And This Is Why The Elderly Should Not Drive

[BetteDavisEyes]

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?se...cal&id=4611793


A 90 year old driver broadsided a school bus carrying learning disabled children injuring 11 of them and critically injuring 1.
WTF is a 90 year old still doing driving?

[ReachTheLimit]

How very sad. I mean, I don't agree with having a specific cut-off age because peole at different ages function at different levels, however, I think once someone reaches the age of 75 or 80, they should have to take a road test every year and have their eyes examined.

[sdsuchelle]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

How very sad. I mean, I don't agree with having a specific cut-off age because peole at different ages function at different levels, however, I think once someone reaches the age of 75 or 80, they should have to take a road test every year and have their eyes examined.

I agree.. although I would say the age should be 60 or 65.

[_Opi_]

Originally Posted by sdsuchelle

I agree.. although I would say the age should be 60 or 65.

60 is not that old. Even at 65, some people are more healthier than others.

[cutie_cat_4ever]

Originally Posted by _Opi_

60 is not that old. Even at 65, some people are more healthier than others.

Definitely true, I'm really surprised to see some 70, 80 year olds still function as healthy as a young person =)

Yet I feel a bit sad for those who are really old, can't see that well but still needed to drive because they might need to get prescriptions, and no one is there to help them. I used to help this old lady who lives downstairs at my apt to get stuff for her.

[Jimmy Choo]

This is so truly sad!! While I don't want to see our DMV's bother the crap out of someone who is older and still have all their faculties about them something has got to change. With the amount of restrictions that we put on teenagers, states have GOT to make the unpopular decision to start examining the elderly population as well!!!! I can see how it would be annoying to a 70 yr old who is still as sharp as they were when they were 50 but geez......

[AlphaFrog]

I remember when I took driver's ed, our instructor told us that at that time, there were 12 people in the state of Illinois over the age of 100 with valid driver's licenses.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

How very sad. I mean, I don't agree with having a specific cut-off age because peole at different ages function at different levels, however, I think once someone reaches the age of 75 or 80, they should have to take a road test every year and have their eyes examined.

I agree. Unfortunately, from what I've seen in my home state of Florida, the elderly lobbying group is way too large and powerful. States would never mandate something like that.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by sdsuchelle

I agree.. although I would say the age should be 60 or 65.

Thats not that old. My grandfather is 68 and is still a practicing neurosurgeon. (although he's about to retire.)

[DeltAlum]

I'm a lot closer to my sixties than most of you, and I have to admit that the eyes and reactions aren't what the used to be.

That being said, I don't think I'm close to being a menace on the road.

Yet.

I could support some kind of periodic testing for elderly drivers. The problem is defining when it should begin and how often it should be applied.

As has been pointed out, people age differently.

I'm often amazed at how young I feel overall.

[highflyerlaura]

My grandmother on my Dad's side was one of those types of drivers. Luckly though they took her licence away from her last year. Once you turn 80 over here you have to go through a medical test every year in order to keep your licence. However, theres a 95 year old lady I know who has still got really good hearing and sight and shes still driving. Mind you I think that the fastest she ever goes at is about 25 kms, which is at about snail pace.

I think that it should be taken on a case by case basis.