Senior Citizens driving?

Question

I'm sorry to say but Senior Citizens should not be allowed to drive. I do not think they have the reflex and mental capacity to handle it. Im constantly seeing accidents in the news involving persons over the age of 65.

I was sitting in my car once and my grandfather came and parked behind me and just bumped into my car, he got out and didn't even know he did it.haha. This is so common.

But foreal, there is an age minimum for teens, there should be an age maximum. Dont you think?

My father (64) dented every side of my car and got in a car accident in his until he finally backed down and realized that he shouldnt be driving any more. Of course people are going to be in denial, just like theyre in denial about having to wear diapers again.

PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE UNTIL THEYRE 21.LOL

Answer 1

hmmmm, sorry to tell ya, but I don't think teenagers and anyone under 25 should be allowed to drive!!

young ppl cause to many accidents with there cellphone use, drink and drive, drugs and stuff...if they would give DL to match there IQ....not to many ppl would be on the road....only the mature and elderly!!!

Answer 2

I'll be 70 years old in January and was able to drive until I had a brain anuerism. I voluntarily gave up driving because I didnt feel safe behind the wheel. I dont regret that at all. I propose that everyone over the age of 65 should have to undergo a driving test along with the written part every year. Maybe some older people can drive safely until they're 90. Fine. But not everyone can. Why take the chance of a senior losing control or getting confused on the road?

Answer 3

No, I don't think there should be an age maximum for driving.

My grandfather is going to be 77 years old in a couple of months. He works for a car rental company by driving cars for them. (He hated staying retired.) He's a competent driver with good reflexes, good eyes and a mind as sharp as a tack. There's no way his license should be taken from him just because of his age!

My grandmother (72 in November) is just the same. Drives better than most thirty-somethings. My other grandmother (77 in November) is also a safe, competent, alert driver. My other grandfather (died 9 years ago at the age of 67) was known for being an exceptionally good driver.

Just because some senior citizens are accident prone doesn't mean they all are. I have a cousin in her early 20s that has been in more car accidents and had more tickets than all of my grandparents combined. But you don't hear me saying, "They should raise the driving age to 30." Because my brother, who is also in his early 20s, drives just as good as our grandfather.

Answer 4

I agree that SOME seniors have trouble reacting to the increasing speeds on our roads. But then there are a lot more seniors that are capable of reacting appropriately WHENEVER it is called for. Why should the MAJORITY of seniors, who are competant and safe drivers, be penalized for the inconsistancies of a few?

I think the governing authorities in charge of such things, should make it mandatory for ALL people involved in accidents to go through a retesting and requalifying procedure in order to continue driving. The drive centers would be FLOODED by people under the age of 25!

Insurance companies do continuous massive studies about driving behaviour, and accidents as per age group. The truth is that, of those drivers who are insured (and there are increasing numbers of young people who drive WITHOUT insurance), the most dangerous drivers are the youngest ones. THESE are the ones that change lanes without warning, wtihout reason, and sometimes right into the side of a car already in that lane, then speed away so that they won't have to pay for the damage that they caused. And these same insurance companies, who are very conscious of returning maximum profit to their shareholders, regularly give seniors discounts because of their years of experience and their tendancy to drive carefully instead of speeding everywhere.

I took this quote...
There is no evidence that older people pose a greater threat to other road users. Finally, road traffic accidents are the cause of death of less than 0.2 percent of people aged 60 and over.
directly from this study...
http://www.idf50.co.uk/idfmotoring2.htm
I don't think you will bother to read more than a few lines of it, since it debunks your premise quite nicely.

Do us all a favour, and educate yourself about the ACTUAL facts concerning certain situations, instead of coming out with a premise based solely on your own family's experiences.

Oh and, by the way, premature senility is an inherited disorder that has the potential to affect 50% of the children of an affected parent. Since you tell us that your grandfather and your father both suffer from this, I would be getting myself tested early enough to be able to slow down the process, if I were you. Oh and, don't forget to surrender your license willingly when YOU become a danger on the roads, just like them.

Answer 5

I agree that testing for seniors should be given when they reach a certain age (I am 62), as should tests be given at other age levels to insure drivers still know what to do and how to do it, along with their eyesight etc.
I consider myself a safe and courteous driver and my record shows it but that doesn't mean I don't put down the hammer once in awhile. Just haven't been caught doing it. :)
A driver's license should not be seemingly given for life and renewed every so many years-people change.
Ever noticed that car insurance is much more expensive for teens then other folks? The reason is: teens cause more accidents. True! Seniors should be tested on a regular basis, for some are a hazard not only to themselves but others.
While everyone else in between, should be tested for road rage.
Driving is a privilege not a right!

Answer 6

As each of us are different, so too are old people. Perhaps an aptitude test once we reach the age of 60 years old and each year after that.

A spin around the block with a member of the DMV (or whatever it’s called in your state) might not be a bad idea for people over the age of 16 every couple years might not be a bad idea either.

I see people drive like “old farts” everyday that range from 16 to 60.

Answer 7

I've also seen on the news plenty of accidents involving people in the 20 and 30 age group too and no senior citizen around, in fact they are more common than with senior citizens.

Answer 8

I'm sixty-two years old - Have 20-20 vision - Have driven a million five hundred thousand commercial miles in a 18-wheeler - am still quite able to handle a race car on the oval track (better than some of the younger men around) and YOU think that I should not be allowed to drive in another three years... Kiddo You should learn to think before you type - There are a few seventy-plus year olds out here who are better drivers than you will ever even THINK that YOU are! If you will look around yourself you will find that there are more sixteen to twenty-five year olds involved in traffic crashes than seniors.

END OF RANT!

Answer 9

I wouldn't single out older persons for carelessness in driving - just like I wouldn't single out any particular group in this respect.

What is true is this - medical and driving tests should be conducted periodically for *all* drivers - whatever their age eg, every three or four years. What makes one think younger drivers are not impaired in their abilities as well, physically or otherwise?

In addition, refresher course in defensive driving should be compulsory for all at periodic intervals, for everyone.

Perhaps one may find the proportion of those who disqualify on these periodic tests may, or may not, be higher for younger persons than older persons - ! Fact is, ability is the criteria, not age.

Let's not confuse the issue.

Answer 10

I don't have a problem with Senior Citizens driving except that I worry a lot if they'll be able to stay out of the way of the hopped up, drunken smart-alecky little SH*TS with their foot through the floorboard, the stereo booming, and their pea-sized little brains on everything except what they're doing!!

Answer 11

well then mz. america your elders are idiots!
my parents both drove until they were in their 80's. no accidents, no problems, nothing. they were good drivers, defensive drivers, and if they weren't feeling 'up to snuff' well then they wouldn't drive. their friends pretty much all drove until they were around the same age.
they all had enough brains to know when to quit, and between the lot of them there was only ever one accident and it was caused by someone else - probably your father!!
in our end of the world our seniors go every two years to renew their licences, so if issues come up and they can't see it for themselves the motor vehicles branch will.
don't generalize girl! it never works and aren't you a little old to be flashing around like that? it ain't pretty! and you ain't no 30!