Should the elderly retake their driving test?

StarSong said:
my brother removed the distributor cap from her car
Click to expand...

When we realized my mother’s dementia, my husband did the same. I then talked with the doctor and he was reluctant, until I told him the things that had happened. Once she received the letter saying her license was cancelled, she seemed content with it.
 

According to lots of younger folks on social media, we are the whole problem. Someone has their car scratched by someone unknown, it’s obviously a senior. An accident - obviously a senior - even if the known people were in their 30s.

BTW, we should all sell our houses for a pittance to them and move into senior housing.
 

My grandfather gave his car to my aunt when he was 88. He had an accident that was his fault and decided he had become a road menace. He lived another 11 years and either took public transportation or got rides from family. My other grandfather had narcolepsy and bounced off a freeway guardrail one night after nodding out. Lucky he didn’t kill somebody. He died of something unrelated not long after that.

Makes one think about some kind of screening.
 
Jules said:
BTW, we should all sell our houses for a pittance to them and move into senior housing.
Click to expand...
My parents both died in the past year. We wanted to keep the family home in the family so we sold it to one of the Grandchildren at a reduced price. She's a Lawyer and her husband to be is an Engineer. They can afford the mortgage. Yes, we all took a bit of a haircut on our inheritance, but we all agreed it was the cool thing to do.
 
Honestly it's the younger people not paying attention. They're texting and distracted while driving. They speed. They ignore traffic signs. And as someone else posted they also drink and drug while driving.

We do what we're supposed to if we're physically able. Unless said elderly person was getting into a bunch of car wrecks or getting ticketed for stuff that was their fault, why should they have to? I do think they should require annual eye exams for them though. Just because of the aging process and all.
 
I think some of the problem stems from the fact that they dont have reliable transportation.
Also they dont want to give up their independence. That and some people cant or wont admit to their limitations.
And whats with driving those huge cars when you can barely see over the steering wheel. That cant be safe. :D

As for me I dont see well at night so I dont drive at night anymore.
Mom decided on her own to quit driving on busy streets.
She still drove to the grocery etc but only on slower speed limit residential streets.
 
Jazzy1 said:
At what age do you think it should be mandatory for the elderly to have to take a road test again to ensure they are safe on the road? Or do you disagree with the premise all together?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure there is an age at which we all become suspect behind the wheel. But I know my father-in-law's deriving became much less trustworthy in old age. He still drove the two hours to our place from his and as far as I know never had any accident or other difficulty. But once I rode with him when he was in his low eighties when he came to attend a performance of the boys choir my stepson was in. He seemed unable to judge when it was safe to merge onto the highway and when he finally decided to go it was lucky that we didn't get hit.

Living in the country helped. But then he lost his license when he rolled his car in Point Reyes Station one night. The road at that place had a very deep, poorly marked gutter and his night vision wasn't so good. To his credit he studied the manual, passed the test and got his license back. Later, when he was in assisted living he often asked where his car was but we kept it parked at his house far from that small town where his assisted living was located.

I definitely think we need to be careful and accept that driving may not be forever. We lose everything in the end and somethings along the way.
 
Jazzy1 said:
At what age do you think it should be mandatory for the elderly to have to take a road test again to ensure they are safe on the road? Or do you disagree with the premise all together?
Click to expand...
Interesting subject. In the UK, professional drivers, that's those who earn a living driving trucks or buses, have to have a medical examination every five years from the age of 45. When they reach 65 they can still drive those trucks and buses but the medical examination and assessment becomes annual.
How many medical defects would the doctors find if the general public were to be subjected to a similar assessment at 65 in order to continue driving their cars?
 
Texas statutes require that a driver license renewal must be in person beginning at age 79, and the renewal period will be for 8 years when renewed at ages 79-84. At age 85 and beyond, the renewal period is 2 years. No driving tests are required based solely on age. However, if there's a concern about the applicant's driving ability, a skills evaluation or medical information from a doctor may be requested.

[All drivers in Texas must pass a vision test, regardless of age.]

Above condensed from Texas Department of Public Safety here.
 
