Age Limits

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
Age Limits:


What should be the proper age limits for driving, drinking, smoking, voting, going into the military, getting married without a parent's consent, having an abortion without a parent's consent, and other age-limitations.

 A. Should there be any routine age limitations on the older age side? For which roles or skills?


 

Good question, but hard to answer. I like 20 or 21 for drinking or smoking. But then, there are young people who would argue that they can join the military and defend our country at 18, before they can legally smoke or drink. I think it has so much to do with maturity. It varies so much at that age. I feel 16 or 17 is too young for anything other than a learner's permit. And I feel that the "adult" driver with them should be over 21. And any drivers ed should include distracted and impaired driving education.
At the senior end of the spectrum, I have no issue with at least taking a written test for license renewal after age 65 or 70. Maybe after age 70, a road test too. But again, it may be all relative to how the person is doing cognitvely. I am hoping at our age, we will know when it is time to turn in our car keys.
 
Marie5656 said:
Good question, but hard to answer. I like 20 or 21 for drinking or smoking. But then, there are young people who would argue that they can join the military and defend our country at 18, before they can legally smoke or drink. I think it has so much to do with maturity. It varies so much at that age. I feel 16 or 17 is too young for anything other than a learner's permit. And I feel that the "adult" driver with them should be over 21. And any drivers ed should include distracted and impaired driving education.
At the senior end of the spectrum, I have no issue with at least taking a written test for license renewal after age 65 or 70. Maybe after age 70, a road test too. But again, it may be all relative to how the person is doing cognitvely. I am hoping at our age, we will know when it is time to turn in our car keys.
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I saw a show on tv the other day that was talking about making the legal age for drinking 26 because many are not as mature at 21. It was interesting. I agree about the drivers ed inclusions.

With seniors I agree about how a person is doing cognitively and that is a hard thing for some to come to grips with and turn in the keys. I would hope they would too, though.
 

My state won't allow you to renew your drivers license after you're 75 without going to an MVD facility to be tested annually. It's my understanding they realize there's a rather large variation in physical and cognitive abilities as we age, and somehow they are able to sort it out. I'll soon find out how it works.

As for the age when people are allowed to begin driving, drinking and smoking, I don't think the current limits are out of line.
 
Smiling Jane said:
My state won't allow you to renew your drivers license after you're 75 without going to an MVD facility to be tested annually. It's my understanding they realize there's a rather large variation in physical and cognitive abilities as we age, and somehow they are able to sort it out. I'll soon find out how it works.

As for the age when people are allowed to begin driving, drinking and smoking, I don't think the current limits are out of line.
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My mother knew she was impaired when she had cancer and was on morphine and she wouldn't drive any more; she was 73.
 
It was my intention to give up driving last year (the bedginning of 2017) since I was getting long of tooth and had some health issues I changed my mind and I am still driving in town in this small community. I no longer get out on the interstate; it's hard to manage all those fast lanes of traffic and those 'this lane must exit'. I have/do go into the city on occasion but take the back roads, like I'm sneaking around. I dread giving up that independence. I like going to the grocer, doing my own shopping and banking, running errands, visiting in line at the post office, shopping for birthdays, etc. But then, I'm not as old as some.
 
Oh, wow. When I turn 71 I'll be senile with bad reflexes and a short attention span?

I'd better live it up this year while I still can. :cry:
 
Ruthanne said:
Are you joking; you must be. LOL
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I hope so. :drive:

I need my driver license for ID purposes. :) Don't want to have to take
a written test or a road test. Just because it takes a lot of time and
here the DMV is like a mob scene.

But anyway, I'm good for another eight years. I'll be close to 80 by then.
But I don't drive just because I don't like to.

I'm just a bit shocked that some states have big doubts about your competency as early as age 65.
 
I have a big point of contention with letting 18-20 yr olds enlist, vote, own a gun and marry while saying they're to immature to smoke or drink.
I think it's plainly wrong to treat all people the same based on age. My oldest daughter was more mature at 9 than my youngest was at 19.
Anyone that is in the military should be allowed to drink and smoke.
The vast majority are to immature at 18 to vote or marry, but I don't know what age is 'mature' enough.

One problem with higher drinking ages is that it eliminates introduction to drinking under parents supervision.
 
Olivia said:
I hope so. :drive:

I need my driver license for ID purposes. :) Don't want to have to take
a written test or a road test. Just because it takes a lot of time and
here the DMV is like a mob scene.

But anyway, I'm good for another eight years. I'll be close to 80 by then.
But I don't drive just because I don't like to.

I'm just a bit shocked that some states have big doubts about your competency as early as age 65.
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That's good you have 8 years; we have to get new licences every 4 years here--everyone does. I don't drive much either; only for groceries and doctors visits and oh yes, the groomer! :) I didn't know they had competency doubts about age 65 and that is rather young.
 
