LIVE TO DRIVE
One of my co-workers was hit in her car by a man in a new truck.
He kept going, leaving behind a headlight.
Later, after much detective work by her and her daughter, they found the truck - without the headlight - at a local tavern.
After police were called, the owner of the truck, who could barely walk, shuffled out to face his accusers. He was in his 80s and acted like he didn't have a clue he had hit anything until the cops matched up the headlight with his truck.
So when should seniors to stop driving? Should there be strict licensing laws for those over a certain age? And what should that age be?
Think about losing your independence before you answer.
By the way, I don't consider 77-year-old Ol' Daddy, here on his Harley, too old to drive.
posted by Diana at 9:48 AM
22 Comments:
This is a tough one. While I would NEVER drive with my 83 year old dad, he does take my mom and him to their respective appointments. Mom who is 87 stopped driving years ago. He drives slowly==very slowly, so watch out== and would feel very badly if he couldn't at least drive himself to the store and the doctor. I know if it gets much worse, Sis and I may need to take action.
We should have specific public transportation for unsafe elderly drivers or build communities that include the pharmacies and grocery stores within walking distance.
They should take drivers licenses away from all the old coggers.
The only sensible way to do it would be to require a re-licensing exam for everyone past some agreed upon age. Say, 75 for men, which is their average lifespan. Maybe age 40 for women, because they are lousy drivers. And every year for the entire population of the state of Florida. Of course, I would be excluded because I drive so well. And maybe your father too.
Since I'm 81 I get nervous when I hear about people's licenses being taken away. I do agree that it is a problem as we age. Most seniors I know are very careful about driving and try to avoid driving at night.
I will say though that most young people do not observe any stop signs or yield signs. I was driving yesterday when someone came out at me from a stop sign without even slowing down. If I didn't stop we would have had an accident.
To be honest, Jane, i find that it's the young girls who are the worst on the road. They tailgate and speed like crazy!
As a Senior, we drive more carefully than when we were young, but retesting should be for all age 75 and over, not necessarily the written test but more on th piloting a vehicle
P.S. young women are the worst cell phones growing out of their heads while driving
anyone 80 and on medication or wearing glasses or a hearing aid should not be driving nor should those under 80 who are not totally alert!
This is a tough question when you think about yourself getting old and still wanting to drive.BUT...I do belive that people in their older ages have much s-l-o-w-e-r reflex times which cause accidents. I live in Ocean Cty. and there are so many senior villages filled with old drivers. I do believe there should be a re-test at the age of 75, but not due to driving too slow.
Generally one's reflexes diminish over age 55 or so. Still it must be on a case by case basis for deciding when to surrender one's license.
I know my dad drove until age 73. I had learned through neighbors that he had complained of getting lost in or near his neighborhood. It was then that we had "the talk".
As for myself.... I will not be that
reckless. When my time comes to stop driving,I'll surrender the wheel to my soon to be gorgeous wife.
Besides,even at age 53,driving in most parts of NJ is already a chore.
HAPPY MOTORING FROM PETE!
Throw that picture out, it's evidence of poor judgment. No helmet. That was an around the block deal, still no excuse.
I have to pass two physicals a year, ICC CDL class A, and FAA commercial class 2. They get harder to pass as age piles on.
This is a tough call but older drivers should have to demonstrate a level of competancy. Younger drivers have to, and look where we are there!!-- Very tough call.--Ole Daddy
why not require all drivers age 70 plus to at least be required to road test/vision test/doctor's note if on certain meds when register their vehicles every 2 years..and anyone actually driving the registered vehicle must be tested,in that vehicle and not have a relative register it for them.
There is too much variability to properly test an older driver. Medicine, eyesight, reaction time, etc, can vary widely in some. There are many seniors who drive better than middle age people. We would waste an enormous amount of money on tests that would probably be unfair and subjective.
Those that are found to be lacking the right skills will have to be culled on an individual basis to be fair.
Teenagers, who usually pass their driving tests are statistically the worst drivers, and we do no re-testing on them after they have wrecked their cars.
For now, we should leave well enough alone.
think it's time for 80 year old seniors to stop driving. however, there shold be more access to public transportation for all ages to use. maybe mandatory of seniors from 70, to be tested yearly. for that matter let's other so called mature people be tested, especially when they continue to speed, talk on the cell phone when driving.Let's make driving a priviledge.
you don't think ol' daddy there is too old for the cycle..then you need a vision test, too!
Hey anon, if you had read ol' daddy's comment above you'd see that he has to pass two physicals a year .. an FAA to fly his airplane and a CDL to drive his commercial truck. Maybe you need the vision test.
passing a physical and actual road skills tests are 2 diff. things completely..
I think it was Stephen Foster who wrote "I love the old folks...at home." My mother is 79 and two years ago was hiking on the ice glaciers in Alaska. As children we have to keep an eye on our on our older parents and judge each person on their own abilities. I was with my mother when she had the "talk" with my grandfather. I told her "remember this conversation 20 years from now."
Since we are in our early 70's, I think about how much longer I'll be able to drive safely. I have been driving since I was 16 years old and in all those years, only received one speeding ticket and this was after I moved from New York, to New Jersey. I know that some day, I will have to give up my keys, and it bothers me alot.
Men should be tested at age 80 without fail.Women at age 40,no
exceptions!!!
men like paul should be run over by 40 yr. old women! and once again for good measure by another man (any age will do)!
hey geezer is that an oil slick I see ahead? so sad!
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