At What Age Should Drivers be Tested Yearly

You'll never be able to test for idiots who will eat a hamburger with one hand while texting with the other or applying make up. Nor will you be able to test to see who will drive recklessly ignoring the speed limit or weave in and out of traffic.

It is probably idiots like that who make up more of the dangerous driver population.

However, as far as testing for age is concerned, maybe a general reflex and sight / hearing test could be had..... and not at the DMV, but the doctor. At what age do you start? I can't say. However, maybe once you reach that age, the doctor would recommend in how long you should have a reevaluation.

I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud :)
 
I will add that the three fender bender type incidences I have ever been involved in all included an elderly driver.

First, an elderly woman tried to pull into a parking spot next to me and scraped me even though there were no obstructions around her.

Second, an older man decided to merge into the right lane even though my truck was clearly directly next to him in that lane.... so instead he merged into me... and he was in a smaller sedan and in no way could have not seen me

Last and most ridiculous, an elderly gent in front of me was stopped at a stop sign in a parking lot..... then he popped his car into reverse and backed straight up into me. I guess he wanted a spot he saw he had passed and decided to back up so he could turn into the row.... He just forgot to check to see if he COULD back up.

None of these involved "distracted driving". Just poor ability.
 
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Reminds me of a story:

Grandma calls grandpa on his cell phone to warn him that she just saw on TV that a driver was driving the wrong way on the highway near their home.

Grandpa responds, "Hell honey I'm on the highway now and they're ALL driving the wrong way!!" :eek:
 
Hillbilly77 said:
Under 30. ;)
Click to expand...

I agree, the only problems I've ever had on the road were young people in a hurry.... and I've been driving for 50yrs. without incidence or a ticket... SO YES, 30 AND YOUNGER..HAVE SOME RESPECT AND PATIENTS FOR OLDER DRIVER, If the younger people weren't in such a hurry all the time they wouldn't have problems.. If older drivers are so bad why is insurance higher for the younger you are ?
 
USAF385 said:
However, as far as testing for age is concerned, maybe a general reflex and sight / hearing test could be had..... and not at the DMV, but the doctor. At what age do you start? I can't say. However, maybe once you reach that age, the doctor would recommend in how long you should have a reevaluation.

I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud :)
Click to expand...

A logical approach.
 
I'm getting up there.... to the age where most start to say let's test em. And I agree.

I feel I'm safe. I follow speed limits and obey traffic laws, but in my day to day life I can feel my reflexes aren't what they once were.

I like USAF's idea of a clinical exam rather than a dmv test.
 
I'm 81 and still think I drive pretty good. Concession to age drive the posted speed limit, keep to the right lane. Try to drive as night as little as possible, I do notice I have a harder time turning right into dark unlit streets. I think I'll know when its time to quit.
 
I had to get my license renewed a couple of years ago when I turned 70. They couldn't believe I passed the vision test without glasses! I have been driving for over 50 years and been involved in 2 accidents both of which resulted in charges against the other driver.
I don't think an arbitrary age can be set to start restricting someones driving but I do agree there's a lot of elderly people on the read that perhaps shouldn't be there.
I live in a large "Snowbird" community in Arizona and as soon as you see a Buick or Cadillac or any other "senior sled" during the Winter months particularly with out-of-state plates it put's you on your guard.
Jim
 
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I angrily submitted a post about elderly drivers about a year ago and got blasted out of the water. And deservedly so I might add.

Yes, there are many elderly drivers that may need remedial training. They sometimes drive too slow or to fast. They are sometimes indecisive and slow to act or react. Sometimes they are a danger to themselves and others.

But I ask, is the lady driving her big SUV or Mercedes while texting any more or less dangerous. How about the stupid kid with his "tuner" car leap frogging in the traffic at 2000 MPH?
Or the dump truck driver driving like he's in a Ferrari? :rolleyes::eek:

Around here, dangerous drivers are usually younger. Male or female. And various ages. A very high percentage of the accidents involve younger drivers that drive too fast.

I mean really, how the hell do roll over a vehicle in heavy traffic and dry pavement?:rolleyes::mad::eek:
 
I'm an old geezer, I had to take my moss horned old rancher Dad's car away from him at 90. He drove too slow and forgot where he was going or how to get back.
I hated to do it, but he understood.
I'll face that decision before too long myself.

One thing we fail to consider is that we as a group are safer drivers in general, but we are more susceptible to fatal injuries even at low town type speed limits.

Shifting less traveled roads, at low traffic times and when visibility is best are ways to extend our driving time. Not at night or at sunrise and sunset are ways of continuing to drive longer and reduce some risks.

3 right turns to avoid left turns on high traffic streets is another one.
 
We had to take my dads keys away at 78.Hed always been a fender bender type of driver,type a personality and only one eye,but all that with some dementia was just spooky.
 
FREE ADVICE

When it's time to take Grandma/grandpa's driving privilages away, instead of taking the keys, file down the teeth so they won't work. They may not even notice, or feel judged inept. At 56 I can't read signs, enjoy driving at night for road trips, turn my neck to check around me as well as I once did. God protect those around me at 86 y/o. +1 on the eye/hearing/reaction tests when renewing registrations, at a certain age, + Md's should be held partly responsable for not notifying the MVA regarding a persons physical abilities or drugs they may be on or suspected of taking/abusing (alcohol/marijuana).
 
