by socialchick~ I'm sure this is going to be another one of those blogs. You have your opinion and I have my opinion. Your opinion will not hurt my feelings in any way. So let me start with a story that happened in our small town.
Bossychick's mother was shopping at one of our small grocery stores when she noticed an older woman and let her go ahead of her in the checkout line. So as bossychick's mother and the older lady were leaving the store a car crashed into the store and hit the older lady. The car was driven by an elderly lady who thought that she was pushing the brake when she was actually pushing the gas.
So when does age impair a person's ability to drive safely? I have been in several "almost wrecks" when an older person pulled out in front of me going 10 miles an hour.
I don't really know the answer to this problem because arbitrarily not letting a person drive because of their age would be taking their rights from them, but something needs to change. I know that I will be elderly one day, God willing, but hopefully my kids will tell me when it's no longer safe to drive.
Maybe we should have a driving test for people 75 and older. Something that you have to take every 2-5 years to keep not only others on the road safe, but the elderly themselves. This may seem harsh but many people have been in horrible accidents because the person behind the wheel was an unsafe driver.
So what do you think? Is this harsh? Do you feel like there should be a change in policy?
I agree. it would not be fair to take someone's license away because of their age. However, I do believe after a certain age people should have to take a DRIVING test to keep driving. I have also seen many unsafe elderly drivers. However, Kevin's 90 year old grandfather drives like a champ.
Posted by: Lisa Nall | November 18, 2008 at 03:45 PM
That is a hard one. But I think yearly driving tests wouldn't be unfair once you hit a certain age.
Posted by: ketura | November 18, 2008 at 04:51 PM
MAN! I GOT 17 YEARS BEFORE TEST TIME...
Posted by: daddy and mama | November 18, 2008 at 05:21 PM
I sure hope Roz will drive me to the golf course when i get too old to pass the test,that's all i have to say about that!!!sfp
Posted by: danny scott | November 18, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I understand that a lot of them feel that this is thier last bit of independence and probably feel very helpless when they can't drive anymore, but I totally agree that there should be a test. I even think that it should be annually b/c some people can be fine and then digress quickly.
I don't mind sharing the roads, I just think that we would all like to do it as safely as possible.
Posted by: plannerchick | November 18, 2008 at 06:50 PM
This one is a toughy 'cause I know super bad drivers in every age category. Hmm...I'm not quite sure about the whole test thing. I just hope that when the time comes for any elderly person in my life to stop driving, that they do not get mad. This one's definately one that requires a lot of though and consideration.
Posted by: Jessica W. | November 18, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I know it may be their only way to leave, but from personal experience with family members, the elderly should really be watched carefully. i have also heard of so many elderly people in wrecks, that it is a safety concern for me.
Posted by: damaris | November 19, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Mrs. Daisy needs a driver...or a seperate lane!! We could do a bike lane and a senior citizen lane ;)
Don't get me started on people who bike ride on busy roads...I could go on all day!!
Posted by: sofa | November 19, 2008 at 07:53 PM