Driving tests for the elderly.

I heard this idea yesterday, and I just thought I'd run it by a few more people.

What do you think about requiring people over a certain age to take another driving test every few years? There are quote a few old people out there who can't drive, but think they can. They are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road.

I heard this idea yesterday, and I just thought I'd run it by a few more people.

What do you think about requiring people over a certain age to take another driving test every few years? There are quote a few old people out there who can't drive, but think they can. They are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road.

I think that they aren't the most dangerous group and there's lots of people that think they can drive but actually can't. And don't you already have to take a doctor's test every so many years when you get older to check if your sight is still good?

The statistics would suggest that it is a good idea. Test them when they have to renew the license.

In Canada, though, I suspect that it would be considered age discrimination, at least by the various Human Rights Commissions.

The statistics would suggest that it is a good idea. Test them when they have to renew the license.

The statistics suggest that we shouldn't let young people drive the first 3 years after they got their license.

The statistics would suggest that it is a good idea. Test them when they have to renew the license.

In Canada, though, I suspect that it would be considered age discrimination, at least by the various Human Rights Commissions.

I think it is already happening in Canada.  At least Ontario

Once you reach 80 years of age, your driver's licence will be renewed every 2 years instead of every 5 years. You will have to go through a different process to renew your licence.

To renew your licence you will have to attend a driver's licence renewal session with other senior drivers. At this session, you will:

Have your vision tested ? to learn more, go to the vision section below
Take a multiple-choice test on traffic rules and signs ? to learn more, go to the test section below.
Participate in a group education session ? a ministry counsellor will teach a small group of seniors about how aging affects driving, tips on driving and new traffic laws (lasts about 90 minutes) ? to learn more, go to the group education section below.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/senior/renewal80.shtml

I personally don't have a problem with it.
I still have to get my g2 upgraded.

Berny
Hates driving

Quote from: Horatio on February 18, 2011, 11:48:00 AM

The statistics would suggest that it is a good idea. Test them when they have to renew the license.

The statistics suggest that we shouldn't let young people drive the first 3 years after they got their license.

Those years are necessary to gain experience, though, plus measures can be taken to reduce the risks. Requiring them to drive with someone that has had a license for x years, as an example.

Require a test whenever you renew your license.

Require a test whenever you renew your license.

Pretty much this. That would avoid anyone crying 'discrimination'. Win/win all the way around.

Quote from: Trekky0623 on February 18, 2011, 12:09:45 PM

Require a test whenever you renew your license.

Pretty much this. That would avoid anyone crying 'discrimination'. Win/win all the way around.

Except for the expense.

You could always pass the expense on to the people taking the test, and to cut expenses make it so a person has to retake the test less frequently.  There's no reason to make someone take a driving test more than once every ten years, or so. 

I live in Florida, the home of the geriatric driver.  There are lots of people on the road down here who shouldn't be. 

Yes.  Do it.  Please.

I know from first hand experience that many old people are terrible drivers.  One grandpa tailgates constantly and drives angrily (he's an angry person), the other can't see and speeds like Hell's after him.

I see no reason why people shouldn't have to take driving tests after a certain age.  One test in someone's early teens isn't enough.

I've mistaken old people for drunk drivers before. When they swerve all over the road, they need to be taking a test.

I heard this idea yesterday, and I just thought I'd run it by a few more people.

What do you think about requiring people over a certain age to take another driving test every few years? There are quote a few old people out there who can't drive, but think they can. They are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road.

 How about letting the cops pull them over and give them a ticket when they f-up.

When the geezers make their annual migration down here I always wonder how long it took them to get here at 45 mph.

When the geezers make their annual migration down here I always wonder how long it took them to get here at 45 mph.

The "slow, elderly driver" stereotype is either outdated or false.  I know for a fact that many old people drive obscenely fast.

Idk. I see it quite often where that one car going 50 mph on the highway is driven by an elderly person.

Yeah, it's not outdated or false. Some old people drive fast, but most of them don't. 

My great aunt was a speeder, and while she was barreling down the road she also tried to read all the yard sale signs.. scared the shit out of me. 

At least my grandparents are sensible about it, they know they can't see as well at night so they only drive during the day.

My grandfather has a Ford Crown Victoria from around 1979–1980, so it has a speedometer with a line at 55 and maxes out at 85 in response to the Oil Crisis.

Do we actually have evidence that the elderly are worse drivers and they create more accidents/deaths/injuries?  I would argue, like Beorn, that it is the younger drivers that need more restrictions.  Sure, old people drive slow, but it is those impatient younger drivers that are causing all the problems.

Do we actually have evidence that the elderly are worse drivers and they create more accidents/deaths/injuries?  I would argue, like Beorn, that it is the younger drivers that need more restrictions.  Sure, old people drive slow, but it is those impatient younger drivers that are causing all the problems.

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1113.pdf

I haven't had a chance to take a close look at it.

More statistics here:

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation/motor_vehicle_accidents_and_fatalities.html

Quote from: Mr Pseudonym on February 18, 2011, 05:33:46 PM

Do we actually have evidence that the elderly are worse drivers and they create more accidents/deaths/injuries?  I would argue, like Beorn, that it is the younger drivers that need more restrictions.  Sure, old people drive slow, but it is those impatient younger drivers that are causing all the problems.

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1113.pdf

I haven't had a chance to take a close look at it.

That goes a long way to defending my statement.  It should also be noted the middle age category ~25-35 seem significantly higher.

I think the Ontario method is the way to go. Doing a road test every renewal would be prohibitively expensive and we already have enough bullshit to handle with a privatized testing centre. But I think it's clear that the elderly have a much higher chance of vision and reaction-time degradation. Of course young people have an increased accident rate, but there are steps in place to reduce the problem. We must also deal with the problems of the elderly.

The overall point I'm trying to make here is that a person being able to drive when they are 16 does not guarantee that ability will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We should be periodically tested to ensure we are not a danger to other drivers.

I think periodically road testing everyone would be prohibitively expensive. I think periodically knowledge testing everyone periodically would be unnecessary.

The overall point I'm trying to make here is that a person being able to drive when they are 16 does not guarantee that ability will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We should be periodically tested to ensure we are not a danger to other drivers.

Isn't this what road cops are already sort of doing in a roundabout way?

Quote from: General Disarray on February 18, 2011, 07:30:09 PM

The overall point I'm trying to make here is that a person being able to drive when they are 16 does not guarantee that ability will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We should be periodically tested to ensure we are not a danger to other drivers.

Isn't this what road cops are already sort of doing in a roundabout way?

That's a more reactive way to ensure that we are not a danger to others drivers. Periodical testing would be proactive and, hopefully, catch bad drivers before they cause harm or damage.

It might be possible to partially fund the periodical testing with traffic and parking fines.

I think that most of the danger doesn't come from people who would have a problem with the driving license test (which is relatively easy in the US anyway) but from people who think there is no problem driving like an asshole.

Yeah, there are a lot of asshole drivers who are much more dangerous than granny driving 45 in a 55mph zone.