Comments on: Why is requiring persons considered "elderly" to take a driving test once every few years age discrimination?

By: wizjp

wizjp — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

uh…in most states there is.

Nothing to do with discrimination. It's a skills test.

By: Ampeiffer

Ampeiffer — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I totally think there should be. Whenever I see an very elderly person driving, I get so nervous for them and the people around them. One time I was driving behind an elderly man who was side swiping an entire street of cars and didn't realize it… SCARY!

By: Davion2308

Davion2308 — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

It is technically discrimination because the elderly are being specifically targeted for extra or different standards.

And if you think its only old people who don't pay attention, watch all the 17 year kids smash into stationary objects with cars because they're texting.

By: Slightly Dark Francis

Slightly Dark Francis — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Australia and the UK have tests for people 70 and over. I think it's yearly. It's a good idea, a necessary idea in order to maintain road safety.

By: Chewy Ivan

Chewy Ivan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

It's age discrimination because you are applying it to people of a certain age. If we are to be fair and safe, we should require driving exams every couple of years throughout our lives. After all, medical conditions that impair driving can develop at any age.

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Well, it so happens, that people of all ages (especially young males) make many risky mistakes. Why single out one age group to complain about!!!!!!

By: Patrick B

Patrick B — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

It's age discrimination because not all elderly people have impairments. What age would you set the new rules at? How about 65? That's around the retirement age for most people so should we start checking them then?

Where I live (Maine) most accidents involve white males. Granted I live in Maine where there are almost no minorities. Should we test every white male every few years to make sure they're safe on the roads? The statistics say we certainly should.

Yes numerous older drivers can be dangerous. So can younger drivers (you assumed the person was a "punk" teenager, originally). Should we test younger and older drivers every year to make sure they're safe on the roads?

By: BILL h

BILL h — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

i have found that most states do give seniors a test at a certain age.they check their eye sight and take them out for a driving test to see how well they do.if they don't do well on the driving test the the person giving them the test make a decision on whether they get a new drivers permit or not.like you said they check for their reflexes and the way they drive and if the tester feels they are unsafe the decision is made.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Has nothing to do with discrimination. Simple fact of the matter is that as people age, they lose a lot of hand-eye coordination, as well as a lot of their reaction time. It's unsafe to have them on the road.

By: Sean B

Sean B — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Well, define elderly? Age is relative and there are plenty of young people on the roads who are incompetent drivers. Most of the close calls I've had have been teeny-boppers sending text messages. You and I both will be old one day. Those old people were not born into those bodies, they grew into them, just like you and I will. It's discrimination in the same sense that you would be targeting a specific group of individuals based on a stereotype of a relatively small number of people. If you graduated high school, how would like to have to be tested every year to see if you still posses the knowledge of a high school graduate? In scope, very, very few people die at the hands of elderly on the roads. Most people who complain about the elderly usually have a few DUI's under their belts, or ride around sending text messages, under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I think instead of testing the elderly we should make every driver take a piss test once a week.This would really get the dangerous people off the roads.

By: Cousin Kevin

Cousin Kevin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with you. The accident statistics are shaped like a bath. The teenage drivers, who are a little risky and still trying to learn, have high accident rates. Then the accident rate drops for middle-aged people. Finally, we get into the elderly. Because our bodies naturally start to deteriorate, the accident rate for this age group rises. It is not age discrimination because we are not forbidding them to drive, just making sure they are still physically capable.