Age and the right to drive

[Ed62]

I was listening to the car radio today, when the guy started talking about an 80 year old lady who made a U-turn on the interstate, causing an accident. This guy was really coming down hard on the older people who drive. In his opinion, nobody age 75 or older should be allowed to drive. I just wondered how the membership felt about something like this. Should there be an automatic age cutoff? If so, what age? I just hope I realize when I should give up the keys.

Ed

[LCHIEN]

the unfortunate thing is that the skills to drive deteriorate at different rates in different people.
Anyway, I'm much more worried about being hit and or killed by a drunk driver.
Why don't we outlaw people driving while drunk? Oh, we already do.

I hope we have a better time keeping old people off the road if they're outlawed than we do at keeping illegal drunks off the road.

[tfischer]

Few things in life are so cut and dry. There are excellent drivers at 75, just as there are excellent drivers that are 20. Both sides of the spectrum get a bad rap... I'd be ok with making older (and very young) drivers take a skills test every so often, but a mandatory cutoff based on age? Nope.

[Wood_workur]

Some states require yearly or some other interval driving tests once you reach a certain year. I like that because it is not an arbitrary line that doesn't apply to everyone.

I know people that could have learned to drive just fine in 5th grade. I also know people that I'd feel unsafe in a car with who have had their license for many years. Unfortunately it is too hard to mandate the driving age based on anything other than an arbitrary line.

[kirkroy]

"A man's got to know his limitations"... It'd be great if those of any age had the wisdom/self awareness/etc to stop when they're a danger to themselves and others. A fairly young guy in my area killed a man and the man's 3 sons when he drove his car in spite of knowing he had epileptic seizures (which he didn't seek medical attention for because he was afraid his license would be taken away). He went to jail and will have the deaths on his conscience for the rest of his life (driver - Anthony Grimes, father who was killed - Rodney Pulliam).

I vaguely remember a news story of an older man with an age related brain degeneration disease who drove onto a sidewalk or into a store killing several people. His daughter mentioned that the man spent every waking hour (and probably much of his sleep) riddled with guilt long afterwards.

My Mom, 74, does not drive in the dark any more. Her judgment is just fine and knowing that she is able to place this limitation on herself makes me feel better about her driving in the day time. I know she'll stop driving altogether when she doesn't feel competent (which my grandmother did as well).

In the case mentioned I wouldn't be surprised if the woman would've considered it ok to do when she was 50 years old too... Her age may not have had anything to do with it.

Kirk

[Kristofor]

If you have an elderly relative who's ability to drive is deteriorating but who doesn't recognize the fact it makes things a LOT easier if there is some sort of objective standard that can be used to determine if they can keep driving.

My grandfather on my dad's side was like this. His response time, situational awareness, and night vision were all becoming issues. Perhaps not critically dangerous yet, but close and deteriorating. Regardless he was a tremendously independent and stubborn individual. Logical reasoning was probably not going to get him to give up his license despite the fact that my grandmother and several other relatives were able to drive when needed... In his case other medical issues intervened and he passed away before it was an issue, but I have no doubt it would have been...

If the rule stated something like every 4 years after 70 (or pick an age), and yearly after 90 (again, pick an age) you need to requalify I'd be all for it. I wouldn't look at something like re-passing the drivers exams exactly, something faster/easier that could be done without an appointment to simply show that you still have the physical and mental capabilites to operate a vehicle not that you precisely remember how many feet to stay behind a snow plow or whatnot...

[crokett]

I think that drivers past the age of 75 should have to take a yearly test. Drivers diagnosed with deteriorating eyesight, Alzheimer's, etc should have their license revoked. Of course that doesn't meany they won't try to drive anyway.

[chopnhack]

mandatory testing,yes, but at what age?

[JR]

Of course that doesn't meany they won't try to drive anyway.

My grandmother, well into her 80's and functionally blind, managed to drive her VW down to Dunkin' Donuts and back. She said she knew the way.

Her driving apparently didn't stand out in Boston, where many people seem to be driving by Braille.

JR

[jackellis]

In aviation, every pilot has to undergo a periodic proficiency review, aka recurrent training. I think it's six months for airline pilots. Six months for instrument flight proficiency unless you fly in instrument conditions regularly, two years for private pilots.

I'd be fine with periodic proficiency tests for drivers...of ALL ages. And really stiff fines for anyone who is caught driving past the time limit of their last review.

For all the fuss about that airline accident in Buffalo a few years ago, the multitude of bad and careless drivers kill many more people than the very rare bad pilots.

[docrowan]

I took an operational driving test when I was 16 years old. I have never since had to demonstrate to anyone that I could drive, or even that I know the rules of the road, despite the fact that I am now 40 and have moved to a different state. To me, there is something wrong with that.

I would support a written driving test every five years and an operational test every ten - for all ages. Perhaps at age 75 the frequency could be upped to two and four.

[billwmeyer]

My Dad

My dad drives nearly every day, and I would rate him among the top 10 percent of drivers. He doesn't use his cell phone, shave, listen to the radio, or eat and drink anything while driving. If he is going to drive in the next several hours he won't touch a beer. He has his eyes checked for a drivers test every 4 years. He will be 89 in August.

I am for frequent vision testing, but I would not support anything else after a certain age, unless they have shown via traffic stops, that there is a problem. I would imagine your radio dj is in his 30's or younger.

Bill

[dbhost]

I am not sure I agree or disagree that driving is a right or a privilidge (sp) but I do know it is a legal and moral responsibility to do so SAFELY.

I do not believe that age is a determining factor, but some factors of aging poorly are certainly determining factors, including Alzheimer's, arthritis, and generally slower reaction times. Having said that I would MUCH rather go around the track full throttle with Carroll Shelby than with ANY 16 year old...

[Tom Slick]

As long as you can safely operate a car you should have the privilege, old or young. I think testing should be much more strict and you should be tested often when beyond retirement age.

[TB Roye]

I will be 67 this year and I am wondering how good a driver I really am. I don't like driving in LA or San Francisco traffic any more and usually let some one else drive. I think instead of a 5 year licence it should 2 year with a mandatory driving test. Here in California I see a lot of younger drivers who never should have passed the test.

Tom