MarkD said:
He seemed unable to judge when it was safe to merge onto the highway and when he finally decided to go it was lucky that we didn't get hit.
Click to expand...
The driving tests I’ve observed over the years have been remarkably superficial—typically consisting of a brief trip around the block, parking, and a three-point (or K) turn before heading back to the office. There is no requirement to enter a highway, where drivers could learn critical skills like safe merging at high speeds, maintaining proper following distances, and staying in the correct lane.
As a result of these inadequately designed exams, generations of drivers have taken to the roads without fully understanding essential traffic rules. Adding to this problem are distractions like phone calls and texting, making today’s driving environment increasingly hazardous.
Recently, on another forum, a debate unfolded about left-lane campers. Many drivers admitted to cruising in the left lane by default, believing it was their right to do so—despite the fact that their behavior clogged traffic and created chaos for those trying to pass. To reinforce my earlier point about understanding road regulations, blocking the left lane is illegal in Florida. Drivers must use it only for passing or preparing for a left-hand turn.
Frankly, far too many people—young and old alike—should be retested, retrained, or removed from the roads entirely.
 
MarkD said:
I'm not sure there is an age at which we all become suspect behind the wheel. But I know my father-in-law's deriving became much less trustworthy in old age. He still drove the two hours to our place from his and as far as I know never had any accident or other difficulty. But once I rode with him when he was in his low eighties when he came to attend a performance of the boys choir my stepson was in. He seemed unable to judge when it was safe to merge onto the highway and when he finally decided to go it was lucky that we didn't get hit.

Living in the country helped. But then he lost his license when he rolled his car in Point Reyes Station one night. The road at that place had a very deep, poorly marked gutter and his night vision wasn't so good. To his credit he studied the manual, passed the test and got his license back. Later, when he was in assisted living he often asked where his car was but we kept it parked at his house far from that small town where his assisted living was located.

I definitely think we need to be careful and accept that driving may not be forever. We lose everything in the end and somethings along the way.
Click to expand...

I agree. We can still drive as we age but we need to be mindful. Dont try to merge on the freeway at rush hour.
When your reaction time slows then you need to take the slower route on the back roads.

Thankfully there are a lot more services available for those who are housebound like grocery delivery and visiting physicians.
 
Jazzy1 said:
At what age do you think it should be mandatory for the elderly to have to take a road test again to ensure they are safe on the road? Or do you disagree with the premise all together?
Click to expand...

When the senses dim, then tests should be done again. For example, once eyesight fades, it's time to do a test again.
 
According to our AI overlords...

The age at which someone is considered elderly can vary depending on context, culture, and legal definitions. In the United States, the government generally defines elderly individuals as those 65 years and older. This age is significant because it aligns with eligibility for Medicare and Social Security benefits.

However, the term "elderly" is subjective. Some organizations and communities recognize 55+ as the beginning of senior status, especially for housing and discount programs. Meanwhile, studies show that perceptions of "old age" differ across generations—Millennials might consider 59 as old, while Baby Boomers and Gen Xers might place it closer to 65 or 73.

So, while 65 is the most widely accepted benchmark, the definition of "elderly" can shift depending on the situation.
 
When Mom went dementia I became the only driver of her to appointments except in the rare case of the younger sister. So she actually quit driving when she was about 72 but that was more due to panic attacks than anything else.

BTW the stats bear out the fact that younger drivers have a better chance of being busted for DUI than anybody above 65.

Lower DUI Arrest Rates for Older Drivers:
The Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that while drivers aged 65 and older account for 9.5% of drivers, they constitute less than 2.9% of those arrested for DUI.
Younger Drivers at Higher Risk:
The age group 18-24 has a significantly higher arrest rate for DUI compared to those 65 and older.
Factors Contributing to Younger Driver Risk:
Factors like peer pressure, thrill-seeking behavior, and possibly less experience with alcohol consumption may contribute to higher DUI rates among younger drivers.
Older Driver Considerations:
While less likely to be arrested, older drivers may be at risk due to age-related factors like reduced reaction time, impaired judgment, or declining cognitive function.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top