Why do they allow senior citizens to drive?

Question

Being a sales rep, I am on the road a lot, on a daily basis I always see senior citizens on the road going 20mph in a 55mph zone or pulling out in front of traffic like they are the only people on the road.I understand they want their independence, but if it is putting other citizens lives in danger, they need to swallow their pride and hang up the car keys . Is there any states out there that require senior citizens to retake road tests after a certain age?

I understand seniors have rights, and driving is certainly one of them. I was simply asking, Why do the let seniors drive in some states without taking road tests after a certain age. I didn't ask, who causes the most accidents? or, What Nascar or Indy car drivers are over 55? or, Why do they allow 16 yr olds to drive? I think there should be more regulations and testing throughout your entire life, not just young or old. Sorry if I offended any of you.

Answer 1

Like I said in another simular thread, there should be vision tests and thats about it. Also when renewing licenses, after 75 or so it wouldn't hurt to need to be done yearly. Seniors have as much right on the road as anyone else, but its important for the safety of other citizens that seniors, or pretty much anyone of any age, must be of sound mind and body in order to drive. Those with disabilities, Alzhiemers and whatnot; the people that get in cars and start to go somewhere then end up going nutso on a highway and forgetting were they're going and what they're doing and etc. Those who can't stay alert and keep it together without loosing their memory or mind shouldn't be allowed on the roadways. And driving too slow in a fast moving area is just as bad as driving too fast.

Though anyone can have a heart attack or stroke on the roadway when they choose to drive in a bad condition and thats something the DPS can't monitor. My great grandma got disorientated one night coming home from church and went into a diabetic coma and crashed her car into a culvert, but she died before the car ever went off the road (and there wasnt enough damage to the car to kill someone buckled in properly)

^If that had been on a highway and not some desereted FM road, that could've involved many other people and possibly caused accident fatalities.

Also if you ever come across an elderly person thats disorientated and totally out of it, don't let them drive. Drive them were they need to go or call a family member of theirs to come get them. Its the right thing to do and you never know, you could be saving lives by keeping someone not mentally capable of driving safely off the road, and saving that persons life as well.

Answer 2

As you can guess; I agree with the rest of the folks here but also wanted to add: I used to be a GA police officer and the drivers I respected the most were the ones over 50 and beyond. They had the guts to get out there and still drive while the young and restless were blowing the asphalt off the pavement and causing others, including the seniors, to die sooner then they and others wished to.
Driving is a privilege NOT a right! Everyone should have to take a physical driving test along with a record review every few years, and I do mean everyone.

Answer 3

I would like to know just how fast you were driving in that 55 mph zone. You should thank your lucky stars if you even live long enough to reach "senior citizen" status. Exactly how many times have you been driving and talking on your cell phone? That is not exactly safe either. And just so you know, a study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that In 2002, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of death for every age 3 through 33......hmmm no mention of those senior citizens..have some respect for your elders kid. :-)

Answer 4

stop driving the back roads and you won't find us doing 45 mph on a 55 mph zone road.
I'm pretty sure seniors at some point are required to take a vision and hearing test, but they get a pass if they've done that yearly thru their health insurance plan.
I'd suspect seniors slow down because of the pills they take, because they're starting into cataract problems, because they have a form of macular degeneration, and because there is no one else to take them to the doctor and grocery shopping, so it would be a lot easier if you just don't drive the roads they do (you won't find them on the fast roads).
If there were frequent transportation for seniors then we'd just have to bill you thru your income taxes, now do you want that to occur?
It's not a matter of seniors hanging up their car keys....duh....we have to eat too.

Answer 5

Why do they let sales reps drive? I see them driving distracted (Cell Phones, Reading reports, checking customer lists, etc.) while driving in heavy traffic no less.

A.J. Foyt is a senior citizen... Richard Petty is a senior citizen... and I'm sure they could teach YOU a lot about driving.

As a matter of fact I believe that I could teach you a little bit about driving considering that I have logged about a million eight hundred thousand commercial miles and at least a couple hundred thousand non commercial miles.

So, sonny, quit complaining and hold to the speed limit and watch out for the other impatient fools like yourself driving the highways... Maybe by doing so you will live long enough to become a senior so you can go off and rant like this at some poor fool who opened his mouth at the wrong time too.

End of rant... I feel much better now.

Answer 6

Why not allow seniors to drive?

It is true that older people may not be as comfortable driving 100 mph as younger people. The answer to this is as the driver exams consider changing population needs, the license can ban certain drivers from high speed interstates, like keep off the folks who are using handicapped vehicles, riding on bicycles, and other reasons to be slower than the people who like the high speeds.

Answer 7

I can’t really single out our seniors on this one, ROAD RAGE is on the high everywhere. Yes, I know we can get frustrated with them sometimes, but I find myself more frustrated with others that shouldn’t even have a license. So I know where you’re coming from. But you know most folks that will have their own answer to this question will have their own complaint as well. So if we all have a complaint why can’t we all be better drivers, my thought is that people are busy pointing the finger at someone else instead of self.

Answer 8

In Texas I believe that it is 85 yrs of age that they have to have a driving test in order to keep a drivers license but if you see a senior citizen do unsafe things on the road you are able to take their license plate # down report it to the proper authorities and let them see if the individual is still able to safely operate a vehicle.

Answer 9

Have you ever noticed that the agressive and or drunk drivers are all younger drivers ? I'm 67 and drive 35 miles each way to and from work and do the speed limit + 5
I'm always getting passed by some jerk that's in a hurry and I meet him at the next light or wave to him as I go by because he's sitting in a dutch or pulled over by a cop

Answer 10

There are some very good senior drivers..and ,yes, there are some very bad ones..In Canada seniors are required to take road tests....but I'd rather have a senior going 20 mph than a 16 year old trying to do 120 mph.