At what age to stop driving?

[NotUrsula]

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.

I disagree. I do not believe that there is a valid case for age discrimination if there is statistical evidence that age-related deterioration of certain physical abilities becomes more common and more dangerous past a certain age. A two-ton vehicle is a killer in the wrong hands; it should be perfectly acceptable to discriminate against someone who cannot consistently control the machine due to physical limitations.

I agree that giving the written test should be random or universal; as it is easy to forget (or misunderstand) the rules of the road at any age. However, issues of age-related reflex deterioration and vision deterioration logically affect only a certain segment of the population, unless there are extradinary health circumstances, and properly judging that requires a road test. In cases where younger people have health-related issues that affect these faculties, then their physicians should be required to report those conditions to the DMV so that they can be earmarked for regular road-testing.

PS: I nearly failed my vision test last time I renewed my license. They have started doing it randomly and I wasn't expecting it, so I was wearing my contacts. That wouldn't have been a problem had they not been using a gadget that looked sort of like binoculars. At that time I was prescribed monocular vision contacts, and the gadget tested both eyes peripheral vision, but with letters. While I could see that there was a letter there, my right eye could not tell what it was because the image was too close. I ditched the monocular scrip soon after that and changed to presbyopic contacts.

 

[turkeymama]

I'll go back and read all the replies momentarily. I have to chime in because we are in the midst of this dilemma with my mother, almost 70. She is legally blind in one and has a terrible cataract in the other eye. She can not see. She doesn't even attempt to wear her glasses anymore because she says they don't do any good. Last week, she fell and broke her arm because she didn't see a board in front of her. Three days after this incident, she drove herself to the pharmacy for her prescriptions. She lives with her sister (who is a capable driver) and my sister lives 10 minutes away. She didn't bother to ask anyone for help because she wanted to be able to say she did it.

She has had accidents and she has been pulled over. Brother-in-law is a police officer so she never actually gets a ticket. The "accidents" have been so minor that the other people feel sorry for her and don't report it since there is little to no damage. Besides sitting on her and physically restraining her, we can't stop her. There have been no real consequences.

My grandmother was the same way. She refused to give up her "independence", even though she was a threat to others on the roadway and there were more than enough people to drive her anywhere she wanted/needed to go.

I think at some point, more than just the vision test is necessary. I agree with others who have shared the same opinion. This is about agility, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and upper body strength, and of course, the vision as well.

 

[Dismagic1]

I disagree. I do not believe that there is a valid case for age discrimination if there is statistical evidence that age-related deterioration of certain physical abilities becomes more common and more dangerous past a certain age. A two-ton vehicle is a killer in the wrong hands; it should be perfectly acceptable to discriminate against someone who cannot consistently control the machine due to physical limitations.

I agree that giving the written test should be random or universal; as it is easy to forget (or misunderstand) the rules of the road at any age. However, issues of age-related reflex deterioration and vision deterioration logically affect only a certain segment of the population, unless there are extradinary health circumstances, and properly judging that requires a road test. In cases where younger people have health-related issues that affect these faculties, then their physicians should be required to report those conditions to the DMV so that they can be earmarked for regular road-testing.

Exactly. I just didn't want to type all that.

Is it age discrimination for people under 16 not to be able to drive? For people under 18 not to be able to vote? And for people under 21 not to be able to drink? If the answer is no to those, then it certainly isn't age discrimination to make people over 70 test at the DMV.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I think driving is a very individual thing. There's no cut-off age that suits everyone.

My dad is 84. He's a retired police officer and knows the rules of the road better than most people. I feel very comfortable riding with him and he often drives my kids around. I think if he wasn't capable of driving anymore, he'd be the first to admit it. He's seen the aftermath of enough serious accidents to know what could happen.

On the other hand, my mother-in-law was 77 when my DH became concerned about her driving. He called his brother and they discussed how to handle approaching her on the subject. They never ended up having that conversation with her. Before they could say anything, she was hit by a car while walking across the street in front of her house. No one knows exactly what happened but it appears she stepped off the curb without looking first. Seems that her safety skills had deteriorated in general.

 

[ICF]

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.

well that I hope you or a loved one doesn't get killed by some elderly person that had no business on the road just because they happened to be #14 and not your random 15th person.

Driving is a not a right....at SOME age, they should be tested. Random testing doesnt make sense b/c what are the odds the bad driver is going to be the 1 out of 15? And, even if they are...who is to stay that 1-14 should be on the road either. Maybe 65 isnt the right age...maybe it's 70 or 60, but at somepoint they should have to be retested.

 

[golfgal]

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 think this is a reasonable solution. I think EVERYONE should have to retest every 5 years or so. I know some really terrible drivers that are young (30-50's) that have no business driving and some really good drivers that are in their late 70's. I know my grandpa, while he never really gave up driving all together, stopped driving as much as possible around age 85. Up until then he was still traveling the world and taking classes year round at the local college. You would never have guessed he was in his 80s. He continued to drive to church up until he died at 90's because he could do that on back roads with no traffic. He stopped driving into town at about 85.

 

[Hillbeans]

My father is 77 and is sharp as a tack. He drives all over the place - to work every day, down to Atlantic City which is 150 miles from his home, etc, etc.....there is no way in heck he would give up his drivers license and why should he?

Again, like the "at what age to get married" question, there is no one answer - I think many 17 year old drivers are worse than other 77 year olds on the road. I don't have a problem with the re-testing, but the vote to have it will never pass.

