Tighten rules for senior citizens who drive?

[MNeagle]

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/01/18/art.elderly.drive.jpg

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

As snow and ice cover many of the nation's roadways, here's something to think about:

At what point should elderly drivers be taken off the road?

America Online reports that elderly drivers now make up almost 20 percent of all motorists. And that number is growing as the Baby Boomers age. It's no surprise that one recent survey shows almost one in 10 adults are worried about an older family member driving.

Experts say the top thing is to understand the importance of mobility for the elderly. Driving gives them a huge sense of independence and autonomy.

They suggest if you're worried about a family member's driving, you should take a ride with them and watch. And then, if necessary, have a conversation about it - a sensitive topic, for sure.

Here are some things to look out for when a senior citizen gets behind the wheel:

Stopping in traffic for no reason, difficulty staying in the same lane, getting lost in familiar places, being easily distracted or irritated while driving, difficulty turning around to see when backing up, loss in confidence, other drivers often honking horns and scrapes or dents on the car or garage. Clues, one and all.

There is no specific age when the elderly have to stop driving. But there comes a point when they become a danger to themselves and others.

Many states have special requirements for senior citizens to renew their licenses. Sometimes they have to apply for a renewal more frequently. In some states, they need to retake road or vision tests or renew their license in person, instead of through the mail.

Here’s my question to you: Should the rules be tightened for senior citizens who drive?

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/18/when-is-someone-too-old-to-drive/?hpt=T2

[Ponce]

I believe that an old man doesn't drive no worse than a young man........but......the old man has more experience and think of things that could happen that a young man don't think about......as long as the reaction time and vision of an old man is in check I say yes, let him drive.......from old man Ponce......old man your friking ass.......I don't feel old at all.............only when an 18 year old chick tries to rape me ;D

[Buddha]

only when an 18 year old chick tries to rape me ;D


Remember Ponce. If you do not hold it, then you do not own it ;)

[zap]

Too funny, my grandpa just had my cousin call me today , he can't hear worth a damn even with hearing aids, he's 93 and they wanted to borrow $ 300.00 to fix his car !

Last time he got away the cops stopped him, no license, no registration, no ins. The cop gave him a ride home, and he had a friend go get the car, and nope I told them I didn't have the money right now. :D

[ximmy]

Too funny, my grandpa just had my cousin call me today , he can't hear worth a damn even with hearing aids, he's 93 and they wanted to borrow $ 300.00 to fix his car !

Last time he got away the cops stopped him, no license, no registration, no ins. The cop gave him a ride home, and he had a friend go get the car, and nope I told them I didn't have the money right now. :D


You don't have any extra money ever!!! It is all allotted to your budget... Otherwise they will consume until you are in the same position they are. ;)

[Cobalt]

I see a few older drivers that shouldn't be but I see far more younger drivers that shouldn't be

[Ash_Williams]

Most of the time I drive it's to and from work during those "rush hours" and on saturdays. This is when most employed people are out driving. It's not so bad. They know where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there.

But driving at other times is f-ed up. People who couldn't handle the rush, and have no jobs for whatever reason, are out there doing all kinds of crazy shit. Line markings, signal lights, yellow lights? What are those? Why are people honking at me? Why so many "wrong way" signs? It's mostly old people, going to the bank or to the mall to sit and watch things. When someone pulls onto a road oblivious to the cars nearly running into him, it's a greyhair a good 90% of the time. That seems to be the thing they do most often, I think out of forgetfulness.

Coming in at #2 is asians. Nothing makes me more racist than driving. Asians were #1 in my list before the demographics meant so many more old people to avoid. Asians seem to be best at wandering over the line and staying there for long periods of time, ignoring horns and stares. They are also tops for going slow on the highway only to cut off a lane or two of faster-moving traffic and nearly hit a curb because they noticed their exit at the last second.

#3 is foreign housewives in minivans. All over the place, and probably the best out of the bunch at heading the wrong way down a one-way road.

#4 is just women in general. Many can drive fine but few understand how to park. Some german study found it took women 30 seconds longer to park the car then men. 30 seconds... I can't imagine it taking that long to park in the first place! Going in forward should take 3 seconds, backing in up to 10, and that's with a big vehicle. But women get out in the parking lot and it's all real real slow, stretched neck to look over the steering wheel, all the time they're at least 3 feet from anything else but sometimes they still gotta stop and re-adjust to ensure they don't get any closer. I don't know why but they seem to lack that sense of where the corners of their car are in relation to other things.

[ShortJohnSilver]

Given my admittedly unscientific view based on experience with older relatives, they should have a 2-tier system, "good license" gets you ability to drive on all roads, "local only license" gets you ability to drive only on local roads within say 10-20 miles or whatnot of where you live, no highway driving.

[Glass]

Down under, once you hit 70 years it's an annual checkup to get relicenced. I agree with you AW. Most asian people can't drive and none of them can park either. I hate going through China town because of that. I get really pissed when they just stop dead without any warning.