At what age to stop driving?

[kamik86]

I think they should make you retest either every time you renew or licence or every other time. Most states (that I know of at least ) you need to get a new licence every 5 years so they would retest every 5-10 years. That would help to weed out all the stupid people who get into such bad driving habits that they still do something stupid when taking the test too.

Oh and I think the test should be both practical and written... so that we are sure they still remember the laws, or at least have to look them up once in a while.

the other benefit of this way is it stops the main problem with this debate in my area. all the elderly claim age discrimination if you don't start testing until 60... this way we still test people in their 20's too so it can't be age discrimination.

 

[Sparx]

In Illinois:

All persons age 75 or older must take a driving test at each renewal. Drivers age 81-86 must have their licenses renewed every two years, while persons age 87 and older must renew annually.

I think the answer to your question varies by state laws. My dad is eighty-five, and i don't necessarily like to ride with him, but he has not been in an accident or received a traffic ticket for probably 30 years. He does not drive at night and he does not drive if he is not familiar with the roads. I only wish many more "older" Americans made the same choices.

I live in Tennessee, and to the best of my knowledge you never have to retake the test related to age. However I really like this law and I would be interested to see the failure rate (statistically of course) at each age. I think if there were a specific age with a dramatic rise in failures, this information could lead to national testing requirements.

 

[Sparx]

He gets them delivered, so he doesn't end up killing someone.

I have fairly strong feelings on this issue as an elderly member of my church killed a woman, who was just standing at a bus stop, minding her own business. The elderly woman apparently hit the gas instead of the brake, panicked and accelerated right into the bus stop.

She was never charged with anything - old people generally aren't. All that happened was she voluntarily gave up her license. Frankly, I'm sorry she didn't give it up earlier, especially considering that she was living in our church's assisted care residence because she was no longer able to look after herself in her own home. You'd think that would be a clue that maybe she wasn't safe to drive anymore, either.

FWIW - I don't drive. I never have, because I have very bad eyes. I *could* have got my license when I was younger, but after three different driving courses I took a good hard look at myself and decided I wasn't going to run the risk of hurting someone. So even though I finally passed the last one, I never took the road test.

I did the happy dance when my doctor told me last year that my eyes have finally deteriorated to the point where driving is no longer an option. It means I can finally stop having to explain why I don't drive to people who don't understand. All I have to do is say, "My doctor doesn't think it's a good idea!"

Driving is a privilege, not a right. Either you do it well, or you don't do it at all. No matter what age you are!

I know that must have been a hard choice to make (especially when you were a teenager!) but thank you for putting the safety of others first. A professor in my department went through rapid vision loss about five years ago and she went from being completely self sufficient with driving and everything to almost completely blind. She's guest lectured in a lot of my classes (on a different subject) but she said it was hard for her to come to terms with the vision loss and all of the areas of her life it would affect (like driving.)

 

[FireDancer]

I don't think there should be a certain age, but I do believe at some point your renewal of a license should include more than a vision test.

I agree with this. At some point it should be mandatory to prove you can still safely operate a motor vehicle. The reflexes and quickness of thought needed to operate a 2 ton weapon around the roads at some point falls below an acceptable threshold.

You hear stories of older people getting confused and pressing the gas pedal instead of the break and driving through a restaurant. When I lived in FL there was a road closed for a cycling event and an older person who was confused drove down it (the wrong way) and into a group of 50 cyclists. No one was killed but many were injured, some severely.

My grandma had to take the car away from my great aunt about 10 years ago when she was in her early 90's because she was riding with her one day and said it was just not safe for her to be on the road.

 

[phragmipedium]

Not sure if you can do this in every state, but in Oregon you can report someone you feel may no longer be a safe driver. You must provide your name and information, however. According to the DMV they will review the information and possibly send a letter to the person requiring that they come in for a re-examination.

I believe this is what happened to my great-grandmother, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was someone in our family who reported her. She's 91 and can hardly see or hear, but she *still* thinks she should be driving and will complain about that "B-word from the DMV" who took her license (many years ago). Frankly, she should have stopped driving long before she was forced to, but she's very stubborn and sometimes it's hard to convince someone like that to voluntarily give up their freedom if they have thus far escaped tragedy.