 

[FireDancer]

I disagree. I do not believe that there is a valid case for age discrimination if there is statistical evidence that age-related deterioration of certain physical abilities becomes more common and more dangerous past a certain age. A two-ton vehicle is a killer in the wrong hands; it should be perfectly acceptable to discriminate against someone who cannot consistently control the machine due to physical limitations.

I agree that giving the written test should be random or universal; as it is easy to forget (or misunderstand) the rules of the road at any age. However, issues of age-related reflex deterioration and vision deterioration logically affect only a certain segment of the population, unless there are extradinary health circumstances, and properly judging that requires a road test. In cases where younger people have health-related issues that affect these faculties, then their physicians should be required to report those conditions to the DMV so that they can be earmarked for regular road-testing.

PS: I nearly failed my vision test last time I renewed my license. They have started doing it randomly and I wasn't expecting it, so I was wearing my contacts. That wouldn't have been a problem had they not been using a gadget that looked sort of like binoculars. At that time I was prescribed monocular vision contacts, and the gadget tested both eyes peripheral vision, but with letters. While I could see that there was a letter there, my right eye could not tell what it was because the image was too close. I ditched the monocular scrip soon after that and changed to presbyopic contacts.

They key is the statistical evidence part. Insurance companies can charge people different rates base on gender and age because of statistics. They can also charge different rates based on zip codes because of crime statistics.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Driving is a not a right....at SOME age, they should be tested. Random testing doesnt make sense b/c what are the odds the bad driver is going to be the 1 out of 15? And, even if they are...who is to stay that 1-14 should be on the road either. Maybe 65 isnt the right age...maybe it's 70 or 60, but at somepoint they should have to be retested.

Just as, maybe that age is 25 or 40 or 57. Who's to say? Let's work toward more funding for more testing for ALL drivers, okay?

Why focus on "random"? Why not, instead, require EVERY driver be retested at some regular rate? What makes the 32 year old carpooling parent who's texting and drinking coffee with four kids in the car any safer a driver than the 67 year old with no distractions? What makes the 41 year old driver who's developed certain lax habits any safer than the 71 year old driver concentrating on the road, signs, and surroundings?

Retest EVERYONE periodically. No discrimination.

 

[SandrA9810]

My aunt forced my grandmother to give up driving at 75ish. She wasn't a very good driver then, but she was the only driver of the household. When i started driving at 16, i did my best to drive her around, even though i hated driving that capris classic.

My aunt is 65 now, and she seems like she should be 50 to me. I feel very safe in the car with her, but i wind up driving most the time cause she likes being chauffered.

My mom is only 63 and hasn't driven since she was 55. And shouldn't be on the road at all. Thankfully she failed her vision test when she went to renew it.

Now my great aunt who's nearing her 80's is a very smart woman. She has planned her end of days. She sold her house when she knew she could no longer take care of it. She's living in a senior facility, her own apartment, but run by medical professions. She still drives, but only to church, and rotates with friends. She's just overly cautious and thinks of the possibilities rather than thinking of it as giving up her independance. She's such a busy body... It's hard for me to think of it as her getting older.
My cousins, they're in their 70's i believe, and still run the family farm. He drives the semi and the tractors, she likes restoring old john deers. I just can't imagine them a day over 50.

The older ones that work and do stuff, stay a lot sharper in the mind and body than those that "retire to the rocking chair". And it just depends on the person when they choose to do that.

I have a feeling i'll be a tough one to give up the keys. I love driving and being behind the wheel. Even my mom said she gave up the driver seat when i sat in it for the first time. It's a big part of being free for me. And while i know i've had my moments of being unsafe and a crazy teenager, i'm more aware of my actions now. And i've seen what retiring to the rocking chair can do, and i never want to do that. I never want to get to the point of relying on some one else. I'd rather croak while i've got the spunk left.
I love that quote some one has in their sig, about not going to the grave all clean and pretty but rather sliding in with a martini in one hand and something in the other with a life full of adventure.

 

[tar heel]

My fil got his license renewed a few months ago and had to take a road test b/c he's over 90. He passed with flying colors and was presented a license that expires in FIVE years!

He's still pretty sharp. He has cut back a lot on driving, but still travels 30 miles on I-40 to pick up his girlfriend, who no longer drives.

 

[Gigi22]

We have mandatory driver's testing for everyone aged 80, and then every two years following. If you fail the written test, you have to take a road test too. As far as I am concerned, this is an entirely good thing.
My late DM drove about 3 years too long. I finally refused to be a passenger when she drove. I felt she was making enough bad judgment calls, that it was only a matter of time before someone got hurt. Fortunately her cataracts progressed to a point where she voluntarily gave up her car because she couldn't see very well. We were just lucky this occurred before she had a major accident.

 

[Liberty Belle]

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?

A person of any age could have done something like that. I don't think there is a set age that a person should stop driving, but it might be a good idea for everyone to have to take a drivers test every twenty years. That would put most people testing around age 76 or so.

 

[Becky2005]

I mean if someone of older age has accident, it goes to the DMV as well as insurance. Why not have the DMV and insurance company go" Hey, since this accident, come in for a driving test and then go from there.

Around here I think they DO. I just looked it up and everyone age 75 & older must take a driving test. You must take a written test every 8 years unless you have no accidents then you may be required to take a written/driving test. Everyone must take an eye exam every 4 years.