With a rise in fatal accidents caused by elderly drivers; does the nation need stricter rules on licenses?

[dmek25]

whats wrong with requiring them to take the test when they reach the age of 65? and every year after? the older drivers that are around here, for the most part, are an accident waiting to happen

[SolidSnake84]

Originally Posted by dmek25

whats wrong with requiring them to take the test when they reach the age of 65? and every year after? the older drivers that are around here, for the most part, are an accident waiting to happen

Thats my whole point. If they are physically OK and mentally OK, they can pass the test with no worries. The only people crying "age discrimination" are the ones who know they have no chance in hell at passing the test.

But i believe more likely, that most of the really old people know that they probably shouldn't drive, and know they would be up the creek if their state starting making them do a driving test over a certain age.

My great grandma shouldnt have driven....and in her senile brain somewhere she knew that...but she was putting her "independance" above peoples' safety, and possibly lives. She was the kind of person who wouldnt have understood what they had done...and my dad did the right thing.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

Thats my whole point. If they are physically OK and mentally OK, they can pass the test with no worries. The only people crying "age discrimination" are the ones who know they have no chance in hell at passing the test.

But i believe more likely, that most of the really old people know that they probably shouldn't drive, and know they would be up the creek if their state starting making them do a driving test over a certain age.

My great grandma shouldnt have driven....and in her senile brain somewhere she knew that...but she was putting her "independance" above peoples' safety, and possibly lives. She was the kind of person who wouldnt have understood what they had done...and my dad did the right thing.

I don't think thats true and most think they are just fine to drive. The ones I have seen it takes 3 or 4 things or something really bad happening before they start to get that maybe they should not be driving.

[SolidSnake84]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I don't think thats true and most think they are just fine to drive. The ones I have seen it takes 3 or 4 things or something really bad happening before they start to get that maybe they should not be driving.

What i meant was, its not so much that they are thinking "Screw You, I'm driving no matter what", they start to think about it when they start having trouble getting around, getting short of breath, etc....they start to realize it.

They offset the risk in their minds probably by thinking "oh i only go out once a week, or they think the trip is short enough to home that they wont be dangerous. They are banking on something not happening.

Charles Clevenger would have probably been fine that may evening had nobody been coming down the road. But Josh was....