Should people over 75 be allowed to drive.

1. 63

   mintinfoposted 14 years ago

   Should people over 75 be allowed to drive.
   
   car accidents involving people over 75 have now surpassed the traditional high risk 16 to 25 year old age group. Should people over 75 be subjected to more frequent testing and possibly be prevented from driving by the age of 85.

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2. 77

   sasanquaposted 14 years ago

   If an older person is a safe driver, then they should be allowed to drive regardless of age in my opinion. However, I do agree that they should be subject to regular testing. Anyone can be a safe or unsafe driver, it is not necessarily due to a person's age, although this can be an influencing factor.

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   1. 85

      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer! I totally agree! I wrote an article on this--my mother gave up driving at the pre-selected age of 70 and, although sometimes inconvenient, neither of us regrets her decision: I sleep soundly knowing she's not driving dangerously!

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3. 57

   SpaceAgeposted 14 years ago

   i think each person's different & it all depends on the person's cognition

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4. 58

   NVRFAIRposted 14 years ago

   I would agree that it really depends on the person. My great uncle is 85 and drives great but I have some old people that can't drive anymore.

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5. 61

   davidseegerposted 13 years ago

   First of all, I can't view this question objectively. I am 77. I still drive well according to my daughters. It has probably been 40 years since my last accident. I'm no longer sure of the date. However, I won't be caught riding with my brother who is only 70. Yes, I would have to support some testing of vision and reflexes for older drivers. Under no conditions would I support an absolute end of driving priviledges at 85 or any other age.

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   1. 85

      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      "...absolute end of driving..." I totally agree! Testing every one of every age I support, but a blanket removal of driving privileges at a certain age is not fair/American. If someone can drive safely, let them--regardless of their age.

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6. 70

   Darknlovely3436posted 13 years ago

   should people over 75 be allowed to drive, it should depend on they
   vision, after taken the  eye test, and most of all they state of mind
   should be question just  like the eye test.

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7. 60

   fundguruposted 13 years ago

   Well you could also ask if people under 25 should be allowed to drive if you only look at accidents and age.
   
   Certainly not the age is the problem, but how people drive. It would be probably good that people from time to time have a check at their doctor if they need glasses.
   
   In addition also a new test of theory should be done for drivers who recived the license several decades ago.
   
   In Germany they now want to reform the system so that a driver license is only valid for 20 years.
   
   Such would automatically would lead to more supervision by the government and prevent tha people who cannot drive anymore correctly would not get a new driver license.
   
   Nevertheless do not only watch at the age of drivers in accidents. Look a the why. You will see that many accidents happen. because people drive to fast, drunk or drugged.

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8. 81

   mulberry1posted 13 years ago

   Depends upon skill as other people have indicated.
   
   The sad part is that there are many drivers that are younger that are no better. There are probably many times more people under 40 who are a greater hazard as they text and talk constantly as they drive, causing far more accidents.  But the news doesn't post something like 25 Year Old Kills Mother and Child or 25 Year Old Loses Control of Car, Drives 85mph Off Embankment. The priv. of driving would better be based on skill and driving record. Classifying this by age is discriminatory.
   
   Maybe there could also be restricted licenses (and perhaps there are) that allow folks to drive only short routes to certain places.  I know in some states for instance there are 12 and 13 year old kids that are allowed to drive to the store etc. What we also need is good public transportation options so that the elderly don't become isolated when they lose their ability to drive. More of them would voluntarily drop out if there were more options.

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   1. 85

      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed! Public transportation is key to keeping incompetent drivers of any age off the road. Some places have this infrastructure, others don't unfortunately. I also agree totally about age discrimination! Regular testing for all ages is key, too.

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