An 81 year old woman plows into a group of children waiting to be picked up from school and seriously injures innocent children. How many old people have you passed doing 25 in a 55 zone. When is it to too old for a person to stop driving??
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11-20-02, 01:55 AM
Sherasi
Honestly, this is a serious and viable question. However, there is no specific answer to this question. There are many individuals who would NEVER have learned to drive to start with.. and continue to be a hazard their entire lives.

On the other hand, I've met very sharp and alert elder men and women at 90 whom I would feel comfortable driving.

I do believe that mandatory once a year or once every 6 months tests should occur. Not just eye tests, but taking an actual driving exercise where decision making is employed (one way street, or a choice between right and left lane with a merging ramps, etc). These tests, being mandatory, would reduce the number of accidents, injuries and death from people who have begun to lose their ability to drive but not their desire to drive.

And Lord knows, the elderly do fight to keep their licenses to drive like dogs with a bone... understandable really as it represents their very freedom of choice and independence.

11-20-02, 02:14 AM
Johnny Velo
I really dread the day when I realize that I need to turn in my drive's license. because I'm starting to be a liability on the road.

11-20-02, 05:03 AM
moe257
I agree that as people get older, reflexes become slower and they do become hazards on the road. But what will happen to these people if their license is pulled? If there’s no public transportation where they live, how will they get food? What about church or visiting friends?

There should be organizations or agencies set up to provide transportation for the elderly when they can no longer drive, but until then, we can’t take their license and leave them alone to die of starvation or loneliness.

11-20-02, 06:36 AM
steve
As soon as they are old enough to think that they can drink (or get stoned) and drive.

11-20-02, 07:50 AM
Jelp01
I don't know what the rules are in other states, but here in Washington state elderly drivers can have a restricted license. These allow them to drive, but only within the city limits of the town where they live, so that they can get around.

And even in my area, which is as close to the middle of nowhere and the end of the Earth as you can get, there is transportation available for senior citizens to take care of their needs. Plus there are all sorts of organizations which deliver groceries, prespcriptions, and meals to those who can't get out.

I would favor close testing, say every six months or every year or so. One time my parents were to go on a road trip but only got a couple of hours into it before they got rear-ended by an old man, about 84 years old or so, who had no business being on the road. That ruined that vacation for them. So they found out first-hand what can happen with elderly drivers on the road.

11-20-02, 08:58 AM
gojenni714
When I was in high school, and elderly man did 'plow' into a kid at the middle school that was the little sister to my high school. She died. He still drove.

Now tell me how fair that is. This wasn't the first time this man had had an accident and he was still driving. Why? Could it be that perhaps he only has to take his driving test every 10 years? But tell me why he was still allowed to drive after killing that poor, young 13 year old girl. It's not right.

I too believe that once we reach a certain age, we should be required to take a driving and eye test every 6 months.

11-20-02, 01:03 PM
jell8
Just last Sunday as we were coming home from church, going about 40mph, and my dad had just started to speed up when an old lady in her car started to drift in our lane, no lights or anything. My dad slammed on the brakes, and it was a miracle we didn't hit her. He immediately honked the horn, and the lady stopped - good thing he didn't honk the horn when she was in from of us. We went on, and my dad said to me, "Joy, don't let me drive when I'm older. Don't let me drive at all." He was serious.

11-20-02, 02:29 PM
kittypal
I agree with sherasi, my grandmother is 93 and just stopped driving last year, she is in better shape than most people in their 70's. I think once a person hits a certain age they should be required to get yearly testing, road, eyes, etc... My dad scares me, he drives way too slow, rarely uses turn signals and does a lot of other careless things, he is 65.

11-22-02, 01:01 AM
cattywampus
My stepdaughter's father-in-law in his dotage drove without stopping at stop signs. He always ended up in the middle of the intersection, having slammed on his brakes when he was alongside the sign. He also drove on the wrong side of the road half the time; no one would ride with him. I used to live in Phoenix, where a common road hazard was some snowbird stopped in the fast lane to read a map.

Catty (who feels lucky to be alive) eek

11-22-02, 06:31 AM
Walks On Water
Is not the question. I am in favor of annual re-test of seniors, which I am one now.

Age has little to do with driving ability. Note, I did say little. Paul Newman, famious star of stage, screen and TV, and also part time race car driver, raced this year at the young age of 77. Ran in fifth place with a lot younger drivers.

Is it important that it was PLN, no. At 77 he still possessed the skill and reaction time of his younger competion.

Re-testing is the answer. If life won't let you drive in the fast lane, move over.

11-22-02, 12:03 PM
Elexina
There is no such thing as being too old to drive. There is, however, such a thing as being to stupid, incompetent, irresponsible, blind, or afraid to drive.
It does seem like a disproportionate number of senior are poor drivers, but look at it from this perspective: it has been thirty, forty, even sixty years since they took their driver's test! One is apt to forget a thing or two.
I firmly believe that everyone should be re-tested every ten years, perhaps even every five.

11-22-02, 03:16 PM
Ewood27
It's 47 years since I took my driving test. I can't speak for everyone of my age group, but I am very aware of the problem of ageing and driving. I am my harshest critic. When the day comes that I am not on top of things and not able to read the traffic and anticipate, that's the day I'll quit. Meanwhile, I may have forgotten a few details, but I have experience, which is worth a lot more.

I dread havng to stop driving! But I've seen too many instances of drivers (not necessarily old) drifting along with their minds in neutral - accidents looking for somewhere to happen.

11-24-02, 10:24 AM
juanruiz
This situation was brought out several years ago as Florida experienced a rash of accidents for which senior citizens were cited. 60 Minutes even ran a story on it.

Closer to home, I remember when I had to have my license renewed. The guy in front of me was 88 years old, and could not pass the eye exam. The official smiled at him at said "That's OK. We'll give you the license anyway. See you in four years."

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