At what age should people stop driving?

[Yogi4]

What age?

When you're under 30, 50 seems old. At 45, 60 isn't that far away... Perspective changes with age. I am in the age group that some of you think I shouldn't have a license. Just wait until you get to be retirement age, and see how fast you willingly give up your license. I'll bet you won't give it up just because you turned 65.
I do believe that periodic testing is important, regardless of age, because we are all fairly lax about our driving. Most drivers just do not take the task of driving seriously. Watch other drivers and you'll see. How many of them are paying attention to their driving? How many follow all traffic laws? How many drive defensively? Not very many, I'll say.
And we should all be ready to give up our licenses when we can no longer drive safely.
Bill W

 

[Annoyed]

Just at a set interval. It would be kind of mean toward old folks to increase the frequency as you got older. Just make everyone take a driving exam every 5 or 10 years.

Unless you count biology, it's not being mean at all. Our physical abilities decline as we age. That's how we're built. Dealing with the world as it is, not how we would like it to be is being practical, not mean.

 

[eskimochaos]

I guess the good thing with OLD people (read not 65) is they are rarely out during rush hour or the night. They are ALL out from 9-3 in the afternoon.

Personally I feel if you cant drive aka when you lose vision, situational awareness, you should not be allowed to drive period. Old people drive so slow its a hazard for other drivers not to mention their lack of knowledge of whats going on around them is scary.

I have no patience for bad drivers of any age. I like to consider myself a very good driver - better than anyone my age that I know of. If I see a bad driver do something stupid, especially to me. Prepare to get the dirtiest look ever (no joke I made a woman cry once by screaming at her), 2 middle fingers and a 30 second horn blast.

Oh yea, I have 0 respect for soccer moms when it comes to anything - especially when they drive their minivans on the highway in the left lane at 50 and drive like they own the road around town.

 

[JeremyH]

Unless you count biology, it's not being mean at all. Our physical abilities decline as we age. That's how we're built. Dealing with the world as it is, not how we would like it to be is being practical, not mean.

That would never work in this country. We are too "PC" and worried about hurting someone else's feelings.

 

[eskimochaos]

Forgot to mention - getting your license is far to easy in this country. Honestly, you could train a smart dog to take the driving test for you.

In Germany, you are required to have 48hrs behind the wheel with an instructor and drive in ALL conditions (town, traffic, highway, fog, rain, snow etc et) Furthermore it COSTS 3000 to take the driving test so failing is not really an option.

I feel like increasing the difficulty in getting your license in the US will make younger drivers better as only the decent ones will get it on their first try.

 

[eskimochaos]

That would never work in this country. We are too "PC" and worried about hurting someone else's feelings.

PC is load of BS. Its gone way overboard in this country. You cant say anything to anyone without it being inappropriate.

My mouth still hasnt learned this and probably never will.....read my sig quote.

 

[chaz]

yea, and most people, especially the younger generations, have lost compasion,politness,common sense,morality,humility,respect,the list goes on.

 

[jharris2]

I like to consider myself a very good driver - better than anyone my age that I know of.

And the majority of people also consider themselves to be above average drivers.

 

[Big_John]

I have some very strong feelings and opinions on this and the real answer is quite simple.
The states need to implement "practicle" driving tests. Where by upon age 65 you are required to come in re take a drivers test. The test would be three parts.
PArt one mid day, light to no trafic, in town and Highway. Part two would be Rush hour in town and highway, and part three night driving.
Persons need not loose thier license, but given restrictions, such as, no highway, restricted hours.
Automobiles are deadly weapons, and as such penalties for wreckless operation need to be the same as if you whiped out a gun and started shooting..cars when not operated safely are very dangerous...people forgot this and tail gate, drive with out care because there are no real penalties for say killing some one in an "accident"..(to mer there are no accidents)
in the end a drivers license should be treated no differently than a license to fly a plane...you need to be checked out, and fit enough to do it, and the only to do that is to test.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Driving Tests, etc.

I have some very strong feelings and opinions on this and the real answer is quite simple.
The states need to implement "practicle" driving tests. Where by upon age 65 you are required to come in re take a drivers test. The test would be three parts.
PArt one mid day, light to no trafic, in town and Highway. Part two would be Rush hour in town and highway, and part three night driving.
Persons need not loose thier license, but given restrictions, such as, no highway, restricted hours.
Automobiles are deadly weapons, and as such penalties for wreckless operation need to be the same as if you whiped out a gun and started shooting..cars when not operated safely are very dangerous...people forgot this and tail gate, drive with out care because there are no real penalties for say killing some one in an "accident"..(to mer there are no accidents)
in the end a drivers license should be treated no differently than a license to fly a plane...you need to be checked out, and fit enough to do it, and the only to do that is to test.

