Should drivers need to take a driving test after reaching "x" years old?

[JimB.]

Nope.

IMO, there are a lot more stupid, inattentive younger drivers than slow older drivers on the road today.

In my line of work, i see lots of car crashes, & the number that involve older drivers is (anecdotally) very few. If EVERYONE slowed down on the roads and drove MORE like the "old folks" do, the roads (again IMO) would be much safer.

 

[lillygator]

around here a lot of elderly drivers cause accidents but are not necessarily in them....they signal one way and then cross three lanes to turn the other and don't care what happened behind them. I've witnessed several just outside my neighborhood.

JimB....are you a fireman? Just curious to what line of work you are in...I am not sure about the makeup of population in St Aug....but around here there are a lot of q~tips, especially during the season. A lot get into "accidents" that don't require EMT's, or calling the police or insurance co.....I had had neighbors back into an RV, a mailbox, boat, concrete culvert thing~ie...ALL different "visitors" were in the accident and all different neighbors of mine it happened to and not once was there an "authority" notified. So the "stats" could be a little skewed.

 

[Planogirl]

We have horrible drivers in our area! This fact is even reflected statistically if I'm not mistaken. Yet we live in a so-called "young" community.

I realize that there are poor elderly drivers but I just wonder if the numbers are really that huge? I tend to think that the really bad older drivers just stand out a lot while we never notice the rest who go on about their business without bothering anyone. I'm concerned that if you start targetting a segment of the population that you're just asking for trouble.

Another point was brought up earlier too. How will these people get around? I'm all in favor of getting bad drivers off the road but then how do those without family available get to the store, the doctor and so on? I'd hate to isolate those people that likely need help the most.

 

[puggymom]

My father suffered for nearly 15 years from a rare muscle disease, Includsion Body Myositis. It started with his quad muscles in his legs. After 2 accidents , where there were no injuries or any other damages, he realized he had to give up driving. He didn't drive the last 5 years of his life. If he had been a more stubborn man I can only imagine the damage he may have done to others if he had insisted on driving. It was painful for him to "give up his freedom" as he said, but he didn't want to hurt anyone.

 

[bcvillastwo]

Yes!! I think evry say 10 years everyone should get tested.

I agree

I see no problem with everyone having to be retested periodically and every 10 years sounds about right.

I was retested about 5 or 6 years ago because I had been a bad boy (two speeding tickets in less than a year) and while it was a bit unnerving to have to take the test I did it and passed with flying colors.

 

[ead79]

I think it would be solved if people who were in accident where they were at fault had to be re-tested to get their license back. Everybody, any age.

I think this is a good suggestion. That way those that cause accidents are the ones getting re-tested, saving the system from having to re-test safe drivers (based on their record of no accidents).

Both of my grandmothers still drive (they are 79 and 87). The 79 year old is dangerous a bit (signals MILES before actually turning, pulls out in front of people because she misjudges the distance, etc.), and I would imagine she will quit driving as soon as she moves in with my parents (likely to be later this year). She does only drive short distances, only during the day, and not at all during the rain.

The 87 year old is a better driver, but admittedly her reflexes are slower than a 40 year old, for example. She voluntarily attends senior driving seminars to be sure she keeps up with all the rules of the road. She also pays good attention when driving. Her biggest problem is she tends to turn the wheel when she is pointing at something outside the car. Luckily she just veers a little and still stays in her own lane. She voluntarily does not drive on the freeway and avoids nighttime driving when at all possible.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Nope.

IMO, there are a lot more stupid, inattentive younger drivers than slow older drivers on the road today.

In my line of work, i see lots of car crashes, & the number that involve older drivers is (anecdotally) very few. If EVERYONE slowed down on the roads and drove MORE like the "old folks" do, the roads (again IMO) would be much safer.

I think is because the elderly drivers cause the accident in their wake and keep on going. I cannot tell you how many times I had to act defensively behind the wheel because of elderly drivers. I haven't had such issues with even young drivers.

 

[cardaway]

But sometimes accidents do happen. Even though a person is a safe driver, doesn't mean they can't slip up once in awhile. We have a rule of 3 tickets and you lose your license and have to be tested to get it back. This includes accidents that are you fault (b/c you'd get a ticket for that). I think it would overwhelm the system to have people being tested for one accident and it would definitely overwhelm the system to have people being tested every X number of years. There just isn't the resources. We have to wait at least an hour now to get our license renewed. It would totally clog things up if everyone was out there getting retested.

I think if a change is to be made, we should focus on those that cause accidents. I have a problem with the state having to test everybody every XX years. Too much waste.

I have no problem with testing those who have accidents for two reasons.

1. There may have been an issue that has come up since they were last tested that contibuted to the accident.

2. Many accidents can cause things that would result in the driver failing the test. It's rough, but I don't want somebody who suffered severe leg injuries driving if they have lasting problems with their legs.

 

[cardaway]

I think is because the elderly drivers cause the accident in their wake and keep on going. I cannot tell you how many times I had to act defensively behind the wheel because of elderly drivers. I haven't had such issues with even young drivers.

I agree. In many cases elderly drivers don't cause accidents that involve their vehicle. Many times they cause somebody to swerve into another car or off the road.

It's happened to me, I lost an alloy wheel and tire after a elderly car came into my lane and I went into the median to avoid them. The elderly driver didn't even slow down as my car limped into a housing development.

 

[Carys]

Here's the run down on drivers licensing in NZ for those of you who are interested:

For a Learners licence, you must pass a written test and eyesight check. This enables you to drive with L plates when a Supervisor (someone who has held a full licence for at least 2 years) is sitting in the seat next to you.

For a Restricted licence, you must wait 6 months, then pass a driving test and eyesight check. This enables you to drive alone between 5am and 10pm, or 24 hours if you have a Supervisor. You may only carry passengers if you have a Supervisor.

For a Full licence you must wait a further 18 months, then pass a harder driving test and a third eyesight check. This enables you to drive 24 hours and carry passengers without a Supervisor. After 2 years, you may then be a Supervisor for someone with a Learners or Restricted licence.

After gaining a full licence, your licence expires every 10 years, and to renew it you must pass an eyesight check.

When you turn 75, you must then renew your licence, which requires a medical certificate and eyesight check.

When you turn 80, you must renew your licence every two years (i.e. 82, 84, 86). This requires a medical certificate, eyesight check, and special 'older driver' driving test.

This is what we're used to, so there's no issues about anyone saying it's their right to drive and the system is ageist and thus discriminatory. Bear in mind NZ has a very protectionist driving system - every car must pass a government warrent of witness check every 6 months, and be re-registered every 12 months. But since the system seems to be quite different to the US, I thought I'd give it the run down for interests sake

 

[Planogirl]

I also lost a very expensive wheel once when I was forced into a curb by a driver in her mid 30's. You just never know.

Again, we have incredibly reckless drivers in our "young" community. They dart in and out and drive well over 80, ignore school zones and in general leave a trail of mayhem behind them. Elderly drivers often tend to drive too slow. Is that worse than the reckless speeders?

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

Another point was brought up earlier too. How will these people get around? I'm all in favor of getting bad drivers off the road but then how do those without family available get to the store, the doctor and so on? I'd hate to isolate those people that likely need help the most.

We have a bus service in our city that is specifically for seniors. They just call it up anytime and they can go anywhere. It will take them shopping and pick them up-whatever they want. It will come right to their house. Or where every they are. Pretty nice service, I think.