I realize there are plenty of old people who are capable of driving, but at the same time there seem to be just as many who shouldn't be on the road even though they are. Over the past two weeks I have witnessed..

- Old guy driving 25 in a 45 on a major road
- Old guy turned his blinker on and stopped to turn in front of me when there was no road
- Old lady cut across parking lot without looking and almost hit me
- Old couple hit another car in a parking lot and was unaware and just kept driving

Just a little bit ago I was leaving a doctors office and a man who had to be in his 80s was coming out in crutches, needed help with the doors, and his legs looked broken. I saw him getting into his car and he could barely open the door, but still was getting behind the wheel. I couldn't believe it and don't understand it.

I feel that the drivers test should be re-administered past a certain age. Maybe every 5 years past 60, then every 3 years past 80.

I'm not so sure about an age limit... but once you hit a certain age, people should be forced to take the drivers test (in car situation) on some kind of annual or bi-annual basis.

I agree that a retest is a better solution than an age limit. I wouldn't hate it if you had to be tested every time you renewed your drivers license regardless of age. I've seen plenty of people who weren't old who couldn't drive either.

yup---40

FatHobbit;572810 wrote:I agree that a retest is a better solution than an age limit. I wouldn't hate it if you had to be tested every time you renewed your drivers license regardless of age. I've seen plenty of people who weren't old who couldn't drive either.

No one under 18 should be issued a driver's license and anyone over 70 should be required to retake the driver's test and do so every 5 years after that. If anyone over 70 cannot pass the test they should be allowed to retest within 30 days. If they fail the second test, they should be given seniors vouchers and/or tax breaks to use local mass transit and taxis.

believer;572824 wrote:No one under 18 should be issued a driver's license

I'm not sure 18 is old enough for some people. I was a pretty crappy driver then too.

I say no age limit but I think everyone should have to retake the test every so often. Like every 5 years or so.

I agree with the retakes.

believer;572824 wrote:No one under 18 should be issued a driver's license and anyone over 70 should be required to retake the driver's test and do so every 5 years after that. If anyone over 70 cannot pass the test they should be allowed to retest within 30 days. If they fail the second test, they should be given seniors vouchers and/or tax breaks to use local mass transit and taxis.

Then you'd just have 18-20 year olds getting in wrecks all the time.

It isn't their age that makes them bad drivers it's inexperience.

I'd be for a system that makes retests mandatory every 5 years after 50 or 60 and every 3 after 80 or so.

My stepfather (84) gave up driving years ago when his reflexes started slowing down and his RA prohibited his range of movement while steering.
The problem is that lots of older folks won't do this because of pride, stubborness, and fear. So, the best solution, IMHO, is not only retest them, but to check out their RoM and reflexes separately.

Not if she is packin.

outdoorsman;573040 wrote:Not if she is packin.

Don't mess with 'Lizzy!

yes, agree with the retesting after a certain age. Also should be longer/tougher driver eduction for 16 year olds.

I have a CDL and I have to be retested every 4 years and that includes a full physical, complete eye exam, hearing test.

Why shouldn't everyone else?

This has crossed my mind several times, that perhaps the elderly are worse off behind the wheel than teenagers are. There's been several instances over the past year where an elderly person has nearly hit me (on the roads and in parking lots) just because they're clueless to what's going on around them. The absolutely worst are the ones who merge on the interstate going 50mph. Look if you can't drive at least 65 on the highway like everyone else, then fine sit in the slow lane and don't get in the way. But people merging on the interstate at speeds <55mph are more than just inconsiderate -- it's incredibly irresponsible and dangerous. Plus it puts a lot of pressure on the passing traffic to allow the mergers in, and sometimes that creates an unsafe situation.

I was never a fan of raising the driving age. I know a lot of 15-16 year olds who are plenty mature and responsible enough to handle the privileges. One of my friends who was 20 or 21 was leaving her boyfriends late one night and backed into a parked car because she was texting or dicking around the radio instead of paying attention. Another guy I graduated with who was 22 was speeding and drinking one night and crashed his car and died. We can sit here and make examples proving points one way or the other all night, and GENERALLY as age increases so does maturity, but not always.

Personally I think they need to make the consequences steeper. When I first got my license I was caught going 69 in a 55 and got a $94 speeding ticket (which I know is cheap compared to now) but I learned my lesson. Unless I'm on the highway, I'm rarely speeding more than a few miles over the limit. As for my friend who hit the parked car, I don't recall her wrists getting slapped too hard. I think her parents bailed her out of most of the expenses. But that's bullshit. Her license should have been suspended for being a negligent cunt. She could have hit a person instead of her boyfriend's car.

Heard a joke today:
I want to pass away peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather... unlike the three passengers in his car. (No offense to those who have lost loved ones in a car accident)

Sonofanump;572791 wrote:I feel that the drivers test should be re-administered past a certain age. Maybe every 5 years past 60, then every 3 years past 80.

I agree with this (and my grandparent's aged 72,73, and 82 all agree as well). Often they are more dangerous than teenagers, but because they need their independence and have no one else to drive them they often have no choice, but I agree that driving tests should be administered every few years for a senior citizens. The only problem is that many would continue to drive even if they didn't pass, and there would be no legal recourse to pull them over and ticket them because they rarely break actual driving laws. You can't just pull over old people to check and make sure they have a license and you can't pull them over for driving too slow (unless there's a posted minimum speed).

CenterBHSFan;573037 wrote:My stepfather (84) gave up driving years ago when his reflexes started slowing down and his RA prohibited his range of movement while steering.
The problem is that lots of older folks won't do this because of pride, stubborness, and fear. So, the best solution, IMHO, is not only retest them, but to check out their RoM and reflexes separately.

Agreed. I would start this at age 65. One of the most common places for an auto accident for senior citizen is in a parking lot. A major issue for them is their vision and depth perception. Many of us have seen little old ladies have a hard timing parking their car, even in a large space where there are no other cars around. A lot of them also have a hard time parking their cars inside their garages. Their licenses should be renewed on an annual basis every year after age 65 pending they obtain a complete physcial examination including a thorough eye examination testing the issues I mentioned.

You are right though that the "old folk" would not bow out gracefully. My wife's grandfather gave up driving two years ago---- he was 97 at the time! My mother-in-law was begging him to hand in his keys for about a decade before that. Fortunately for him and everyone else on the road he was not involved in any serious accidents.

I Wear Pants;573005 wrote:Then you'd just have 18-20 year olds getting in wrecks all the time.

It isn't their age that makes them bad drivers it's inexperience.

I'd be for a system that makes retests mandatory every 5 years after 50 or 60 and every 3 after 80 or so.

I agree with you inexperienced driving is a major factor causing teen accidents. I know it sounds sort of crass in regards to how it affects everyone else, but young drivers just need to learn how to drive and sometimes it takes a few accidents and run-ins with the law to realize how they need to handle the car. If we change the driving age to 18 then the same "learn as you go" experience will just be delayed a couple years. Keep it where it is.

On Thanksgiving each year, we play football in memory of an old HS buddy of mine who was killed by an elderly woman who didn't notice the stop sign and T-boned him.

And then, I have a grandfather who is still a competent driver at 90.

Make us retake the test every few years after 65 or something like that.

Who was your buddy O-trap?

Nate Dilyard. Went to Smithville, and graduated in 2001. His younger brother was on the State Finalist team and graduated in 2004.

Oh yeah I remember the accident. Happened on Smucker road at the Apple Creek Road intersection if I remember correctly.

I thought you went to Wooster High School.

Nope. Smithville 2002 grad.