Old People Driving

CeCe wrote:I don't think revocation should be age based. There are some elderly people who are better drivers than others a fraction of their age. It should be entirely based on ability. I do think it would be a good idea to give some a road test at renewal time.

JM130ELM wrote:

CeCe wrote:I don't think revocation should be age based. There are some elderly people who are better drivers than others a fraction of their age. It should be entirely based on ability. I do think it would be a good idea to give some a road test at renewal time.

I'm not a fan of old drivers but I agree with you. When my license is up for renewal, all I do is pay the fee and that's it. I honestly cannot recall the last time I even had to take a written test to renew my license, much less a road test. I do think that drivers 75 and up should by law be required to take road tests every time their license is up for renewal. If they pass, then go ahead and renew them with whatever restrictions and provisions necessary. But I don't know how ethical it would be to say "You're too old, ride the bus."

Chris wrote:

True, but I don't know how right it is to let a ninety year old drive a car. I understand that some elderly people take care of themselves, and have no one else to do it, and so they need to be mobile to survive. But, still. Motor skills need to be up to a certain level to be able to operate machinery.

Tony Marino wrote: For people that old they offer services that will come, pick them up, bring them to the supermarket or the doctor's or even to their children's home. Its called access a ride here. Older people can take advantage of this and don't have to worry about driving and the expense of a car. They bring them home as well, you give them a time and they will be there as on time as they can.

Supernova wrote:

Sure but if you've been driving yourself around your whole life, that's going to be like a slap to the face, like 'guess what, you're old and we're taking away your right to drive'.

This actually reminds me of the 'why would anybody want to live to be 100?' thing...it's all good and well for young people to say what should happen to older people's licenses, but just wait till you get there yourself and people are trying to take away YOUR license and see what you think then.

Supernova wrote:Something I find interesting is everybody likes to point out how bad older people drive, but I watch the news and I read the papers and almost every single car crash and wreck and accident I hear about, does NOT involve people over 70 or 80, it's 16 year olds, 17 year olds, college kids who were drinking, high school girls who are trying to kill each other, it's never senior citizens making the news for causing a highway fatality. And my brother and I are in the car a lot, on the main roads, on the highway, on the smaller streets...and the ones we encounter, who don't signal when they just curve out of nowhere, who back out too fast, who cut us off, none of them are older people, it's all the younger idiots who like speed and that God awful gansta music on their car radios that they have cranked up so loud you can't hear much else. So my gripe isn't with older drivers because the worst problem we ever have with them is that they don't push it to the speed limit when they drive, otherwise they are some of the best drivers we encounter out there because they don't text when they drive, they're not on the phone yapping to somebody and they're not trying to turn the interstate into a race track.

Tony Marino wrote: Seniors, especially over 80 do NOT have the reflexes that a speeding 20 year old might have. Yes they drive slowly as it is their right to do but when it may come to a situation where they may have to think or react, it may not happen and more than likely won't happen. I admire seniors, I help seniors and that means that I will protect them in any way that I can, if that means taking away the keys then so be it.

Dan70 wrote:...I personally think when people hit the ripe old age of 70, they should have to go through yearly driving exams in order to keep their license ...

femme fatale wrote:I honestly don't like anyone past 80 years old driving period. Cars can be lethal weapons and someone who has poor reflexes and aren't quickly alert has no business driving one.

Kral wrote:First and foremost, driving is not a right...it is a privilege. I do think that EVERYONE should be re-roadtested every 3-5 years or so. I find that many drivers make many mistakes, it drives me absolutely nuts!

Supernova wrote:Something I find interesting is everybody likes to point out how bad older people drive, but I watch the news and I read the papers and almost every single car crash and wreck and accident I hear about, does NOT involve people over 70 or 80, it's 16 year olds, 17 year olds, college kids who were drinking, high school girls who are trying to kill each other, it's never senior citizens making the news for causing a highway fatality. And my brother and I are in the car a lot, on the main roads, on the highway, on the smaller streets...and the ones we encounter, who don't signal when they just curve out of nowhere, who back out too fast, who cut us off, none of them are older people, it's all the younger idiots who like speed and that God awful gansta music on their car radios

that they have cranked up so loud you can't hear much else. So my gripe isn't with older drivers because the worst problem we ever have with them is that they don't push it to the speed limit when they drive, otherwise they are some of the best drivers we encounter out there because they don't text when they drive, they're not on the phone yapping to somebody and they're not trying to turn the interstate into a race track.

Supernova wrote:

And yet I could very easily see people who would be put in charge of those checkups and tests or whatever, saying 'he's 90 years old? Well then who cares if he can still drive? He could be dead soon so why bother giving him his license for another 4 years?'

The problem is some things that are started in an attempt to HELP senior citizens backfires and only becomes torture for them. Look at nursing homes, I'm sure once upon a time they WERE places they could go to be cared for when their families could no longer do it. But TODAY, everybody knows what happens, the orderlies beat the patients, dont' give them food and water, leave them in dirty diapers all day, don't bathe them, don't dress them, they have roaches and rats and who knows what else running around, but they always make sure to clean everything up when the board of health and whoever else pays a 'surprise' visit so everything can go on as status quo, and nothing is being done to change it, because the people in charge are still convinced that those facilities exist to care for aging people no longer to take care of themselves. But everybody knows if your kid says 'nursing home', they're just looking for a quick way to get rid of you.

Marc wrote:What's your opinion of grandma and grandpa behind the wheel?
At a certain point, should elderly drivers have their licenses revoked....even if they haven't had any accidents?

RedBedroom wrote:As other posters stated, the best way to handle the situation is to do tests more frequently when a person hits retirement age. That would be the best way to determine who still can and who can't.