I really think regular retesting should be required, and at an age before people feel like they're being "picked" on for being too old. I think you have to have a vision test to renew your license here if you will be 50 years or older. At that age I'm sure most people are fine, but I like that it gets them in there and any potential problems can be identified.

I feel for people who are aging, but it's not safe or fair to other people who could potentially be injured if they are no longer competent to drive. I have astigmatism and night driving can be harder for me because lights from other cars will halo if my eyes are tired, so I only do it when absolutely necessary and when I feel alert enough to do so safely.

 

[worm761]

I turn 34 next week and I have almost completely stopped driving. I have always hated driving and it is just a necessary evil. But I think that I am a nervous driver. I tend to hit the brakes when I probably don't have to. I think I am more of danger, so I only drive when I absolutely have to.
My father feels that they should test "old people". He hasn't said how old they should be though. And I am pretty sure he doesn't think that he should be in that testing. His driving makes me nervous. But only because I don't like the way he drives. He is a truck driver and I swear when he is in car he drives like he is still in that semi. Scary for me. He hasn't had an accident where he was at fault, ever that I know of. I know a drunk driver hit him a few years ago.
I think most people will agree that at some point they should test. I just think that everyone thinks that age should be older than what they are at the time of the conversation. No one likes losing their independence.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ok, I have always thought the DMV should retest everyone no matter what age, like a surprise driving test.

Yesterday, a 77 year old man hit my car with my DD and her friend, they were in the back seat and he hit where DD's friend was. Luckily, none of us were hurt.

The man went through a red light, now you can turn right on red, but when the coast is clear. as I was passing, he just bammed me. there was no hitting breaks he drove smack into me.

He looked younger then that, but the cops had us fill out information and he is 77.

So what age do you think people should stop driving or made to stop driving?

It's great that nobody was injured; your car can, and will, be fixed.

While I'm careful in recommending an age at which anyone should be forced to stop driving - it really needs to be on an individual basis - as best we can tell, my 68 year old dad came thisclose to having an accident. Apparently he couldn't see very well. Anyway, nobody was injured then... but he came home, laid down, and died of a heart attack in his sleep.

But my city has ways for elderly residents to get around, even those without friends/family. Not everybody has that benefit. Sometimes the situation gets as drastic as the poster above who had to steal the grandmother's car.

I did want to add, though, that the 'right on red after stop' violation isn't age-related. I see VERY FEW drivers of any age stopping, there or at stop signs any longer. Yes, most do stop if there's another vehicle coming, but even I - the (ahem ) self-proclaimed "perfect" driver - stopped at a red light, looked left, looked again, and as I started to proceed a car with the right of way suddenly appeared only feet from where I was about to turn. The driver honked his 'displeasure', or to get my attention; I'm sure it was the latter. Several car lengths later, another vehicle backed out of a driveway - directly into that car's front fender. I SWEAR it was something to do with the color of the car, that made it hard to see! ONE driver not seeing it, driver error. But two, in such a short space?

 

[ICF]

I dont think there should be a set age to be forced to stop, but they should have mandatory testing once they hit 65 or so.....

 

[ZuZugal]

Now that makes sense, IMO. Just curious- Do you know what led to the testing requirements? Often it seems like those type of laws come from a tragic event.

I truthfully don't know. I am glad those age restrictions are in place though. I would rather the state not renew the license of one of my parents at some point in time rather than me have to convince them they need to voluntarily give it up.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

I live in Florida. I really wish there was some kind of mandatory requirement. I have been driven off the road so many times by elderly drivers it's not funny.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

I would have no problems if everyone in my state was tested physically every so many years...........I know that this is not feasible, due to costs, etc., but maybe it might weed out those, young, old or indifferent (haha) who cannot drive for the life of them.

I remember once when I was riding the autotrain. There was this very elderly lady, who weaved around, bumping into things and used two canes to walk. She had a hard time controling her legs and hands. She got her car about the same time we got ours, I told my husband I was going to hurry out of there to get on the road before she did .

 

[Cheshire Figment]

At about 85 my mother stopped driving at night, and at 94 she gave up her car.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I dont think there should be a set age to be forced to stop, but they should have mandatory testing once they hit 65 or so.....

