Do you believe senior citizens should have their driving abilities re-tested after a certain age?

Question

My grandmother is 76 years old. She suffered significant, permanent brain damage about thirty years ago in a car crash and consequently has almost no judgement or reasoning ability, nor any coordination. The same accident knocked out her peripheral vision, so she can only see a 20-30 degree angle directly in front of her. Now the Alzheimer's is kicking in to make matters worse. She is, as you can see, mentally and visually handicapped. Grandma doesn't know how to unlock a car door, let alone drive. (I know this because I've tried to teach her to unlock the car to no avail.)

Grandma has a valid driver's license with no restrictions. She got it before the accident and, ever since then, she's just kept going in for the eyesight test (read the letters directly in front of your face and you pass) and they keep renewing her license.

If that woman were to somehow manage to get behind a wheel and start the car, she would crash directly into the house.

Why do they let her have a license?!

Answer 1

Yes they should and people under 25 should not be allowed to drive as well.

Answer 2

I can definitely relate to your concern. My dad is almost 71 and my mother a few years younger and even now, it terrifies me that they will get into a terrible car accident. I'm almost certain that the only event that will cause them to stop driving for good is being in an accident, maybe a bad one at that. My dad's eyesight isn't all that great, his hearing is somewhat deteriorating, his reaction time is dulled, so I am really scared for him and my mom but I know they will never just stop driving just because their kids are scared for them. They CAN probably drive safely for a few more years and I know they want to maintain their independence but it will take some major adjustments to their lives and ours to work out driving arrangements (if and when they move to be closer to us kids). I fear it will be a bad accident that will eventually put a stop to their driving.

So I'm right there with you.

I wish you the best of luck !!!

Answer 3

now here is a question I have never seen on answeres. why not retest only those of any age who get a ticket for any reason

Answer 4

most older people think they need a license for id . get her a state id card. they look like a driver licenses. i did that for my parents. they liked it they did not have to drive any more.

Answer 5

I believe that everyone that drives should be retested annually.

JULY 2008

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,490 drivers in this age group died in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 and an additional 272,000 were injured.

Drivers age 15- to 20-years old accounted for 12.9 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes.

Twenty-five percent of teen drivers killed were intoxicated. In 2006 (latest data available) crashes involving 15 to 17 year olds cost more than $34 billion nationwide, in medical costs, property damage and other costs, according to an AAA analysis.

Among licensed drivers, young people between the ages of 15 and 20 have the highest rate of fatal crashes relative to other age groups, including the elderly. In fact, the risk of being involved in a fatal crash for teens is three times greater than for drivers age 65 to 69.

Answer 6

I think they should be tested.  Most sane people do, but it's blatant discrimination, so it's a little difficult for the states to decide just how (legally) they can take action on it.

Eventually, there will be periodic retesting for senior citizens, after a few states get brave enough to implement it.

Answer 7

The insurance industry statistics show that people 16-24 have the same accident rate as people over 80.

So if we can give out license to people 16-24, then why restrict people over 80?

===

Or maybe we should restrict BOTH class of people.

Good Luck...

Answer 8

I think everyone should be retested every 10 years reguardless of your age.