I agree wholeheartedly about the practical side of driving tests; namely driving in rain/snow, panic stops, parallel parking, backing, high-speed turning, etc.

I possess as Class A CDL (tractor-trailer/combination vehicle) and we're held to a much higher standard than regular drivers...as we should be. That being said, I only wish that they could take prospective/new drivers and let them spend a few hours with me in the cab of my big rig. I could simply tell them, "Don't do this; don't do that, etc., etc." -- so as to give them an idea of how so many people put their lives in danger without even knowing or caring.

I lived in Germany many years ago - and have visited twice since then. They're not perfect, but those folks (most of them) sure do know how to operate a vehicle at very high speeds - a total necessity on the Autobahn at much higher velocities than we drive here in the USA. Oddly, they do it more safely and with fewer crashes than we have.

Our society has been so "dumbed down" that nobody knows - or cares - how to drive safely, swifty and efficiently anymore.:sadwave:

 

[JeremyH]

PC is load of BS.

Agreed.

 

[JBgotM]

I don't think I have a picture anymore, but I used to autocross with a guy who was 70+ and would have to unhook his breathing machine so he could go out and make a run.

 

[eskimochaos]

yea, and most people, especially the younger generations, have lost compasion,politness,common sense,morality,humility,respect,the list goes on.

its there when needed which isnt all the time and varies on a situational basis

 

[JohnsD90]

yea, and most people, especially the younger generations, have lost compasion,politness,common sense,morality,humility,respect,the list goes on.

People have been saying that for thousands of years about teenagers.

 

[Big_John]

I agree wholeheartedly about the practical side of driving tests; namely driving in rain/snow, panic stops, parallel parking, backing, high-speed turning, etc.

I possess as Class A CDL (tractor-trailer/combination vehicle) and we're held to a much higher standard than regular drivers...as we should be. That being said, I only wish that they could take prospective/new drivers and let them spend a few hours with me in the cab of my big rig. I could simply tell them, "Don't do this; don't do that, etc., etc." -- so as to give them an idea of how so many people put their lives in danger without even knowing or caring.

I lived in Germany many years ago - and have visited twice since then. They're not perfect, but those folks (most of them) sure do know how to operate a vehicle at very high speeds - a total necessity on the Autobahn at much higher velocities than we drive here in the USA. Oddly, they do it more safely and with fewer crashes than we have.

Our society has been so "dumbed down" that nobody knows - or cares - how to drive safely, swifty and efficiently anymore.:sadwave:

Yep, bad drivers teaching worse drivers...getting compounded by various techno gadgets. People scream for Gun control, when there are about what 1/100th of accidents with firearms to Auto's...

 

[JohnsD90]

I agree wholeheartedly about the practical side of driving tests; namely driving in rain/snow, panic stops, parallel parking, backing, high-speed turning, etc.

I possess as Class A CDL (tractor-trailer/combination vehicle) and we're held to a much higher standard than regular drivers...as we should be. That being said, I only wish that they could take prospective/new drivers and let them spend a few hours with me in the cab of my big rig. I could simply tell them, "Don't do this; don't do that, etc., etc." -- so as to give them an idea of how so many people put their lives in danger without even knowing or caring.

I lived in Germany many years ago - and have visited twice since then. They're not perfect, but those folks (most of them) sure do know how to operate a vehicle at very high speeds - a total necessity on the Autobahn at much higher velocities than we drive here in the USA. Oddly, they do it more safely and with fewer crashes than we have.

Our society has been so "dumbed down" that nobody knows - or cares - how to drive safely, swifty and efficiently anymore.:sadwave:

Yeah, my dad has a Class A CDL with basically everything except HAZMAT and PASSENGER endorsments. I learned to drive from him, and he taught me much more than the drivers ED teacher could dream of, he is one of the best drivers i have seen (not just cause hes my dad) the man hasn't been in an accident in 25 years. I do feel that most parents don't know enough about driving to teach someone else how to drive, ESPECIALLY SUBARU DRIVERS WE NEED LESS OF THOSE.

