Seniors driving?

Question

What age do you think people should stop driving at?

Answer 1

when they can no longer pass the tests on an annual basis after say age 70.When eyesight is no good or medical problems inhibit them.
You cannot penalize someone who at 90 drives safer and better than a 30 year old with a bad track record

Answer 2

Well, since it seems you are asking for opinions, I'll say that I think after age 72 a person should be required to pass a field exam of their driving ability. I don't think that just because someone reaches a certain age they are incapable of driving. Everyone ages differently, and thus, everyone's skills change at different rates. I have no qualms about a drivers test in order to renew a license. I also don't think it would be unreasonable to say that a license cannot be valid for as long a period of time (a license is valid for 5 years in my state). If they wanted to have the test administered more often than 5 years, I think that's fine as well.

My dad is 68 and I feel his driving is still rock-solid. I have no qualms whatsoever when he picks up my 15 month old son. I also have no problems with saying to him, if the need arises, that he shouldn't drive anymore. It'll be hard, but it's for the good of everyone.

Answer 3

People should stop driving when they can no longer operate a vehicle safely. I'm pretty sure more teenagers are in involved in auto accidents than older drivers. Therefore wouldn't it make sense to raise the driving age?(I wouldn't agree with it, just making a point) My grandpa drives perfectly fine(although sometimes a little slow). Even giving a "refersher test" wouldn't be fair since many of us quit using the 10 and 2 method the minute we got our license. It's their right to drive, just like anyone elses.

Answer 4

My mother is 78 and I swear she is one of the WORST drivers around...she didn't used to be but now---!!! 20 mph and never stops for redlights---I thought we were going to be killed last December when she INSISTED on drving me to a doctor appointment... (I was too sick to drive)... Also, she was so stubborn she would NOT take the root I suggested which would have saved us 20 MINUTES in driving time and because of her SLOW driving pace, we were 25 minutes late for the appointment and ALMOST didn't even get to SEE the doctor...by the way I was sick enough to be hospitalized right there an then. Anyway, I agree that older people should DEFINITELY have to retake the ROAD TEST every 5 years after they reach age 65..... I am 56 and retired myself and try NOT to go out driving anywhere until after 4pm when the elderly drivers are off the road.. .I'd rather drive in the RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC then drive when the elderly are out terrorizing the roads..I can't tell you how many times I've almost been HIT going to the post office because the elderly drivers REFUSE to look behind them or to either side before they back out of a parking spot...and a LOT of them are too deaf to hear when you LAY ON THE HORN to warn them that there is a problem with their backing out.... So I STRONGLY urge congress to enact a NATION WIDE LAW mandating driving tests every 5 years after a person reaches age 65...and if they do not pass the test, their licenses are taken away.... until they either take it again and pass it or FOREVER.

Answer 5

I don't think there should be a set age, just more frequent testing for seniors. Just because George Russell Weller(unremorseful a**hole) is a monster doesn't mean all seniors are. Most seniors are actually safer behind the wheel than the average driver, since they generally drive very defensively.

Answer 6

There should be mandatory skills tests for ALL drivers every 5 years. You should need to demonstrate your ability to control your vehicle on a regular straight highway, along a very twisty mountain road, in a busy city roadway, on rainy surfaces, on ice, on dirt and gravel, and at night. And the test should include accident avoidance techniques at high speeds (veering, recovering from spins, recovering from going off the road onto the shoulder), slamming on the brakes on dry, wet, and icy roads, and how to do it safely and quickly. And it would check that you observe basic rules of courtesy to other drivers, moving over, allowing people to pass, dealing with intersections, etc.

ALL OF THE STUFF THEY REALLY DON'T TEACH YOU WHEN YOU GET A LICENSE BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!

It's not just seniors. It's EVERYONE. European driving tests are real life. American driving tests are a joke. This is why Europeans can drive on roads without lines, easily navigate turnabout intersections at high speeds, motorcycles are more popular, speed limits are less enforced, and common driver courtesies are practiced as a rule.

If you can pass this much tougher test every 5 years, you can drive until you're 150. Same if you're 14!!! And if you're 30 and can't pass it, you need to bring your skills up to par or get off the road.

I took a Motorcycle Safety Class to get my M license and it has improved my CAR driving 100X over. Everyone should be required to take such training.

And my dad used to take me out on rainy days or snowy days to a parking lot and MAKE me slam on the brakes, to learn how to handle such surfaces. And he took me up to really winding mountain roads when I had my permit. (It was scary, but I did it, and I became a much better driver because of it.)

Age isn't the problem. It's a total lack of basic skills that makes our highways and back roads so dangerous and congested.

Answer 7

Good luck on ever getting an age cut off! Do you realize that the AARP is one of the countries largest lobbying agencies?

Anyway, that said... I would like to see a law passed that once you turn 65 years old, you have to go in every year for a eye test and a road test to keep your license.

It wont happen, but it would be nice.

I have seen so many poor old folks do such stupid things on the road. Not their fault... they are just old.

But, sigh... we will all be there one day, God willing.

Answer 8

Whenever they can't drive safely or see adequately. I think testing should be done for everyone every 5-10 years. And I've seen many more 20-somethings that shouldn't be driving than seniors. sorry

Answer 9

I don't think you can put an age limit out there. What you need is more frequent testing to insure the drivers are still capable of handling this thing they call "driving!"

Answer 10

depends on the person
some people are able to maintain their mental faculties for longer than others....
i think at a certain age people should have to get re-certified (i.e. take the driving test again) to make sure they are safe