Why are the elderly allowed to drive?

Question

Yesterday a 21 year old woman was killed in a car crash when a 90 year old woman ran a red light. The 90 year walked away with no injuries!!!!!

What is a 90 year old doing driving a car???? That 90 year old is about to kea over and she has to go and take someone who's just starting to live their life??? This is outragious!!!!!!

Source: http://www.wtov9.com/news/15830820/detail.html

Answer 1

So that they can still have a life and not have to depend on someone else for every little thing.  Think about how your life would be if you had to depend on someone for EVERYTHING you need outside of your home.  

I do think that after a certain age, they should take a driving test annually.

Answer 2

hey C. how old are you? accidents don't just happen they are caused so I'm with you on this. I think all people over the age of 70 should be forced by law to take a 1-2 yearly driving test along with eye tests. I have seen many elderly people over the years driving along as though there's no one else on the road. Some BUT NOT ALL drive as though they alone are on the roads and I know this as i am getting on in years myself. It's no good people saying at their age they have earned the right too drive if they want because at their age a lot of what is required to be a GOOD SAFE driver they now no longer posses IE, good eye sight quick reflexes the ability to make spur of the moment decisions. I'm always saddened when death comes to young people but more so when it could have been avoided.

Answer 3

Because they have rights just like the rest of us do, however I believe that all people should retake their driving test once ever two years.

MARCH 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 (NHTSA, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov ).

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 4

I think you should look at statistics....who has the most accidents and pays high insurance because of it.

Answer 5

The same reason 16 year olds are allowed to drive only more so.  

These people carved this country out of nothing, fought in wars that make Iraq look like a cakewalk, fought for all the rights you take for granted like equality, health care, a fair wage, social benefits, and even built those roads and highways you drive on.  Without electronics, air conditioning, and sometimes even without plumbing, lighting, and certainly very little safety equipment.

These people earned it with their blood, literally, so give them a break!!!  If you and most people volunteered your time to help maintain their independence perhaps this wouldn't happen.

Before you get too bent out of shape look at the statistics.  16-21 year olds kill far, far more people than the elderly.

I feel for anyone who loses their life but this is a risk we take in today's society as cars and traffic are its backbone.  You have no idea of the capabilities or ability of the guy or girl in the other car no matter how old they are.  And that is really the bottom line and YOU need to drive accordingly.

Answer 6

Young drivers have more accidents than anyone else.Do you have a licenceyet? Before you knock old people ,remember that you will get old one day. What will the atitude of young people be if you make it to 90yrs.