Old people driving...

[kalrith]

Gotta agree with that too. There's no way in hell I should've had my license when I did; and just about nobody else at my high school for that matter.

I agree as well. I know a lot of people that are making their kids wait until they're at least 17 to get a license, who look back and say the same thing you just did. I was a good driver for a 16yo, and I still think I shouldn't have had a license yet. Couple the poor judgment and driving skills with cell phones and texting, and there's no way that a 16yo should be in charge of a deadly weapon traveling 70mph.

 

[Zap]

This is fvcking BULLSH*T how the country looks at driving. IMO never, ever again allow a 16 year old to drive a car. Driving age has to start at 18 minimum.

It's all arbitrary. There are some people who probably shouldn't be driving regardless of whether they are 16, 65 or 30 years of age. Idiocy and lack of basic driving skills knows no age boundaries.

Besides immaturity, the problem with young drivers is the problem with any first time driver. Lack of experience. That can be taken care of with increased hours of in-car training. I feel that I was an excellent driver at age 16, but that's because I started driving at age 10 (off road in the desert). So, by the time I had my learner's permit at 15, I was already proficient at the mechanical aspect of driving and only had to concentrate on the rules of the road, which are pretty easy because most of them are common sense. Okay, scratch that. Many people don't have common sense. :twisted:

The problem with older drivers is age. Eyesight becomes poorer, response times greater. Not to mention decreases in mental facilities. Years ago we stopped allowing my father to drive because as a family we started becoming concerned when he no longer stopped at stop signs, and would hit the sides of the garage or other cars when parking. I feel that our early intervention was the reason nobody ever got hurt. Of course now he's nearly in a vegetative state due to senior dementia.

 

[ShawnD1]

I've had a few closer-than-I'd-like calls with old people when I'm on my motorcycle. Too often they just don't see you.

ZV

This is the reason I will never ride a motorcycle on city streets. Sometimes people cause accidents that are not your fault in any way, and no amount of cautiousness can stop it. My last car was written off when a guy ran a stop sign and gently coasted onto the freakin highway. (he was young, not old)

 

[superunknown98]

I know my town has a small shuttle bus that picks up the elderly, for their daily commuting needs. All they have to do is call in and scedule a pick up time. Possibly a private company could provide this service for a fee, instead of tax payers footing the bill.

Alternatively assited living is an option, or live in a retirement home. Since when is someone's independence paramount to everybody elses well being?

 

[InflatableBuddha]

If they are incapable of driving safely, they are a danger to everyone around them and therefore should not be on the road. This MUST trump their ability to retain their independence, because the safety of others is at serious risk.

Agreed. There are solutions too - family and friends who still drive, grocery delivery, Meals on Wheels etc.

Also, there are bus trips and outings for seniors through community centres, so they can still get out and do stuff even if they can't drive.

Does anyone remember that Top Gear episode where James May went to Finland to learn rally driving from Mika Hakkinen? There was a segment with a Finnish teen practicing 180s on a soaked skidpad (a required skill for passing a driving test there). I can only imagine how many people would fail driving exams if those standards were adopted here.

 

[v8envy]

FWIW, my dad, 80, only wears glasses to read. His car has no scratches never mind dents and he gave me crap because I wasn't keeping up with him in my Jeep. If you looked at him you'd guess mid to late 60s.

His mom and dad were burried at the age of 96 and 98 respectively after a rough life including going through two world wars and a stint in Siberia. Both were lucid and active until the very end. Grandpa had bifocals, but grandma only needed a light prescription to read.

The elderly are a giant voting block. Try and legislate away their independence and see what happens. It's just up to you to be more vigilant and not assume motorists will see you or yield right of way.

 

[Zenmervolt]

FWIW, my dad, 80, only wears glasses to read. His car has no scratches never mind dents and he gave me crap because I wasn't keeping up with him in my Jeep. If you looked at him you'd guess mid to late 60s.

His mom and dad were burried at the age of 96 and 98 respectively after a rough life including going through two world wars and a stint in Siberia. Both were lucid and active until the very end. Grandpa had bifocals, but grandma only needed a light prescription to read.

Then he and his parents were the sort who would have no trouble at all passing a reexamination every few years and clearly aren't the sort of people we're discussing.

The elderly are a giant voting block. Try and legislate away their independence and see what happens. It's just up to you to be more vigilant and not assume motorists will see you or yield right of way.

I don't give a shit about how big of a voting block "the elderly" are. Unsafe is unsafe and people who couldn't pass the current tests if they were made to re-take those tests do not belong on the road regardless of age. We're not talking about abdicating the responsibility of defensive driving here; we're talking about getting people who are legitimately unqualified off the roads.

I firmly believe that the majority of elderly persons would still pass driving tests; it's mainly selective memory that makes people think that all older persons are bad drivers. That doesn't change the fact that they are, statistically-speaking, a higher-risk group than middle-age persons and some form of regular re-testing is probably a good idea to weed out those whose skills have dangerously degraded.

ZV