Should the elderly be required to take a driving test after a certain age to retain their driver's license?

Question

If so, at what age should it begin and w/ what frequency should they be retested?

Wow! People are passionate about this! The largest voting bloc in America is the elderly, and politicians don't want to ruin their chances to get re-elected...so the odds of this happening are probably pretty small, unless people of ALL ages will vote...agree or disagree?

Answer 1

I taught driving for a number of years, and what I see from supposed "seasoned" drivers every day appalls me!

Those that just passed the exam for the first time should be required to pass the written and practical again in 2 years and pass them both; if they fail, they should be compelled to take them one more time and pass it or be forced to take driver educaiton classes again. Then, when they do pass it, they will be required to take it again in 2 years and pass it, with the same conditions as before. No exceptions.

All others should be required to pass both the practical and written again every 8 years. No exceptions. If they fail, they have to take that exam again; if they fail again, they lose their license and must take it and pass the exam like the first time (and have to repeat the process again in 2 years).

After the age of 65, they should be required to pass both exams every 2 years. NO exceptions (EVEN if they're politicians or judges or whatever!!!).

My mother is 81 and she drives like a wild teenager! Watch out everyone.... she's got white hair and she's under 5 feet tall... she's dangerous!

Answer 2

OMG! This is one of my pet peeves! Absolutely yes, the elderly should be tested before they are allowed to renew their driver's licenses. It should be an actual hands-on driving test. Personally, I think age 65 is an appropriate age to begin testing and then every 3 years thereafter.

There was a time when I actually had to take the car keys away from my elderly mother so I do have an idea what this means to the elderly driver and their family. It does create a huge mobility problem with hair appointments, Doctor appointments, and other necessary errands. It is certainly better than living with the knowledge that you elderly parent killed someone with their car.

There are only a very few states that require mandatory testing. Most do not. I researched this topic for a college speech course and the statistics are absolutely shocking...and terrifying.

I sincerely hope someone will take my keys away from me when its time for me to stop driving.

Answer 3

The elderly certainly should be required to take a driving test. In human beings, advancing age is associated with numerous health-related and psychological changes that can impair a person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. For example, a person's sight is frequently impaired after the age of 70, and an older person's reaction times and general cognitive functioning declines too.

I think a logical age to begin mandatory testing is around 65.

It should be noted that the elderly have a very strong lobby in Washington, and this political power prevents any legislation from being enacted to require mandatory testing. Sadly, this leads to casualties on the road when elderly people, who are too proud to admit they are a danger behind the wheel, kill pedestrians or injure themselves in needless accidents.

Answer 4

I think so, because my grandmother, towards the end of her life, was too scared to turn right in her car as she'd have to drive across the road "in the path" of oncoming traffic. So she tried to drive to places using strange routes with no right turns, which is obviously quite difficult. When we realised this, we suggested it would be better if me or my sister drove her around, which we did. It's difficult to say an age for people to be retested, but maybe aged 70 upwards, and test every five years? Who knows, it's hard as people vary so much.
Or maybe it could be combined with a doctors' certificate. There are already certain conditions that mean people can no longer drive - an obvious one being blindness.

Answer 5

No. There are some people in their 90’s that can drive better than some teenagers. It’s unrealistic to make people retest just because of their age alone.

In Tennessee, a police officer can request that the DMV retest a person. If a police officer has reason to believe that a person should not be operating a motor vehicle due to slow motor responses, poor health, et cetera, then they can request that the person be retested.

Answer 6

I certainly experience they might desire to. As to the perfect age, i might wager from the age of 70 and up. For as we age, we don't discover distance as wisely as as quickly as we've been in our 50's. So our judgements for making a turn interior the suitable quantity of ft, could be off. additionally if people who have not had their eyes checked for innovative and prescient readability, those might desire to have a watch examination and instruct by using way of a definite tag that they pick corrective lenses to force, to boot the fact on their driving license. the two the written and driving skills try could be administered each and every few years. to be certain that the elderly are no longer driving risks. I bear in ideas whilst years in the past, we would see somewhat gray head somewhat able to be certain above the sprint board out onto site visitors. we would pass them and notice that they have been very short elderly human beings. Who appeared to be possible on the line for themselves, to boot as different drivers.

Answer 7

Yes, I think every year after a person turns 70 they should be required to take a test to prove they are still capable of driving safely. You have to be of a certain age to begin driving, so I definitely think an ending age requirement is way past due.

Answer 8

I agree, I have been saying this for some time now. I think 70 is an appropriate age and about every two years or so. But I think just the driving part not the written.

Answer 9

yes. i think everyone should be retested every five years or so. It would be an inconvenience for those of us who are excellent drivers, but if it would take morons off the road there would be less traffic and less traffic accidents. Limiting these tests to the old would not be fair, but i believe that doing tests every five years would take a lot more than just old people off the road.

Answer 10

most defintely - this is a pet peeve of mine - my grandfather just recently was turned in and had to take a test and thank goodness failed it. There are so many elderly on all types of medications driving around in their cadillacs and a danger to not only themselves but others as well. I think once they are considered a senior citizen they should be required to take a test every 3-5 years.