Should Senior citizens be able to drive?

Question

I'm not going to pick best answer, since there is more than one good answer.. you guys can vote on it.

my personal opinion is that, seniors (over the age of 70, in my view) should get tested for the depth perception, short term memory, and essentially their health. an age should not limit them from driving, but rather a doctor's note saying that the senior is not capable of making quick judgements on the road.

Answer 1

Perhaps the flip side of this would be to ask "Should teenagers and folk under 30 be allowed to drive?"

Statistics have proven that most accidents occur within the age group of 16-25....

Yes, I believe that after a certain age folk should be required to do eye tests, reaction times, distance perceptions....however, in my jurisdiction that occurs at 70.

WE are not the harbingers of bad/dangerous driving habits...maybe sometimes slow...lol

We were raised during an era where hand signals were taught; the rule of 10 miles per hr for every car length of distance etc etc etc...

Perhaps we are really the better drivers?

I appreciate your question and yes, I do know there are elder drivers on the road that shouldn't be...just as there are younger drivers that should NEVER be allowed to drive alone without an older more experience driver with them.

I got my license at 17...I was allowed to drive only in daylight and never to social functions.

My first 'trip' from home in DC to Ohio was with my parents in another car traveling with me.

It took YEARS for me to realize how driving skills become better with age and knowledge!

At 65 would you believe my children still defer to me on certain driving ? Yes, it's the truth and my son recently told me his driving skills he learned from me and his grandmother!

I took my Mom's license away when she was 82...only because she had Alzheimers....My Dad drove until he died at 73. My aunt drove and even rallied in Corvette rallies until she was 80!

Answer 2

It depends on the person. In that case it sounds like she shouldn't and the tester was wrong. Here if you don't pass the first time , you don't pass and you have to go back. Classic ( senior ) citizens today are a lot" younger" then their parents were at the same age. They are a lot more active and out and about. They also have acquired driving skills that younger people don't have. A persons Dr. usually tells a person when they are no longer able to drive.To have your ability to drive taken away is a terrible thing, your freedom is gone. From some of the comments ,from the younger people , on here they think anyone over 65 is ready for the box. Lots of young people have accidents also , they drink and drive , take drugs and drive and don't forget speed. Don't blame all the accidents on a person who has grey hair remember you'll be there some day.

Answer 3

Well Michael, I assume you want all
of us old folks off the streets to give
you more room BUT WAIT: I can
really understand where you're coming
from.
I live in a Senior Apt. Complex and
at least 50% of these people should NOT be driving! I quit about 3 years
ago. Why? I just got tired of driving.
We have the poor eyesight syndrome/
then there's the strong meds/ then
there's the lack of concentration/
then there's mismanagement of anger.
I'm for tighter restrictions on driving
of people of all ages. Cell phones
must NOT be used while driving.
Young people must stop dragging.
Old folks must have an intensive
written AND driving test before their
license is renewed.
Problem is that here in Cal. unless
there's a moving violation, the Senior
can go 6 years between renewal.
Cal. driving laws need to be re-worked very badly as our roads
are death traps. Now they want to
open up the triple trailers (when our
local highways can barely handle
shortbed trucks.

Answer 4

Why shouldn't they? No matter what age, if they can show that they are able to drive safely then there's no problem. Being a senior age should not be the determining factor. My dad who is 70 is a very good driver, but knows his limitations. My daughter, within 2 months of getting her drivers license hit a parked car and did not realize it. I think that most seniors are fully aware of their limitations and will not drive when they shouldn't. That is why (even though I'm not yet a senior) I prefer not to drive at night, since my night vision isn't very good.

Answer 5

I wrote a small article aout this several years ago. I contacted a representative in the vehicle insurance industry to see what the figures were. While he acknwledged that seniors do get into scrapes, there is a difference between their accidents and that of youngsters: Seniors will generally take out a corner of the garage, scrape anoher car, etc., but it is generally a problem for property. On the other hand, kids drive faster and with less experience or caution, and they are more likely to wipe out a family and/or themselves. Granted, there are teens who drive great, and oldsters who shouldn't be allowed near a vehicle. But this was the statistical status at that time.

Answer 6

I'm 64 and am a very safe driver. I have never been in an accident or even had a ticket because I obey all the driving laws. I welcome regular testing for everyone . A lot of people from other countries come here and drive like they live in the country. They don't stop at stop signs , don't signal turns and fill their cars like busses when we have seatbelt laws.
The young people under 20 drive like there is no one else on the road but them. They ride right up the back of you even when you are in the proper lane and going with the flow of traffic. Oh yes, I am in favour of regular testing, for everyone!

Answer 7

Expert knowledge of the Rules of the Road, "vision" and "good reflexes" are the KEY here. No matter what "age" a person is, if they have these assets, then they are in "business." Usually a senior uses better common sense when they are out there "driving" amongst the rest of us. I wish you well. Peace, Love and God Bless.

Answer 8

The problem with this is once they no longer drive how will they get around?Most have families else where and those close by act as if it were A crime that they need help.Seniors in the USA are left out so many times.When your parents get up in age remember all the places they took you growing up.If nothing else take 1 day a month and take them shopping or out to eat.

Answer 9

households might desire to observe of their father and mom features of utilising and take the autos from them. Joe citizen might desire to call the law enforcement officers in the event that they see a senior utilising puzzled. same rules you could use for an adolescent driving force. maximum seniors don't have a cellular telephone glued to their ear, makes them in basic terms slightly safer than different the others. One destroy in 50 years on the line, rear ended at a end mild by skill of a 27 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous. At fifty 8 drove myself from NC to Idaho and not utilising a hitch.

Answer 10

Questions to answer a question.
Should young people who drink, even a little, be allowed to drive?
Should young people who talk on cellphones be allowed to drive?
Should young people who drive with the music blasting so loud they could not hear an emergency vehicle behind them be allowed to drive?
Should we toss the legal age for driving out the car window and give a drivers licence only to those who pass a test that shows they are mature enough to drive responsibly?