 

[chaz]

"its there when needed which isnt all the time and varies on a situational basis"
so you think you came up with a smart answer? thats my point. it just goes to show that you really know nothing about those quailties , they're not to be turned on or off at will, you either have them or not. but im not surprised to hear that from someone so young with little life experience. on a side note, you might want to stop referring to the t4r like "you payed for it" & its yours, even if your father gave it to you before finishing school. thats just another example of disrespect not to mention lying, again proving my point.

 

[charlier180]

For the safety of everyone...

That phrase right there is the BIG question.

If the concern is about "safety for everyone" what best serves that goal?
No question that older drivers can be a safety concern. The ultimate question is what group of people should that goal be focused on at least to start with???
Older Drivers, Distracted Drivers, Aggressive Drivers, Drivers Under the Influence?? Which of these groups presents the MOST risk to the MOST people on the road????

Given numerous studies, my money is on Distracted Drivers as the #1 threat to the "safety of everyone".
If that is true, isn't it time to focus on that group FIRST? Wouldn't the #1 source of safety concerns be the place to start? Forget about fines for driving while using a cell phone or texting. We all know that tickets/fines are not a REAL DETERRENT, plain and simple. If the technology does NOT WORK in a MOVING VEHICLE that would be the one and only way to deal with this problem.

I live in Pennsylvania. Last time I checked, this state has one of the highest populations of older people in the USA.
Funny how I see so MANY MORE Distracted Drivers doing unsafe things on the roads (running red lights & stop signs, FAILING to YIELD PROPERLY, ETC.) than I do elderly people.

Hey, I am all for making the roads Safer for everyone. The real question is how to do that so that it yields the BEST RESULTS for the effort and money involved.

 

[JAC]

That phrase right there is the BIG question.

If the concern is about "safety for everyone" what best serves that goal?
No question that older drivers can be a safety concern. The ultimate question is what group of people should that goal be focused on at least to start with???
Older Drivers, Distracted Drivers, Aggressive Drivers, Drivers Under the Influence?? Which of these groups presents the MOST risk to the MOST people on the road????

Given numerous studies, my money is on Distracted Drivers as the #1 threat to the "safety of everyone".
If that is true, isn't it time to focus on that group FIRST? Wouldn't the #1 source of safety concerns be the place to start? Forget about fines for driving while using a cell phone or texting. We all know that tickets/fines are not a REAL DETERRENT, plain and simple. If the technology does NOT WORK in a MOVING VEHICLE that would be the one and only way to deal with this problem.

I live in Pennsylvania. Last time I checked, this state has one of the highest populations of older people in the USA.
Funny how I see so MANY MORE Distracted Drivers doing unsafe things on the roads (running red lights & stop signs, FAILING to YIELD PROPERLY, ETC.) than I do elderly people.

Hey, I am all for making the roads Safer for everyone. The real question is how to do that so that it yields the BEST RESULTS for the effort and money involved.

Agree with you...this is just a discussion of different opinions and points of view. When I say Safety of everyone..I am not trying to say that the elder people makes the streets unsafe. I am talking in general. Everyone knows that the distracted drivers and the ones that dont give a care if they hit someone are the main reason for the accidents .I am just concern about the elder population because I hate when some old lady or man is going at 15mph at a 40mph area and people even the same age starts *****in' on them or acelerate over next to them and start saying bad words or tailgate them in purposse. I have seen it happen..and it bothers me. Is for the safety of the elder drivers too. I work at a hospital and sometimes I see old folks after 5 minutes of strugglin ,finally coming out of theirs cars from the drivers side with a cane and all shaky and can bearly walk ......their signatures on the papers are all shaky too, not to mention the ones that have special equipments on them like oxygen machines etc etc...In my opinion..they shouldnt be driving.. And I ask myself...what if they need to react quickly on a bad situation to prevent and accident...will they be able to?....Like I said... I know there are many elder people that have no one to do stuff for them and can't avoid driving.... I feel sorry for them .....beacuse they should have some one to drive them wher e they need to go. But there are also the ones that don't want to accept that they cannot drive safely anymore and refuse to get help in that matter...like special transportation programs and thinks like that.

 

[JBgotM]

I do feel that most parents don't know enough about driving to teach someone else how to drive, ESPECIALLY SUBARU DRIVERS WE NEED LESS OF THOSE.

aww... and here I thought the fact that I have a cabinet full of awards from racing had a little merit as to my driving capabilities. I didn't know it was all for naught because I drive a Subaru. Its pretty rough having a car with great power, handling, and traction.

If someone actually thinks they can drive, go do some autocross and track days. After getting embarrassed, you will start to see the light.