Nope. That leads to pretty obvious (and potentially valid) claims of age discrimination. I agree with the recommendation above that there be either random or mandatory retesting at license renewal time. Either they just pull out random renewers - say, every fifteenth person - or everybody gets retested. Too many drivers of all ages are too lax about driving laws. Just last week, the driver behind me honked because I had the audacity to stop... at a stop sign.

 

[JoiseyMom]

DH's grandmother failed her vision test (thank g-d) and is no longer allowed to drive. She used to drive from Brooklyn to NJ, we have never driven with her, or let her drive the kids. She is a danger! Granted she never drove at nite or when it rained..but she is about to turn 98!

She hates it, and now my fil has to take her to the store and back to Brooklyn when she wants to go.

She wanted my DS to find a doctor she could bribe to give her a passing vision test.

 

[clori]

My 86 year old father still drives. He will only drive to places within say 5 miles (mostly grocery store less than a mile away). He never liked night time driving and won't drive in the dark. I know he had to take a drivers test a few months ago and passed both the eye exam and the driving test. However I am going to start making calls to see if his city offers any kind of senior driving service since I detect him not wanting to drive much and that may make it easier. They don't have public transportation where they live. I think it will help if he knows what the alternatives are. My mother is in her 80s as well but has never driven.

My husband's grandmother needed to get her license renewed when she was turning 90. She hadn't driven in years which was easy living in midtown Manhattan. She called us because she didn't know what to do. She knew she shouldn't drive nor would she pass a drving test. She really just wanted to have her license as an id to write/cash checks. Fortunately we were able to look up and explain to her how to get a non driver's id card so she was good to go.

 

[AustinTink]

Well, my grandfather is 98. He doesn't wear glasses, takes absolutely no medication, has perfect hearing and has never had a ticket or an accident in his life. He still drives a couple of days a week to the grocery store and church. So, yeah, I do believe driving in your golden years should be judged on a case by case basis.

BTW, he also surfs the internet and has a facebook account!! Gotta love it.

 

[Dismagic1]

Nope. That leads to pretty obvious (and potentially valid) claims of age discrimination. I agree with the recommendation above that there be either random or mandatory retesting at license renewal time. Either they just pull out random renewers - say, every fifteenth person - or everybody gets retested. Too many drivers of all ages are too lax about driving laws. Just last week, the driver behind me honked because I had the audacity to stop... at a stop sign.

is it age discrimination to offer senior citizens free public transportation and not to anyone else?

 

[hereyago]

Well, my grandfather is 98. He doesn't wear glasses, takes absolutely no medication, has perfect hearing and has never had a ticket or an accident in his life. He still drives a couple of days a week to the grocery store and church. So, yeah, I do believe driving in your golden years should be judged on a case by case basis.

BTW, he also surfs the internet and has a facebook account!! Gotta love it.

I think that is great!!!!!!! I wouldn't mind living a long life if this is how it would be.

What was scary when the man hit me, we got out and I asked if he and his wife were all right, he then yelled he didn't hit me. Really? Those were his first words. He never apologized or asked if we were ok, even when he saw I had kids with me-I dont blame that on old age, he was just a nasty person.

 

[kaytieeldr]

is it age discrimination to offer senior citizens free public transportation and not to anyone else?

I don't know. Here (metro area) certain groups can get reduced public transit fares, based more on ability/likelihood to be working. Nobody gets it free, and it wouldn't matter to me personally, since there's almost no public transportation in my city. One bus between the two malls and the industrial park (and I've seen THOSE drivers in action - no way I'm getting on one of their buses!).

But what's wrong with random testing at all ages?

 

[Dismagic1]

I don't know. Here (metro area) certain groups can get reduced public transit fares, based more on ability/likelihood to be working. Nobody gets it free, and it wouldn't matter to me personally, since there's almost no public transportation in my city. One bus between the two malls and the industrial park (and I've seen THOSE drivers in action - no way I'm getting on one of their buses!).

But what's wrong with random testing at all ages?

Nothing is wrong with it persay except for the fact that I'm 27 and don't feel like wasting my time with that nonsense. The tests should be for people who are in and/or approaching the danger zone.