Elderly and Driving

[Rocky]

I think that at 50,you should have to take test yearly,and I will say same thing when I hit 50

50? i know 50 year old men that can whoop my ass.

[Gotch]

I was a truck driver for nearly 3 decades. I could tell you some bad / crazy driver stories that would either curl your hair or have you rolling on the floor. Of the top 10 or so really bad driving events I witnessed about 7 were by elderly drivers with a couple of teenagers thrown in for good measure and one middle aged lady who nearly killed everyone in a two block radius of the old Gulf Tower in BSG.

I didn't really see any terrible driving events by that 40-60 group other than the one lady who tried to wipe BSG off the map. Most of the truly crazy stuff I saw came from 70+ or maybe a little older drivers.

There were about 5 or so that almost defied reality. Three of those were elderly drivers, the one mad bomber lady, and one Appy student.

[centennialdawg]

We(my family)regretted the day we had to make our mom quit driving. She was 75 at the time and she had never had any accidents during her life except for the 3 months leading up to the time we made her quit. She got into 4 accidents in that 3 month time span and was stopped(thankfully)by a county deputy going the wrong way at the bottom of the hill at Wal-mart in BSG. He just happened to witness it. I think that they, elderly, should be made to take the test yearly at age 70 and also, on the flip side of that coin, I think that teen drivers should take a driving test every 2 years until they reach 25. I say 25 because that is when insurance rates typically drop for them.

[R13]

At 50, maybe 55, tested every two years. And when 65, yearly, until 75 when I think they shouldn't be allowed to drive at all.

[Rocky]

At 50, maybe 55, tested every two years. And when 65, yearly, until 75 when I think they shouldn't be allowed to drive at all.

^ this. I also agree with CD, there should be testing for the younger kids too. maybe throw in an insurance incentive for good reports or something.

[imported_elp6n]

I'll hate the day I wont be able to drive anymore, but I'd hate to kill someone on the road even worse. Minimally a basic physical for vision / reflexes should be done.

And, on the flip side, I think not only should elderly be tested to keep their licenses I also think the newly licensed should be tested for several years (though college maybe?).

[The_Sage]

I agree with elpn,, taking someones drivers license at a set age isn't a good thing. But some type of exercise testing reflexes, vision and HEARING would be good thing.
For some elderly people driving is their only lifeline. Not all people 'age' at the same number.
Some type of testing annually for drivers until they reach age of 25 would be a good thing also.