HipGnosis said:
I have a big point of contention with letting 18-20 yr olds enlist, vote, own a gun and marry while saying they're to immature to smoke or drink.
I think it's plainly wrong to treat all people the same based on age. My oldest daughter was more mature at 9 than my youngest was at 19.
Anyone that is in the military should be allowed to drink and smoke.
The vast majority are to immature at 18 to vote or marry, but I don't know what age is 'mature' enough.

One problem with higher drinking ages is that it eliminates introduction to drinking under parents supervision.
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Unless they are still living with their parents at a higher age, like I was. I started drinking very young but not under parental supervision..I snuck it! lol...my parents supervision later didn't do me much good because they would get blasted.
 
Olivia said:
I hope so. :drive:

I'm just a bit shocked that some states have big doubts about your competency as early as age 65.
Click to expand...

I got a state I.D. this past week, called a Real ID. I had to show quite a variety of documents to prove my identity and place of residence. With this card, I can vote, get on a plane, pretty much do anything but drive.

I don't see those "big doubts about your competency as early as age 65" from any of the states in this article. Most of them renew for a shorter time after a certain age or don't let people renew by mail. They probably weed out people who aren't driving. I live in New Mexico which seems to be toughest with its annual in-person renewal with eye test after age 75, although the license is free from then on.

https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2012/09/19/213818.htm
 
Smiling Jane said:
I got a state I.D. this past week, called a Real ID. I had to show quite a variety of documents to prove my identity and place of residence. With this card, I can vote, get on a plane, pretty much do anything but drive.

I don't see those "big doubts about your competency as early as age 65" from any of the states in this article. Most of them renew for a shorter time after a certain age or don't let people renew by mail. They probably weed out people who aren't driving. I live in New Mexico which seems to be toughest with its annual in-person renewal with eye test after age 75, although the license is free from then on.

https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2012/09/19/213818.htm
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We have eye tests here mandatory for EVERYONE when they renew their license.
 
Ruthanne said:
We have eye tests here mandatory for EVERYONE when they renew their license.
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We always did too, but people who are 67 and younger can renew for 8 years, so it's not a big deal. This should be a cautionary tale to any state that considers electing a prosecutor as governor; she sees criminals behind every tree and enjoys pushing draconian laws through the state legislature.
 
drifter said:
It was my intention to give up driving last year (the bedginning of 2017) since I was getting long of tooth and had some health issues I changed my mind and I am still driving in town in this small community. I no longer get out on the interstate; it's hard to manage all those fast lanes of traffic and those 'this lane must exit'. I have/do go into the city on occasion but take the back roads, like I'm sneaking around. I dread giving up that independence. I like going to the grocer, doing my own shopping and banking, running errands, visiting in line at the post office, shopping for birthdays, etc. But then, I'm not as old as some.
Click to expand...
I know people who never take the freeways because of the fast traffic and many lanes and they do well to use the regular streets. I usually take the regular streets. I'm having car problems right now and don't know what happen if I use the freeway but that's besides the point.
 
Ruthanne said:
Age Limits:


What should be the proper age limits for driving, drinking, smoking, voting, going into the military, getting married without a parent's consent, having an abortion without a parent's consent, and other age-limitations.

 A. Should there be any routine age limitations on the older age side? For which roles or skills?
Click to expand...

I believe that for all the examples you gave except the first one, full adult rights should be on a person's 18th birthday.
I've never understood what was allegedly so special about age "21"- especially since many if not most people were on their own, married, in the military, etc., long before then.
18, though, is approximately the age individuals graduate from high school, and move into adult lives- thus, they should be considered adults.
Here's a thought that just occurred to me: why not confer adult rights on individuals along with their high school diplomas??

The driving part is different- driving is a privilege, not a right, and while I don't think anyone under 16 should drive I also believe individuals should be required to take Driver's Ed. before obtaining a driver's license. Was surprised to find a few states don't require ANY training- and from the driving (and accidents) it shows.

Re: the second part of your post- I don't think there should be an age limit per se, but I do think older drivers should have to be tested to see if their skills have deteriorated too much (reflexes, eyesight, etc.). Maybe at age 50 or 55.
 
Olivia said:
I hope so. :drive:

I need my driver license for ID purposes. :) Don't want to have to take
a written test or a road test. Just because it takes a lot of time and
here the DMV is like a mob scene.

But anyway, I'm good for another eight years. I'll be close to 80 by then.
But I don't drive just because I don't like to.

I'm just a bit shocked that some states have big doubts about your competency as early as age 65.
Click to expand...
I'll be 82 later this year. I drive and my license is good till '21. I had to get an eye test last renewal and will again when I need another renewal. I am accident and citation free for 10 or more years. Dammit I'll drive till (and if) I want to quit.
 
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