Should senior citizens be required to pass a driving test every year?

Question

Let's face it, as we get older our reflexes slow down and we tend to be forgetful. I don't know how many times I've read about a senior driver hitting something and the excuse is always, "I thought that was the brake."

I know the thought of giving up independence scares people, but what about the safety of yourself and others?

Answer 1

I would say yes to this,for some reason they just don't pay attention to there surroundings and we are the ones in danger.

Answer 2

There are some really stupid answers to this question. What gives anybody the idea that 55 is senior? Your parents are still working at that age. Tell you what, I am turning 60 this year. Any of you that think I am old, come take the driving test with me. It will be an 8 hour test, through rain and fog. We will repeat it in a snowstorm. We will drive heavy traffic through the mountains. Let's see which of you could survive it all. I have the experience of well over a million miles of driving on my side. You want to consider a mandatory test at 70? Maybe, but to call people senior who are still productive working members of society, and still paying, in some cases, to put children through school, is asinine. Consider this as well. A 75 year old has an accident and kills someone, and it is on every tv station in the country. An 18 year old has the same accident, and nobody hears about it outside the home town. There is a reason a lot of seniors get maximum discount on insurance, and it is because we drive smarter. I will support regular testing at 70 coupled with regular testing for young drivers under 26.

Answer 3

If it were possible, I think everyone should retake a driving test every few years. Based on my observation of drivers in general, most do not drive as well as they think and tend to break the laws. Also there are fewer Senior Citizens driving recklessly and involved with auto accidents as a whole than the rest of the driving population. Distracted drivers and Aggressive drivers each create 37% of accidents in 2005. see link

Answer 4

Personally I've had more 'close calls with drivers under 25 than I have drivers over 65.

Older drivers may drive too slow.....and may be guilty of being too cautious, but at least they are paying more attention to what they are doing than those under 25. They see the stop sign and run it anyway!.....and usually at a high speed.

Most older drivers I know limit themselves to driving where and when they are comfortable. No night driving, no rush hour driving. Traveling familiar areas. As long as their vision and hearing are good, I don't have a problem with them. Sometimes family has to step in and let the older driver know it's time to depend on them to do the driving.. That's something family members shy away from because it means they have to take some of their time to drive the elderly members.

Answer 5

If they are able to pass the test, they should be able to have the reward to drive. They should not be able to pass, if they do not pass the driving test. I believe that the driving test for returning drivers should also include a road test, scan tron test, and eyesight. For what I know, the only test for the returning drivers are only eyesight. I mean, how hard is that to look, and answer what you see. I believe these days, and age, every year the test should be the same as if your a new driver. Also, I believe that senior citizen should be held eligible if they create an accident, or murderer someone. Because their older, and "wiser", they should should be held eligible for 1 st degree murderer. I mean, if your too old, and have bad eyesight, at least let the younger generation be able to live and survive .

Answer 6

I think to test every senior would be impractical and come back to hinder us when we get to be the same age. I do agree that perhaps seniors who have either accumulated traffic violations, excessive accidents or other driving related incidents should be tested. I know that safety is the major concern, however to give seniors a special license plate like a DWI offender or a Pedophile would have takes away their earned dignity. Imagine if these seniors that we want to retest every year were our own relatives... Some of this responsibility needs to be addressed by the families.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Answer 7

I think everyone should have to get retested every year. You ask this question like it would make things safer than why not go the whole way. Why not make the roads safer all the way around instead of focusing on just one group of drivers. I live in florida so trust me I see what your talking about with the senior drivers getting into accidents but they usually dont result in injury to others. There are way more deadly accidents involving truck drivers. So I think everyone being retested every year would keep all responsible drivers sharp and up to date with all current laws of the road.

Answer 8

Why is it only the senior or elderly drivers you are concerned about ? Why not the soccer Mom,s with 10 screaming kids in the oversize SUV Distracting her as she is Driving 70 M.P.H Down the Interstate . Or The guy who,s drinking coffe and reading the newspaper while shaveing doing the same thing .
Or the Lady who is Talking on the cell phone putting on makeup and driveing with her Knees. Please if you single out one group you have to get them all I know this because I am that Big Truck you all ways have to pass and cut around because I block your vision . Take aD.O.T Physical Piss test and Finger Print each time you Renew your License . Chew on That !!

Answer 9

I think when a person turns 55 they should have to be retested, and then again at 60 and 65. Once you turn 65 it should be ever 2-3 years then at 75 every year.

Answer 10

I amfor ANYTHING which helps enhance highway safety.
If it inconveniences anybody, tough!
Ban cell phones, DUI should be 6 months in jail, PERIOD.

I was a dispatcher for many years. We preach hghway safety. Too many people doen;'t havea clue about it.


in time, I'll be a senior. It could happen to me.

Answer 11

I think that they should have to put signs on their vehicles! But really, here they have to get tested once they reach a certain age. I think that there are good and bad drivers in every age group.