Should there be an age limit to drive for old people?

Home Archive Serious Business Should there be an age limit to drive for old people?
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

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16,816 posts
Nov 23, 2010 11:53 PM
Gotcha.
Nov 23, 2010 11:53pm
redfalcon's avatar

redfalcon

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1,088 posts
Nov 24, 2010 12:25 AM
I voted no, but I definitely agree with the other posters on here about vision and road exams after, say, 60.
Nov 24, 2010 12:25am
Cat Food Flambe''s avatar

Cat Food Flambe'

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1,230 posts
Nov 24, 2010 3:50 PM
I would agree that a driving re-test is needed every four years after age 70, and every year after age 80.

We used to do contract underwriting for small auto insurance companies where I work. There is a always a learning curve for new drivers, but it's much more shallow for 16-18 year olds. If I remember correctly, people who got their first license after age 22 moved up into "normal" risk ranges in less than ten months. It took a 16-year old girl more than three years to level off, so to speak - and 16-year old boys needed almost five years. They actually got WORSE around age 19
Nov 24, 2010 3:50pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

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Nov 24, 2010 3:52 PM
Soylent Green-a-cize them. Problem solved.
Nov 24, 2010 3:52pm
C

Con_Alma

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12,198 posts
Nov 24, 2010 3:54 PM
Age limit??? No.
Nov 24, 2010 3:54pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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Nov 26, 2010 5:01 PM
krambman;573338 wrote: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).
Problem easily fixed. Say gramps turns 90 in June 1st. he gets a notice on March 1st stating his test is coming up. if by September 1st, he hasnt retaken his test, BMV suspends his license. then he can be pulled over for having a suspended license(which will show up when the police run plates and they can pull them over for that) and it will be handled from there, most likely having is car towed or a son or daughter to come take the car.
Nov 26, 2010 5:01pm
S

sportchampps

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7,361 posts
Nov 27, 2010 3:07 AM
my girlfriends grandpa is 92 and still does 100 pushups and situps every morning and doesnt even have to take any meds. He works four days a week and just this year got his first pair of jeans and cable tv this year. I feel safer riding with him driving then i do my girlfriend.
Nov 27, 2010 3:07am
believer's avatar

believer

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8,153 posts
Nov 27, 2010 7:40 AM
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.
While I agree with you it's my humble opinion that 16 year olds are just too immature and irresponsible in general to be driving. While ANY new driver is inexperienced regardless of age, immaturity only makes it worse.

Drivers between 16 and mid-20's have a general misconception that they are invincible, will live forever, and possess the reflexes to get them out of any sort of trouble they might experience while driving.

Elderly drivers can be a nuisance but youthful drivers tend to be overly aggressive and downright dangerous.
Nov 27, 2010 7:40am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Nov 27, 2010 7:53 AM
No there should not be a age limit ... There should be a skill test>>>>>

1. Change a tire by yourself ..start to finish
2. Know how to jump a car
3. Drive backwards in a figure eight
4. Parallel park

Pass those four test then you can continue to drive………
Nov 27, 2010 7:53am
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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7,809 posts
Nov 27, 2010 8:36 PM
Belly35;576798 wrote:No there should not be a age limit ... There should be a skill test>>>>>

1. Change a tire by yourself ..start to finish
2. Know how to jump a car
3. Drive backwards in a figure eight
4. Parallel park

Pass those four test then you can continue to drive………

haha none of those tests have anything to actually do with driving or making someone a safe driver.
Nov 27, 2010 8:36pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
Nov 27, 2010 8:39 PM
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.

This.

I think every time you go to renew your license past the age of 65, you should retest.
Nov 27, 2010 8:39pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

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Nov 27, 2010 8:52 PM
it doesn't matter what age you are there are always going to be people who don't drive very well.

That being said, I believe that sometimes elderly drivers pose larger risks than younger drivers. I've had a couple of close calls with some elderly people who couldn't see over the wheel or just flat out don't pay attention
Nov 27, 2010 8:52pm