OT: DVLA and medical info - never again!

That's why British road junctions are better than American ones: we try very hard to avoid a situation where two cars that could conflict have *equal priority*. Either one road is designated to be the major one and the other (which must give way to the major road) is the minor road. Or else priority is established by *position* on the road rather than *time* of arrival: give way to traffic that is on your right as you are waiting to join a roundabout. Obviously with all priority rules there is a time interval such that traffic which *should* give way doesn't have to if it can clear the junction (or get up to the speed of the approaching traffic) by the time that traffic arrives - the old "do not do anything that would force another driver to slow down, speed up or swerve to avoid you" (with the implicit rider that you're OK if you don't make the other driver do this).

But four-way stop junctions in the USA are a nightmare (*) if two cars arrive at the same time or so close in time that neither driver is *certain* that everyone knows who got there first. Then, as you say in your computer-network analogy, you need a random timer and a backoff-and-retry algorithm.

(*) As well as being wasteful of time and fuel if you have to stop at every intersection when you can see that there's no other traffic - assuming that the four-way rules apply 24/7 and aren't over-ridden by a four-way give-way at very quiet times.

Ours are designed to get yuou safely from A to B. Theirs are designed as revenue raising instruments. Traffic fines there go to the local authority, whereas here they go to central govt. This allows the situation where over there the Chief of Police sends his boys out with instructions to cop a few traffic violators to raise funds for the LA; the four-way stop along with their piss-poor road signage make this legalised banditry fairly easy.

Source for these assertions: out of the mouth of a San Francisco cop, asked about it not by me, but a little old lady. I just listened in.

How is it managed now?

Snip

:-) If I make a mistake while driving in traffic, the outcome often depends on the actions of other hopefully experienced motorists able to assess what went wrong and decide what best to do: swerve, brake, jump on the horn etc.

What they actually do may rely on assumptions of what I was trying to do which seems beyond the reach of the automated vehicle.

There is also the situation mentioned where human drivers, knowing the actions and responses of the automated version, will use it to jump queues etc.

I too am naturally sceptical. Naturally sceptical of people acknowledging their inability to drive safely due to health risks.

Yes, I know the problem. I know of someone who could not get driving lessons for the same reason. Legally allowed to drive but waiting for the licence.

Calls to OZ were common place in the early 70s, apart for the 1 second delay. So I guess that puts you in the category where age alone is starting to become a question mark with respect to your driving, 75+.

That is not fully correct. If you are treating Diabetes with pills (such as Metformin) which don't carry a hypo risk you don't have to inform anyone. If you are treating Diabetes with pills which do carry a hypo risk then you have to inform DVLA. If you are using Insulin (hypo risk) you also have to inform DVLA.

Cheers

Dave R

No idea which is another thing to moan about isn't it? Surely if they had replied I deserve a copy. And if they hadn't replied then the DVLA could/should have let me know.

And if my doctor doesn't reply - what then?