I'm 68 and live in an area with a lot of seniors. From what I've seen most seniors limit themselves to their capabilities concerning driving. We don't want to be on the roads with the younger people that have zero respect for other drivers and have far too many distractions occupying their time while behind the wheel. Most of us get up early and on the road as soon as it's light to complete chores like shopping, and get our butts back home.
I'll bet there's been 10 major wrong way driving accidents in a 50 mile radius in the last year resulting in multiple deaths. It's always the result of a younger person driving impaired by alcohol or drugs. This area is the crossroads of the Midwest and it's a spiderweb of major interstate highways.
The entrances to these thoroughfares are populated by roadsigns that rival "War and Peace" concerning their length and ease to understand. You've got to have all your faculties alert to avoid entering an exit.
 
This subject hits close to home. My Father, who just passed January 14th, was approaching 94. He was still going to work 5 days a week last August.

His driving had started to deteriorate in the last year or so. His main problem was his inattention and slow reaction time. He was already limiting himself to across town trips to work and home and the local grocery store. Even these short in-town trips became problematic. From the time he would look for oncoming traffic until the time he actually pulled into the new travel lane a oncoming driver would be on top of him.

We had the dreaded conversation a time or two and it was far from pleasant. Pop finally gave it up but only grudgingly. It sorely injured his pride to need to be chauffeured around, even at 93.

Ninety percent of his social contact was with his work. It crushed him to give up a lifetime of independence and a 70 year career, but it had to happen.

I'm creeping up on 68 and like other seniors who have commented in this thread, I feel I am a good driver and still ride my H-D motorcycle in good weather. I can only hope I have the common sense to know when it's time to hang up my spurs. I hope for at lease another 20 years of good health and ability.

LTC
 
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I don't consider myself an "old timer" or being "over the hill"..BUT I can see the other side of the hill.. :D

As we age, we drive less..Or at least I do..Younger drivers with all the distractions of children in the car, all the cell devices and always in a hurry, seem to be the worst drivers..Plus they tend to drive more miles..

Nothing worse than seeing a big azzed 1975 Caddy with a "Q-tip" lady peering over the steering wheel, parking next to your pristine '66 Vette...Hello door dings...:(
 
I also think it's individual and can't be tied to a specific age. Some things, such as vision, can and should be checked regularly, because they do physically deteriorate and are measurable, but a lot of mental factors can't.

One thing though, don't rely on your own judgment too much and do listen to other people. I read a really interesting article in Flying magazine recently about the positive bias we all have built in that makes most of us think we are better than we are, and even when we read about bad things happening to other people, we subconsciously are convinced we would do better in the same situation. That article was about why pilots keep getting themselves into the same kinds of lethal situations even though everybody keeps reading about other pilots dying in them. We apparently have a natural tendency to believe we can do it, and keep doing it.
They talked about studies that showed that the majority of Americans are overestimating their driving abilities. I think in one, 80% put themselves in the top 25% when asked to judge their ability to drive. And the worse their actual skills, the more likely they were to consider themselves good drivers.
As we get older and more set in our ways, I suspect we're even more susceptible to that. I intend to pay attention when people close to me start telling me that I make stupid mistakes, rather than get mad or defensive, as I've watched other older guys get in that situation.
I hope I'll follow through with that.
 
It really makes no difference. Serves no purpose. They pass incompetent drivers all the time. Old, not old. Families don't have the heart to intervene either. So, just watch yourself out there, particularly in FL for those older, and in Chicago for everybody.
Oh, almost forgot. Now they have guns too.
 
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Like most Americans, I think all old drivers should have to be re-evaluated periodically. As for defining "old", well, "old" is always 15 years older than I am... :)

Seriously, it's a problem that needs to be addressed, especially as we Baby Boomers start getting up there. I don't have a magic number to offer as the age to start testing older drivers, but I'm sure the safety and insurance industries can pinpoint the age at which skills start to deteriorate.
 
At what point would age prevent a driver from passing a sobriety test? I don't know, but I see plenty of shoppers in the supermarket who appear significantly impaired, and I'm guessing its just Father Time taking his toll on the mind and body. I consider these people more likely to hurt me and my family than a bad guy.

Tough topic here.
 
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and not at the DMV, but the doctor. At what age do you start? I can't say. However, maybe once you reach that age, the doctor would recommend in how long you should have a reevaluation.

Drs. don't like to get involved, they are afraid if they make a recommendation, they'll lose a paying customer.
 
From what I see, 75% of the drivers on the road couldn't pass a real driving test. I think the cure to traffic congestion would be to enact a test that actually tests the ability to drive a car in real world conditions rather than drive around the block and park.
 
Be very careful what you wish for. We continue to look to "big brother" to deal with all of the problems of life.

Most of the senior folks posting here also own firearms. Should we start testing gun owners regarding having a gun license as they age as well?

Although, statistics may prove otherwise:

Columbine, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold age 17
Sandy Hook, Adam Lanza age 20
Virginia Tech, Seung-Hui Cho age 23
Kileen Texas, George Hennard age 35
Aurora CO, James Holmes age 24

just sayin.....
 
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I am 66 and I know I don't see as well at night. I avoid driving at night. I would stop driving today if there was a reasonable alternative. There is not and will never be. The public will not pay for it, and the government will not fund it from auto, oil profits. We are too dependent on the automobile for our own good.

When I get to that point I will be living in senior housing that provides transportation assistance for shopping and Dr. Appointments etc. online shopping and delivery now takes care of many of trips I used to make.

I suppose the government would also limit your access to firearms based on their opinion of your competency.
 
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