Should the elderly be allowed to drive?

Question

if posisble could you provide some sources,..

Answer 1

At what age would you consider "elderly?"  At the young age of 13, I thought everyone over the age of 30 was ancient! You have to remember that many of our older drivers started driving when the speed limits were lower and cars were slower.  I don't have a problem with re-testing to prove my fitness to drive. I also think that EVERYONE should re qualify after so many years. Accidents are caused by many factors such as debris in the road, inattentive drivers (that would be the cell phone talkers), alcohol, etc. I think it is time to stop picking on just the older drivers and try to do something about ALL the drivers that pose a hazard on our roads.

Answer 2

the elderly are as dangerous as drunk drivers

my great uncle is 90 and still drives through red lights and in the middle of the lanes he is crazy they should NOT BE ON OUR ROADS

Answer 3

depends. if their reflexes are still sharp and they are still in good health, with still good eyesight, why not.

Answer 4

most old people are better drivers then some of the teenagers that are on the road these days

Answer 5

I think that it is alright for the elderly to drive providing they have a medical and be retested from time to time. My Dad was retested when he was 72 and passed. He had been driving since he was 14. Here where I live anyone with a commercial license has to have a medical and eye test every year after 65.to keep their license.

Answer 6

they need a doctors certificate proving their fitness on a yearly basis..

Answer 7

Drivers 65 and older are somewhat more likely, specifically 16 percent more likely, than adult drivers (those 25 to 64) to cause an accident.  

While that difference is significant, it is perhaps far smaller than the conventional wisdom, fueled by anecdote, would imply that it would be.

And it is nowhere near the risk that younger drivers pose to the public.

JANUARY 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 2002 (latest data available) the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 was $40.8 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Answer 8

Yes, as long as they get their skills tested regularly.  Losing the independence of being able to drive is a huge blow.

Answer 9

All drivers should be retested every two to three years, in my opinion.  Reaction time slows with age, but if one is aware of this and compensates, it's OK.  Rules of the road have changed, and so drivers should be updated.  Young drivers should be given tough tests, as they seem to feel invincible.  Their passengers should also be required to pass a test--hear me out.  If the passengers are distracting, urging unsafe driving, or are similarly acting dangerously, they should loose riding privileges.  Too many teen deaths due to poor judgment, and little experience.  Video games give kids the idea driving  poorly just gets you  a reset button.  The truth is serious injuries forever change many lives..the impact is far reaching. Maybe they should have to volunteer twenty hours or so in a rehab center for people terribly hurt in vehicle accidents.   a couple hours pretending to watch  a movie is inadequate.

Answer 10

First let me say that i'm 27 years old and a guy.  Personally I think that no one should be allowed to drive if they suck at it.  I have seen many elderly people driving 75-85 mph on the high way.  That is a great thing.  Then I see many 20 year old girls driving in the left lane doing less than the speed limit.  These 20 year old need their driving privileges revoked.  And the a$$holes that drive while using their cellphones, need to be pulled over, the cop needs to drag them out of the car and beat them senseless with the cell phone.

Answer 11

NO one should be allowed to drive regardless of age if the are not proficient at it. (P.S....how old is old?)

Answer 12

I think once you turn a certain age you should have to go have a road test done every 3 years or so. If they cant pass then take the liscense away

Answer 13

Should young twerps who ask such stupid questions be forced to spend several days a week driving around the old people they think should not be allowed to drive?  

Remember, you too will be 60, or 70, or 80, or whatever age it is you think is old.  Whatever you wish on others you must be prepared to live with yourself.  I don't know about you, but in my golden years I don't plan on becoming a shut-on just so I can leave more money to somebody who didn't earn it.

You want a source, look at the actuarial tables of every insurance company in the land.  They give senior and safe driving discounts not just because people are old, it is because they don't drive like mad lunatics in all weather.

Answer 14

Wrong question

If you look at the national accident statistics, then you will see that the most accident-prone group of drivers is the under 25s. If you are trying to reduce the incidence of accidents, then you should be asking:

"Should the under 25s be allowed to drive"

otherwise, you can be rightly accused of discriminating by virtue of age

Answer 15

No.

Most of them are too short to see out of the windsheild. They have very slow reflexes. And they don't have very good hearing.

Answer 16

Remember you are getting older everyday!

Answer 17

I agree that drivers should all be retested after a few years, however I also think that once a driver reaches a certain age or eye strength, a curfew should be reinstated. My grandmother, for instance, is a fine driver but she admits herself that she cannot see at night and thus gets rides for others when she knows she has to be out late. She has good judgment but not everyone else does.