Should old people be allowed to drive?

Question

I think we should set limits... like 80 years old every year after that people have to get a test.

Hell my dad is 55, and he doesn't even get in the car and he starts sweating.

I'm 20, I've had my license for 3 years... I had one accident, but that was because a guy was parked out in the middle of the road with a stalled truck. The sun blinded me until it was too late.

Answer 1

No people should be allowed to drive. We need robot drivers, like Johnny-Cab from Total Recall. Even if they go nuts and kill a few people here and there, it's far better than the 40,000 people killed in accidents in the USA every year.

Answer 2

We should set limits. For instance, a young man pays high insurance premiums til he's 27. The minimum age for a license should be 27, for men.

My insurance, on the other hand, keeps going down ( I'm your dad's age, by the way). That indicates that I am less likely to have an accident than you are. Of course, I continue to benefit from my experiences so I'll actually be a better driver at 80 than I am now.

I have never hit a parked car, either.

Answer 3

I'd agree with the testing but not just taking people off the road at a certain age because everyone is different and some older people can drive just fine at 80 years old. I know 80 year olds that drive better than 18 year olds so now what.

Answer 4

I agree!! After so long, a person's reaction time slows down. I've been behind some people on the interstate driving less than 50MPH, but the speed limit is 65 or 70. That's just as dangerous as going too fast, in my opinion. Where I live, there are lots and lots of curves, hills, mountains....When the speed limit is 45, and I round a curve at about 40-45, usually there's some papaw going 20......ugh. I've nearly rear-ended someone doing that before.

Answer 5

Although the greatest number of drivers involved in crashes is in the 25-34 year age group, there is existing data that suggests the crash risk for senior drivers is relatively higher than for that of the average driver. And the number of older drivers will remain on the increase.

The Census Bureau reports that in 1960, there were more than 16 million people over the age of 65. They have estimated that by the year 2010, there will be nearly 40 million people 65 and older.

The aging process brings on problems which are believed to affect driving. Some of these problems include: decreasing vision, hearing loss, lack of mobility; in some cases, combined prescription and over-the-counter drugs may affect driving skills.

With increased emphasis on the use of safety belts, required vision and medical testing, and road testing, there are efforts being made to enable senior drivers to maintain safe driving records for longer periods of time.

Most older drivers are aware of their limitations and keep their driving to non-peak daylight hours. All drivers need to recognize that senior drivers have special problems and to anticipate the unexpected.

The National Safety Council, the American Association of Retired Persons, the AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety, and some other automobile clubs have booklets and in some cases, classes or course instruction that will explain how to deal with physical changes during the aging process. In addition, if senior drivers take advantage of these classes, some insurance companies will offer reduced rates.

Many states offer driving refresher courses and additionally, often any driver 75 or older applying for license renewal must take both a driving and a vision test. After age 80, the license is valid for two years, and after age 85, the license is valid for one year.

A good piece of advice for seniors is to learn all you can about walking and using alternative modes of transportation like buses, trains or car pools before you have to give up driving yourself. Knowing there are alternatives will make the decision to give up driving an easier one.

Answer 6

Why would people want teenagers to wait before being able to drive?? My sisters both didn't get the licenses until their mid 20s. They are just as bad as I was when I got my license at 18, if not worse! As far as elderly people go it should be up to the doctors and law enforcement. They should be the ones telling specific drivers they need retested. Not just old people tho.. to everyone that drives bad! I have seen some people in their 90s that driver better than others that are in their 40s..

Answer 7

This is a problem that comes up on a regular basis. Doctors or the police are usually the ones who take away licenses. They are usually hesitant to do this because for old people the drivers license means independance and dignity. They like the rest of us may need to drive to buy groceries, go to doctors appointments, etc. If and 80 year old is capable of driving safely why would you want to take away their license.

Answer 8

NO WAY ! They drive way too slow and have way slower reflexes. I think older people should only drive if they have been approved by the new SGI driver evaluation ! If they fail 300 times atleast they got there drivers license in a approved way unlike where you just go and buy one. Like in the 40's. ! If they are over 80 they just get tested every 3 years.

Answer 9

Between the years of 30 and 70 - regular license with regular test.

Special exemptions for those between 20 and 29 who are willing to be tested annually on their driving skills & maturity.

Special exemptions for those between 71 to 80 willing to be anually tested on eyesight, driving skills & willing to have special turn signal that can not stay turned on even if you're not turning.

No one over 80 or under 20 allowed to drive for any reason.

Answer 10

NO! its not always an elderly person causing an accident but they dont pay attention or they panic! they need someone else to drive for them! like that elderly person who hit a person walking and freaked out and just let there car keep on hitting more people! thats a perfect example of why they shouldnt be able to drive