should old people over 75 be allowed to drive?

Question

debate topic!
please help with my side
(old people should be allowed to drive)

Answer 1

NO!!!

Answer 2

My grandfater on my mothers side is one of the best drivers i know (aside from my father). He is an amazing driver an he is 72. My grandfater on my fathers side is the worst driver i know. he is 69, he couldn't even park the car right if it was halfway in the stall and ligned up properly and he just had to move up 4 feet. I believe that after a certin age a year test should have to be done to test site, reflex, and vehicle control and knowledge. Too many time have I been in the fast lane on Deerfoot Tr (110km/h) and have to slam on my brakes because some old person pulls out infront of me doing 70km/h. I have nearly been in a few accidents because of this. But then on the other hand, I've seen much worse by people speeding. Driving too slow is just as dangerious as driving too fast, you can still cause accidents if you are disrupting traffic patturns. They should have to take a test, and one time go, fail, you're you, and a test every other year or every third year for everyone else. It will keep a lot of people off the road. And if you fail a test then you have to start back at a Learners licence.

Answer 3

As a long time healthcare worker, I can say without a doubt that there are senior citizens, 75 and over, out there who are healthier, sharper, and more responsible than you could possibly imagine. We hold swing dancing parties at the skilled nursing facility where I work, and we always have a full house....probably at least 50 of them are at least 75, and they can dance circles around most people. Swing dancing's no easy task...and it's still a thriving pasttime...we have people of all ages who attend, from 15 to 90, and it's not unusual for the younger ones to have a hard time keeping up with some of our 80 yr olds when fast songs come on the jukebox...they've got the west coast swing and lindie hop down pat, I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to drive if they can demonstrate that they still have all their functions in proper working order!

Answer 4

yes, if they pass a special test designed with their age/ etc in mind..
I feel that over age 55, elders should take a test every 3 years... Eye, hearing, response, etc all should be included.. I witnessed a tragic wreck where an elderly man (who probably though slow and steady is the way) drove very determined and slowly onto a freeway from and on-ramp and didnt ecelerate fast enough and a semi trailer/truck just plowed into his car, smashing it all to bits, the semi driver was hurt, but ok, the elderly man, obviosly died on impact.. It shouldnt have happened, he was old and his responses were slow.. If he was given a test, he might have failed and this needless accident could have been prevented.. But out of fairness if some older person is fully capable and healthy of mind etc and can drive, the test will show...

Answer 5

It depends on the individual person.There are horrible drivers in every age bracket.My ideal would be for EVERYONE to get retested for on the road driving every so many years.
My father is 86 and still driving.He doesn't drive at night anymore because he feels his night vision isn't great anymore.He hadn't had an accident in over 40 years until 2 years ago when a young girl,speeding and yakking on the cell phone hit him.Now he has to pay high insurance because of his age due to this accident.
My biggest concern about taking away an elderly drivers license,if they are still able to drive safely,is that many have no other option to get to where they have to go.They still have to buy groceries,get to the doctor,go to church,whatever.Some have no family that can help them or have access to public transportation.

Answer 6

Sure, my dad still is a great driver at 83 during the day, very alert and aware of his surroundings. His night vision however is shot, so he wont go out at night anymore. I would like to see a real drivers test (meaning driving not just written) every few years for people over 75, and the adaptation of restricted licenses (such as no night time driving).

Answer 7

Yes as long as they can.But we know with old age things happen.Like make sure they can pass a vision test.I work at checker auto parts and the other day a guy came in with his grandma asking if we had some stich strips to put on the pedal becausse her foot slipped of the brake pedal.I also had a neighbor (whose mother is 80)had the cops bring her home cause they found lost and she had know idea where she was or where she was going.They took her license away and now it is all her daughters fault.People are different and as long as they can perform like they are suppose to then yes.But alot of them say they can and can't.They don't want to accept that age is winning.

Answer 8

everyone that can pass the driving test and eye test and has a dr's okay should be allowed to drive.

After a certain age, defensive driving courses should be mandatory. Many people don't realize how much their reflexed have slowed down till their in a situation to test them.

I am going to be 76 someday and I don't want my rights taken away from me. If you start with this right, then next it will something else....you have to wear pants when you aren't at home, etc, etc, etc.

Take Care! SD

Answer 9

Yes they should as long as they are not a hazard. Older folks are usually safer than some of these young kids out there. But as another answer stated, mandatory drive tests should be given annually after a certain age....maybe 65. Only drive tests because after driving for over 50 yrs., written tests are sort of ridiculous.

Answer 10

Very good question. Worth a star indeed. I think seniors should have to take a road test at frequent intervals. Its for their safety as well as others. My Grandmother just recieved her new license in the mail. She is 88 years old!! She still thinks she should be able to drive. Even though she is blind in one eye and cant see out of the other. I've seen her frozen in the middle of a busy intersection, not knowing where she was,or where she was going.

Answer 11

yes, if they renew their licenses every 2 years, and after they reach 80 they should have to take the test again, and do that every 4 years. annd i think after they reach 90 they shouldn't be able to drive anymore. we don't allow people under 16 to drive because in general they don't have the maturity and mental capabilities to do it responsibly, by 75 or 80 most people simply aren't good enough drivers to be allowed to keep driving without restrictions.