Ageism - the other end....

[Toby Ponsenby]

Not content with bashing the P platers, notionally at the young end of
the driving market, the imbeciles suckling at the public tit are at it
again - this time having a shot at the old farts.
This of course is intended to defuse ageism criticism on a
discrimination basis, and has probably been cooked up (or was waiting
in the wings frozen and therefore has been thawed out for the
occasion) to bail Carr et al out of the predicament they've conjured
for themselves out of thin air the other day.
(BTW, I still can't figure what enquiry result /public asset sell-off
it's been conjured up to obfuscate)
So I decided to have a sniff about.

Source, ABC, AM - Even date.

<http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1398740.htm>
or
<http://tinyurl.com/bb4rv>

This one uses ATSB funding, conducted in Adelaide.

Presumably, the ATSB set the frame of reference.
I bet it went something like...
"To test driving impairment of old farts with pre-cursors evident in
alzheimers - If the study uses a control, and doesn't wildly
extrapolate ALL results the deals off."

I hasten to add, studies of ANY Adelaide drivers would reveal similar
findings - these dementia prelim subjects are simply a group of old
farts driving just like they always have in those parts.
And Adelaideites not in plastic drums in bank vaults better shut the
fuck up - you're so used to it all you wouldn't know shit:-)

Anyhow - the 100,000 Figure - marvellous.

And earlier piece - in which GP's are shafter for being complicit in
concealing road carnage :-) (Yup, that's a smilie)
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/13/1041990231287.html?oneclick=true>
or
<http://tinyurl.com/75f8h>

And this one - an accursed PDF File:
Yep, this one mentions the usual gang - Monash and significantly NRMA
(presumably the insurance short-arm) See bottom page 2 and top of 3.
<http://www.psychology.org.au/units/interest_groups/ageing/Newsletter%202001.pdf>
or
<http://tinyurl.com/aftyt>

And this one the main study - again an accursed PDF file:
<http://www.atsb.gov.au/road/pdf/MClark_RGH-SA_DrivingandDementia_final.pdf>
or
<http://tinyurl.com/ckzyy>

Some notes.
Of 100 'patients', 4 remained undecided (hehe some sort of alzheimers
joke?), 23 refused to take part in the study.
meythinks that should have fucked the sample at the outset - but no -
they forged ever onward....
************************************************** **********************
So, is this 4 odd year old study the 'soup de jour'?
That's right, tree huggers - 4 years.
If now, can anyone assist in finding the 'recent' release'..
************************************************** ***********************
Footnote.
this link - only for the truly dedicated tin hat wearers, who don't
need tinyurls:-)
http://www.shpa.org.au/pdf/journal/gt/Hecker200303.pdf
Actually mentions the magic word Pfizer.
<Gasp> it couldn't be....
It is, ya know - an attempt to get the old farts even remotely sus in
the Alzheimers sense out there driving about full to the brim with
dwugs. Compulsory Dwugs.

And the truly priceless item?
The majority who had a go passed the driving test!!
These people are 'diagnosed' patients - Not common or garden variety
ages persons.
What's the figure for new licence applicants in the capital cities?
My bet is it's the bloody same - or as close as dammit it doesn't
matter.

But, FROM this - we get 100,000 prangs annually.
Faark.
just how thick are we supposed to be to fall for this one?
No wonder we're at war at the moment.








--
Toby.
quidquid latine dictum
sit, altum viditur