Should elderly people drive....?

Question

Cos i seriously thought elderly people had it in for me the other day when i was driving to and from work.

*Cutting me up

* Brake tapping for no reason whatsoever

* Lack of indicating

* Trying to overtake me on the brow of a hill (and barely even able to see over the steering wheel anyways)

Another thing that annoys me is when elderly people drive 20mph in a 40mph zone or slower in general compared to the limit.

So do you think they should be able to drive or should they take their tests again?

As they would obviously need to pass an eye test before a test starts., if they fail that they fail the test anyways...

Answer 1

Yes they but at the same time not only the elder but everyone one should be retested every two years because everything that you are taking about is done by all age groups...........

JUNE 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.

Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among teens.

Answer 2

older people should be allowed to drive if they are able to. in my opinion when they reach 70 they should take a course but not test to see their ability, then if they need to have some lessons and retest but most old drivers will be fine to stay driving.

old people drive slower because they are concerned about reaction times which slightly get slower as they get older so they counter it by driving 30 in a 40 zone. also generalising is not fair saying they all can't drive when most are OK.

Answer 3

I think after age 65 a driver's test should be done annually. Older people take meds, have health problems, and just plain old don't have motor skills to be able to drive properly. I was at a red light behind an old woman who had her car in reverse. All I could do was pray she discovered it before the light changed. I got lucky that time.

Answer 4

This is just like with anything else..some of them are bad drivers, just as a lot of young people are bad drivers.

So, some should, some shouldn't.

i think people of all ages should have to retake the test every now and then anyway.

Answer 5

I think when people reach a certain age, they should have to re-take their drivers test. Some old people are so dangerous! I was watching Most Shocking Police video's or something like that and this old lady ran into the side of a store... her car was completely in the store and she had no idea what happened... some old people are more dangerous than 16-year-olds who just got their licence!

Answer 6

be careful what you wish for. those old pains in the butt were just like you at one time and you will be just like them in time.

Answer 7

drivers of all ages do that-young and old alike

I think everyone should have to be retested every 5 years or so

There are too many lousy drivers on the roads today

Answer 8

i don;t think they shouldn't be allowed to drive, for as long as they're physically fit and they're tested to manage driving well.

Answer 9

I think once a person reaches the age of 70 they should have a test every couple of years to check if they are capable of driving and understanding the road rules

Answer 10

You plan to be elderly some day? You plan to drive then? I'd like to be around when you're 70 and some younger person questions your driving ability and see how you feel then. Why do young people lose sight of the fact that the elderly are a treasure to have around and not a detriment to society?