Older Drivers?

[luvmarypoppins]

Again, inspired by one of my hospital roomates, Grandma Claire. She is like in her 80's and was telling me how she drove etc. Well then she says she is blind in 1 eye because of macular degeneration, really didnt have a good balance (reflexes etc), was forgetful and confused at times. I just kept thinking, wow I might be on the road with this lady. She did say, oh I am getting ready to give up driving soon, yeah right. Does your state have any rules for retesting either written, eye, practical driving etc for older drivers? I know in NJ they were going to make FIL take a practical test since he was in so many accidents, all which he said were the other persons fault!!

 

[Amlee]

I am a firm believer that when you reach a certain age, you should have to go in for rechecking on your eyes, hand/eye coordination, reflexes and driving test every year.

 

[Brianne]

My great-grandmother drove until about a year or so before she died at the age of 89. I don't recall them ever testing her but they probably should have. She was never very tall to begin with but had shrunken down to the point that she was sitting on phone books to drive and still was barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel!

I miss her terribly still--she's been gone 16 years now--but I don't miss her driving.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

Again, inspired by one of my hospital roomates, Grandma Claire. She is like in her 80's and was telling me how she drove etc. Well then she says she is blind in 1 eye because of macular degeneration, really didnt have a good balance (reflexes etc), was forgetful and confused at times. I just kept thinking, wow I might be on the road with this lady. She did say, oh I am getting ready to give up driving soon, yeah right. Does your state have any rules for retesting either written, eye, practical driving etc for older drivers? I know in NJ they were going to make FIL take a practical test since he was in so many accidents, all which he said were the other persons fault!!

Really?! That's interesting. I think it's a good thing for ALL older drivers. It shouldn't be just about the one's in many accidents.

Last year I remember at a store here an older woman drove right through a storefront window. Luckily she didn't kill anyone.

My DH's DGM drove up until my MIL took the keys from her. And she should not have been driving long before that. My MIL spotted her one day cruising down a hill and totally blowing through a stop sign . When my MIL confronted her on it she said to her " You could have seriously injured or killed someone doing that!" DGM's reply was "So what - they have brakes, too!!!"

I agree on the retesting at a certain age. But at what age I don't know.

 

[RadioNate]

I'd have to google but I think AAA or someone released a study that if you remove the 16-17 year old age group (the typical 1st year of driving), that seniors actually have the most accidents. It was a while back so I don't know if it is still true.

Here in FL, my grandfather was issued a drivers license while he was bed ridden with Parkinson's. He renewed by mail for 2 years with just a signature. He couldn't walk or usually feed himself yet the state issued a valid license. Scary. Obviously he didn't drive, he wasn't physically able but it does go to show how easy it is to get a license.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

MAny states allow in the mail renewals so it can be scary- and even if they have you go in person in my state- the vision test is all that has to be passed.

My grandmother is 86 and drives- and really shouldn't- she can't see out one eye and can't hear at all. Her driving is limited to her sister's house, my mom's house, to church, and to the grocery store. Occasionally she will drive herself a few other places but usually gets someone to pick her up-

We drive her home if it is after dark- since we know she can't see then

I asked her how she managed to pass the driver's test and said- that she hasn't had to go in for a license in almost 10 years that they just have allowed her to renew online or via mail.

 

[declansdad]

I think all drivers, reagrdless of age, should have to re-qualify in order to keep there license.

 

[Amlee]

I think all drivers, reagrdless of age, should have to re-qualify in order to keep there license.

I think it should be based on age and then drivering record.

 

[MushyMushy]

AARP has a strong presence.

My dad shouldn't be driving at all. There's nothing we can do about it -- we can't physically stop him from it. We offer to go anywhere he needs us to, but he won't give up driving. One good thing, though, is that he did give up highway driving.

 

[declansdad]

I think it should be based on age and then drivering record.

I agree with the driving record and perhaps a staggered testing period depending on age, more frequent for younger and older drivers.

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

We just had an accident in the town I live in where a 76 year old woman was hit and killed by a 95 year old driver! I know I'd like to see a mandatory re-test every year or so once you're 75 (or some other age that has been agreed upon) - if you think you're still a fine driver at that point then there shouldn't be a problem with a retest - you'll pass, right?

 

[declansdad]

We just had an accident in the town I live in where a 76 year old woman was hit and killed by a 95 year old driver! I know I'd like to see a mandatory re-test every year or so once you're 75 (or some other age that has been agreed upon) - if you think you're still a fine driver at that point then there shouldn't be a problem with a retest - you'll pass, right?

I think it should start long before that; perhaps more frequent at every age. Some people quickly forget the basics, like how to use a turn signal.

 

[mikehn]

When you reach a certain age, you should only be allowed to drive in the FAR right lane. That right there will solve more problems than anything else.

 

[Amlee]

When you reach a certain age, you should only be allowed to drive in the FAR right lane. That right there will solve more problems than anything else.

You never saw my great great aunt drive! She drove in what ever direction she was looking. We met her once coming down the road. My mother started waving at her and I'm in the back yelling STOP! Don't WAVE!

My aunt saw us and started waving back. Luckly there was nobody behind us, as she crossed out of her lane into ours and cleaned out the ditch on that side of the road. NEVER slowing down.

All the kids in school knew if they met her, to pull into the closes drive way and wait.

 

[JR6ooo4]

We had to pull the keys from my great aunt. SHe is 91 and would be perfectly fine driving, except she refuses to wear her glasses while drivng. So it is not safe for her or the public.

and her son could not bring himself to do it. My mom had to.

Mikeeee

 

[Hedy]

(admittedly, a lot of this is residual bitterness that while I was jumping through hoops to get my licence, my grandmother could just go out and drive willy-nilly with no restrictions) I don't get why if people can't drive until a certain age for cognitive reasons, why there can't be an end date on the other end at which you lose your licence.

 

[Amlee]

(admittedly, a lot of this is residual bitterness that while I was jumping through hoops to get my licence, my grandmother could just go out and drive willy-nilly with no restrictions) I don't get why if people can't drive until a certain age for cognitive reasons, why there can't be an end date on the other end at which you lose your licence.

I don't think there should be a said end age. As I do know a 81 year old women who drives better than most people. I would have no problem at all riding with this women.

 

[Hedy]

I don't think there should be a said end age. As I do know a 81 year old women who drives better than most people. I would have no problem at all riding with this women.

True, but even if there's no set "end" age, they still need to make a cutoff age in which "cognitive testing" or something goes on.

 

[tmarquez]

When I was 17 I was idling in a line at a bank drive through and a 91 year old lady hit me. She not only hit me...but she kept pressing the gas afterwards because she said she couldn't figure out why her car wouldn't move anymore.

It can be a very serious situation, I don't think the state does anything extra for older drivers...it's basically up to the family to take the keys at some point.

 

[Amlee]

When I was 17 I was idling in a line at a bank drive through and a 91 year old lady hit me. She not only hit me...but she kept pressing the gas afterwards because she said she couldn't figure out why her car wouldn't move anymore.

It can be a very serious situation, I don't think the state does anything extra for older drivers...it's basically up to the family to take the keys at some point.

LOL taking the keys doesn't always work either.

I had a friend who's grandmother was still driving in her 80s. Her kids decided that she needed to stop, so they took her keys from her. She called and had another pair brought out to her. They then "fixed" the car so it wouldn't start. So she called and had the dealership come pick it up and work on it.