too old to drive?

i've read in today's orange county register that a senior (quite old) citizen accidentally crushed a kid with car. the car jumped the curb and hit the kid (15 YO) then hitting the wall. another incident... a 75 YO guy accidentally drove into a crowd of kids killing two young girls ages 6 and 7. he claims that he mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.

should there be a maximum driving age?

no disrespect for our seniors, but when you're too old to distinguish between a brake pedal and an accelerator, which has a big difference in size too, you should not be allowed to drive legally.

Maybe people above a certain age should have to take the physical part of the driving test again to get their license renewed.

You can't really make a global age for everyone to be considered "too old". (Although I wouldn't be opposed to it, it would just make alot of people pissed off). Some people stay sharp behind the wheel all of their lives, while others should not be driving past 60.

I think it would be beneficial if everyone had to retake a drivers exam once they hit a certain age, and if they pass it, then they get to keep driving, if they fail, then they can retake it a few years later if they want to.

Also, I think it should be required that they take a test every 5 years or so after the initial test to stay sure that they are capable of being safe drivers.

Obviously, something needs to be done about the poor driving skills that some senior citizens possess.

Originally posted by BackFire
You can't really make a global age for everyone to be considered "too old". (Although I wouldn't be opposed to it, it would just make alot of people pissed off). Some people stay sharp behind the wheel all of their lives, while others should not be driving past 60.

I think it would be beneficial if everyone had to retake a drivers exam once they hit a certain age, and if they pass it, then they get to keep driving, if they fail, then they can retake it a few years later if they want to.

Also, I think it should be required that they take a test every 5 years or so after the initial test to stay sure that they are capable of being safe drivers.

Obviously, something needs to be done about the poor driving skills that some senior citizens possess.

Have to agree there, the driving capablities from person (assuming they can drive in the first place) vary greatly.

BF> too true. but reflexes diminish and i think retesting every five years after the initial testing is too long. i say every 18 months. it's a hassle but it will be safer... i think.

That would be fine with me. Old people need to stop being so defensive about this subject too. When they start killing kids because of their inability to drive which is caused by their old age, then something needs to be done, regaurdless of how they may feel about it.

What about implementing this testing on all drivers, as i stated before each human infer structure is different what is to stop some 30 year old becoming incapacitated for a split second and as a result seriously injuring or killing others. This could be done through accident statistics and person-to-person evaluation which can hopefully deem the risk of a person and more statistically age groups most at risk to help create a good plan of action.

i see what you're saying... but i wanna know what everybody feels about this "too old to drive" subject. i'm sure that the incidents afformentioned could happen to anybody. and you're talking about incapacitated... i'm talking about diminishing brain activity and reactivity.

Originally posted by mc pee pants
i see what you're saying... but i wanna know what everybody feels about this "too old to drive" subject. i'm sure that the incidents afformentioned could happen to anybody. and you're talking about incapacitated... i'm talking about diminishing brain activity and reactivity.

I understand that but diminishing brain activity and reactivity could happen to anyone, yes the elderly are statistically more prone to these prolapses but there is nothing to say it couldn't happen to someone of younger age.

As somebody with a license that lives in South Florida, I can verify that alot of Senior Citizens shouldn't be driving. They should improve public transportation for Senior Citizens and make it easier for them to get around without a car. I'm sure if they don't feel safe driving they won't want to anyway.

it would be too hard to examine every age group every so often to make sure they are still driving well, and don't have diminishing brain activity. There are only so many driving evaluaters, and if everyone came in every 18 months (just using bf's example) there would be a waiting list to get your driving test done.
It'd be better to evaluate the more prone to accident driver more frequently, like the young adults and the senior citizens.

There already is waiting list here 😬 You have to either make an appointment a month or so ahead of time where you'll still probably wait about an extra hour or so....or go there first thing in the morning and wait all day.

I believe here, once you hit 70, a test is required 😬

you should have to take a mandatory driving test every year, after you reach the age of 65.

Thats a little extreme if you ask me. 65 isn't as old as it sounds.

yeah, but it sounds official.

Thats a retarded reason.

well it's god damn good thing i wasnt serious huh? you must be the slow kid in the back of the bus who has a hard time understanding and reading between the lines.

you should use sarcasm tags like this:

I think you like to eat shit [/sarcasm]

that way I can tell when your joking... and that comment about the bus?

**** you.

They just need to close Country Kitchen Buffet...then the seniors wont know what to do.

lol I bet BackFire will get that one ^^^