Mandatory driving tests after the age of 70

eatler

eatler

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So I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, in my area I have a lot of boomers who drive like retards. Just today we had a guy going 10 and waving in and out of lanes and straight up driving in the middle lane at one point. He was obviously confused or stupid but he does not belong on the road. Another story I heard recently is someone I knew who’s mom is slowing being infected with dementia was still driving (may I also add by herself with no way to track her) and she has gotten so bad she had to pull over to a police officer and ask him “where do I live”, she didn’t say an address just “how do I get home”

So in my head personally I’m thinking why aren’t these geezers getting tested? I heard a story just last year, the family knew their grandma was “suffering complications” and she ended up driving her car into a river. So it’s obvious that the people who should have their loved ones tested aren’t taking them in because it probably inconveniences them or they aren’t aware of the signs.

What I’m thinking is they should just have mandatory driving tests after the age of 70 maybe make them every 5-10 years, if you can’t get a passing grade it’s probably time not to drive. I know there has to be downsides to this aside from shooting myself in the foot when I turn 70 but I’m wondering what other downsides may come from this practice?
 
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A) Why is this in happenings? Oldness has been occurring for a long time, at least a few hundred years.

B) I guess it depends on the type of test. I'm willing to bet that if everyone of all ages were required to regularly retake a driving test that contained a parallel parking section, people would fail frequently since tons of people learn to do it for the test then never do it again. Plus 70 isn't even that old, that's pretty much still working age at this point because the world's gay and awful and it never ends.
 
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One part of this equation is how defiant old people are about their driving. They go their entire lives criticizing other drivers, but the second they become too old to be able to drive safely themselves, suddenly driving IS THEIR RIGHT as a person. You don't love them if you don't let them drive, et cetera.

It's almost like how it is for a lot of American women and abortion. In their mind, they have to be able to do it. It has to always be an option. If it's unavailable, it's a grave injustice.

A lot of this is currently kept in check by the risk of the old person losing all their money, independence and their ability to take care of themselves. If someone is 80 years old and they get into a car accident, even if it's not their fault, they're going to get sued and suit is going to go very badly for them.

Old people understand this, and this is usually the only way to get them to stop driving. Otherwise, they'll drive until they're over 100, until they can't remember where their car is.

However, as time goes on, this social contract is falling apart. More and more people are going into old age without any money or any assets. With nothing to lose, there's never any incentive to give up their keys.

It's sort of like off-leash pitbulls that will attack you in big cities. When it's someone who owns a nice house and has a lot to lose, they'll try everything they can to control their dog and make sure it doesn't maul you. A homeless dog owner, on the other hand, could not care less. Guess which one you're more likely to encounter?
 
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How is this a happening? Unless it's actually happening it's not happening.

And yes. I think senior citizens should have tests. Maybe expand that to new drivers too. You need to have a refresher course after one year. Way too many crazy people who don't know how to drive.
 
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After being rear-ended by a geriatric Asian, talk about bad driving stereotypes on top of stereotypes on this one, a few months back I'd be inclined to say 70 is still too generous; start at 60.
 
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Already on in canada, and doctors can also yank your license if you are a risk for others ( general mental decline, epilepsy etc).
Helps a bit tho the test are on the easy side. Bigger problem currently is the amount of Rajesh's on the road.
 
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#FF0000 said:
This exists in Canada. It works pretty fine as far as I'm aware.
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We have the lamest possible version of that in the UK wherein you have to reapply for your licence at 70 and then every 5 years, I think. You can still drive if you're mentally competent to fill in an online form but not competent/responsible enough to tell the DVLA that you've got a medical condition that prevents you driving.
 
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A car is a dense object weighing thousands of pounds that is absolutely deadly if it impacts someone at even a moderate speed. If someone can't pass the basic requirements needed to operate something like that safely, they shouldn't have a license to do so. It's not a bike where the prospect of injury or death is much lower.

I understand people need to work and take care of other necessities, but that's not much consolation if a 90 year old confuses the brakes and gas and takes out someone's child.

When you're that incapable (no matter your age) you either need someone to help you or to be in a place where you don't need to drive.
 
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I thought this was sort of a thing since you need to get a new driver's license after 65 or so? Figured that you would have to take some kind of test on top of that, unless that was just the vision test.

But yeah, agreed. Also thanks for getting my hopes up posting in Happenings.
 
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eatler said:
What I’m thinking is they should just have mandatory driving tests after the age of 70 maybe make them every 5-10 years
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This is a thing in Australia and you have to a do medical every year to be fit to continue to drive and once you don't pass your drivers license is taken away.
 
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