Driver's License Exams for Senior Citizens

This is a recent story here in the Jackson area --

This tragedy has got me to thinking about something - whether or not a senior citizen should be automatically able to renew their driver's license.

I believe that once a person reaches a certain age - 70-75, that they should not be able to renew their driver's license without taking the road test - the actual driving skills test.

What say you?

 

I have to agree with you. My Dad voluntarily stopped driving in 2000 at the age of 83, he just wasn't safe anymore. I re-arranged my work schedule to take Wednesdays off. It was our day. Dr's appointments, always a nice brunch out, sightseeing, shopping and what ever. We always had fun and got whatever he needed done, done. Our town has a dial a ride, $.25 for seniors if he needed to go anywhere on another day. Family has to be willing to this or they won't stop driving.

 

Most states in Australia require drivers 75 and older to undergo testing. Medical examination or a clean bill of health from the family GP may also need to be submitted.

But the question needs asking. Why hasn't America had this in place?

 

i completely disagree with ID cards in general. It undermines the 4th Amendment...

 

Agreed. Once you reach the age of 75 you should have to sit a driving test. Some states here make you sit an exam every three or four years after you reach a certain age.

Having an eye test and a medical isn't enough. If you got your license 50 years ago, the roads have changed, rules have changed. You can't expect to be a safe driver unless you've been retested.

Although I am of the opinion that once you reach the age of 75, you should be made to hang up the keys for good.

 

Absolutely. I think its absurd that there's very little public outcry regarding this very serious, common-sense issue. I also believe that EVERYONE, regardless of age, should be retested periodically: I witness far too many idiots on the road on a daily basis that have no business behind the wheel of a vehicle.

 

I think it would be safest to require mandatory driving ability checks every ten years; such would also help to weed out those who got their licences illegally. However doing so would definitely raise costs and require a lot more DMVs to be built.

 

Yes, most definitely. I don't know how many near misses I've had with cars being driven by seniors. A senior who's driving is impaired by their physical condition is pretty much as dangerous as a drunk driver.

 

I think that whenever ANYONE, regardless of age, renews their licence they should have to take a drivers test. If people had to prove their competency at driving more often then they would probably be better drivers. It would keep many bad drivers off the roads. That'd be good for all of us.

Also I think there should be a maximum driving age just like there is a minimum. Maybe like 70 or so.

 

For those who don't know, the 4th Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures.

I'm not sure what you mean, having to show an ID to prove who you are and in this case that you can safely operate a vehicle doesn't really seem related.

As for this posts topic... Yeah. As people get older sometimes its no longer safe for them to be driving. People who are past their mid 70's probably need to be tested every now and then to make sure they can still drive.

 

as people age many things tend to fail....eyesight gets worse, reflex gets weaker etc. Remember that driving is a privaledge and not a right, so for me I say yes.......people need to be tested to prove they are still able to operate a motor vehicle safely!

 

Care to explain how it undermines the fourth amendment?

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

 

Totally disagree with the mandatory maximum. My mom just turned 75, and she's an excellent driver. My dad, however, is a horrible driver, however, he voluntarily stopped driving in his early 70s.

The cases like the OP posted are rare. Note that the other example was in 2003. If it were very common, I'm sure he would have found a much newer example.

 

Secure in their person against unreasonable searches.

 

How can they get to the store and doctors appointments? Seriously, on one of your days off park you car like you didn't have one and go shopping.

 

I remember the old man who drove into the street market in California and killed people. A year before he'd driven through a lawn party but everyone got out of the way. No one stopped him from driving between the two incidents.

I went to Florida and decided to give Mom and Dad a driving test. Dad handed me the car keys and said, "Let's go." I tried to hand the keys back and he said I had to start the car because he'd forgotten how. His driving test was over.

Mom refused to do it. She started telling me about a friend who'd had six accidents when she had strokes while she was driving. "And she's still driving?"

"Why not, she hasn't killed anyone?"
"Is that what we wait for? We wait until someone has been killed?"
My mother glared and said, "I don't care. I'm going to drive." I was shocked to realize she really didn't care.

I listened as two men chatted over breakfast. One started ranting about how he had a nice new car, insurance, and they wouldn't let him drive. "I'm a good driver."

"You killed your neice."
"That dump truck was going 100 mph."
"You ran a stop sign."
"I didn't. I stopped."
"And pulled out in front of the dump truck and you niece was killed."
"She was old anyway."

I also contacted an old man who driven into three parked cars. He squinted as he looked through amazingly thick glasses. When I asked for his license he laughed. "I've been legally blind for thirty years."

When I was working as a police officer, I was rare in that I did submit many elderly drivers for re-examination. None passed. I always called their families to warn them about making arrangements for a parent who couldn't drive and the family was always in favor of the parent not driving. They knew the parent shouldn't be driving but couldn't face up to telling them to stop.

 

Can you do that? Does a police officer have the legal authority to have a motorist's driving skills re-tested?

If so, please tell us more! I, for one, am interested to know!

What would be the "probable cause" that you'd need to initiate the process - accidents, or something less?

For example - You're on patrol and see a little old blue-haired grandma doing 43 mph on the interstate in her Electra 225, while traffic is zoomin' by her. She hasn't broken any laws, but your gut instinct tells you she's probably not a real safe driver anymore - her reaction times aren't what they used to be. What do you do?

 

Unfortunately, having an ID has absolutely nothing to do with unreasonable searches.

 

I think it should be mandatory that they are retested at a certain point, 75 seems fair. I think it would be easier on the seniors and their families if it was the state telling them they are no longer allowed to drive, its hard to sit your mom or dad down to tell they can't do this or that. I think that provisional licenses would be good as well, as some people's visions are more of an impairment at night but ok during the day.

 

What would you do if your 95-year-old father insists he is perfectly capable of driving?

 

Well if he didn't have a valid driver license then he could be facing legal consequences for his actions. Its a hard conversation to have with a parent or grandparent, make it a legal issue and its out of the hands of the family.

 

There's no examination for licenses in this state, they are automatically renewed. He can keep his license as long as he can get into the tag agency to get it.

 

the privilege to drive ends when the driver becomes a safety hazard , there needs to be a way to test them , hopefully before they kill someone

 

Well, my 85 yr old dad still drives and the State of Texas just renewed his driver's license for six years. I think it even amazed him they have that much faith in his ability to drive at age 90!

It's a touchy subject for seniors because it means giving up their independence. I can see the need for periodic behind-the-wheel testing... but think it should cover ALL drivers, not just seniors. Maybe we could have a 'rat out your fellow drivers' hotline to report people who can't drive. 5 calls and they have to retake the driving test. Might get some of these idiots off the road.

 

that is the point of the thread, at some point driving skills should be reevaluated to see if they still exist. I think seniors would accept it easier coming from the state then their sons or daughters that they are no longer safe or fit to drive.