Okay, this morning while I was driving about 40mph in a 4 lane road (2 lanes and each side) an old man came barreling outta a parking lot to my right without even stopping right in front of me. I slammed on the horn and flew into the left lane to avoid rear ending them. I was so mad and shaken. Another time an elder nun parked in the Arby's Drive-thru, a common thing I see is old people going half of what the speed limit is holding up traffic (going 20 in a 35). Do you think old people like 65+ should be re-tested? Like a 5 hour class and a road test.
Vince, you're completely wrong the NY State DMV says Old People are the 2nd worst drivers on the road (people under 25 are #1). They're hearing is off, limited sight and other things that cause them to misjudge. It's also obvious you haven't heard of that one old man who drove through a market and killed a bunch of people. Also a elderly woman drove through a DMV. My grandpa is 78 and its scary driving with him. He wobbles in the lane and almost crashes all the time. Also I was driving with my grandma and shes in her 80s and she drove the wrong way down a one way. It was scary. Also an 89 year old woman hit my uncle in a wal-mart parking lot. I agree with you about the younger drivers but saying old people are the safest drivers is COMPLETELY WRONG!!!
To the people who said people should be tested every few years. I agree but probably it would cost the state too much money. But if they made people pay for it it could help the state financially. And to the guy who made a comment about my reaction. What? I Should of just thought to myself "Oh well" and not think that this old man almost killed me or I could of got seriously injured?!
YES!!! they definitely should!! old people are some of the worst drivers ever!
yes i believe they should… in fact i think everyone should have to… gives them a good reminder of what the laws actually are, there are too many drivers out there that would cut u off, speed right past u, or blow a stop sign that u kindly stopped at. its very frustrating driving knowing the whole time u cant trust anyone out there.
you gotta watxh out for the old folks. They tend not to see, hear, or react as well as younger people. I have driven with older people that sure should not have had their license any longer. Very scary.
Testing of people beyond something like 70 would seem a very reasonable idea to me.
I think every 10-15 years there should be a road test for everyone. I have seen sooo many bad drivers. Some elderly people seem to have a hard time, but it's definatly not exclusive. I do think at the very least people over 65 should be tested and then maybe again at 70 or 75
I think EVERYONE should periodically retake their road tests. Most especially the statistically WORST drivers on the road: Namely young male drivers under 25 years old.
These are the drivers responsible for the most collision, speeding and other moving violations and incidents of road rage.
Interestingly, older drivers are among the SAFEST drivers on the road ways. That's the reason some insurance companies are willing to offer Senior discounts. Insurance companies are NOT in the business of offering freebies out of the goodness of their hearts. If seniors, as a group were bad drivers, the insurance companies would charge them MORE, not less.
Still, it is hard for people to lose their prejuidices. Folks like you tend to forget that people of ALL ages cut each other off, park in inappropriate places like in red zones, handicapped spaces, in traffic lanes, bus stops, etc., and that they have been frustrated by someone who is crawling along because they are distracted by changing their radio station, yelling at their kids or yakking on their cell phones.
But they see an older person doing this, and the hue and cry goes up about retesting and taking licenses away, for no better reason than that they ARE older.
Shame on you, and for all the knee jerk reactions of those that automatically agree with you, without checking out some easily verifyable facts.
Forget the road test, that only shows you know how you are suppose to drive, not how you actually do drive. If you want to increase safety on the road, get rid of the drivers who cannot obey the laws, no matter what their age.
Don't need to retest people, that is what the police are doing every day. You drive poorly and you will eventually collect a traffic ticket for a moving violation. So far I have a lifetime collection of one moving violation, but that's only 46 years of driving. What is your driving record like?
p.s. "… slammed on the horn … mad and shaken …" Sounds like you have a temper problem. You really ought to watch that. Losing your temper on the road is a sure way of getting involved in an "accident".
Well let's give people between like 16-25 a road test EVERY YEAR, and people over 65 or so a road test EVERY YEAR. Personally I wouldn't say anything wrong with this idea. Thing is how often do you pay attention to poor driving when the driver ISN'T old. Perhaps you just figure well they made one goof it happens, when they are younger, well if you think that about ANY driver you should think the same about ALL drivers. OK the people who won't go the speed limit ARE annoying, but I don't think it's just older drivers.
YES! Anyone over 65-70 I think should be required to take a driving test every time they renew their drivers license. And yes I agree everyone should need to take a test every few years, but like you said it would cost an extremely large amount to do that. Also driving too slow is a road hazard, not just an annoyance. There should be a minimum speed limit everywhere, not just on highways and interstates. Like in a 35 zone the minimum should be 28 or so. If you are clocked by a cop going slower than the minimum speed limit you should get a ticket. And also agreed that whoever said old people are the safest drivers is wrong wrong wrong. They have slower reaction times, bad hearing, and bad eyesight.
YES!!! Anyone who disagrees should ride with my mother! I feel bad for her, as she can not help what is wrong with her but by NO means should she be driving.
My mom is 60. When she was 17 she was robbed at gunpoint and pistol whipped even though she fully cooperated. It left her 65% deaf in one ear and 80% deaf in her other ear. It also left her partially blind in her right eye and she has NO periphrial vision. She can not see to drive at night, and finally gave that up about 6 months ago. She also cannot properly judge how fast cars are coming toward her. I have no idea how she has driven for 30+ years and only gotten 2 speeding tickets and no accidents, she must have an angel looking out for her, but people only ride with her once then are like "thanks but no thanks" if she offers them another ride.
Everyone should retake their drivers test every two years………….
MARCH 2009
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds. Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among teens.
Teens lack of experience affects their recognition of and response to hazardous situations and results in dangerous practices such as speeding and tailgating.
Other major contributing factors to the higher crash risk of young drivers are night driving and teen passengers.
Teenagers are involved in more motor vehicle crashes late in the day and at night than at other times of the day.
Teens also have a greater chance of getting involved in an accident if other teens are present in the vehicle.
Thirty-one percent of drivers age 15 to 20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2007 had been drinking some amount of alcohol; 26 percent were alcohol-impaired, which is defined by a blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher.
Drivers age 15 to 20 accounted for 13 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes and 15 percent of all drivers involved in police-reported crashes. The number of drivers age 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes totaled 6,982 in 2007.
WOW! That's some scary story that you wove there. You would have me convinced except for one small fact. Teen aged a younger drivers have been known to do much worse. Your argument carries no weight and is totally without merit. Turn in your soapbox immediately.
Age discrimination was outlawed years ago. If retesting is to be required than it must apply to all drivers. And that, I am 100% in favour of.
IIMO every driver should have to spend 12 hours a year in a drive simulator, just as pilots must spend time in a flight simulator. Imagine how much better your commute would be if we could just that 40% of drivers who are least competent and get them out from behind the wheel!
Obviously, this would only work if alternatives were available. Sad but true, some American communities are so poorly planned that even WALKING is not a viable alternative to driving — no sidewalks!
I personally think every year anyone over 65 or 70 should have to re-take the driving test. Along with vision and highway signs. I see many old drivers who don't know how to drive. And I don't just mean the ones who go 5-20 MPH under the speed limit. There is a TON of other things that older drivers do.