ran perfectly.

He was an islander of huge build and was definitely prone to violence.

The look on his face had me walking away very quickly.

He thanked me the next day and provided me with a beautiful home cooked traditional meal from his island.
I didn’t ask if he spoke to his mechanic or  not, often it’s best not to know.