Should Drivers Over The Age Of 60 Be Retested?
Filed under: News | By: Lucy
Posted on: November 29, 2007 | 3 Comments
If you did a survey of your friends asking them if they’ve ever been hit by an older driver, the answer would more than likely be a resounding yes. OAP drivers have had bad press, with programmes like Driving me Crazy but are they all tarred with the same brush?
Many people think every driver over the age of 60 should be tested again - but will this stop accidents occurring? If you think about it, yes OAP drivers may go slow and it might be annoying - but don’t we get agitated because we ourselves are impatient drivers who just want to overtake and speed off? Many drivers over a certain age aren’t driving long distances, their cars are just easier ways of getting from A to B. If we banned OAP’s from the roads altogether, we could take their freedom away - driving is sometimes one of the only ways of keeping the elderly alert. Who are we to say who and who can’t be on the road?
The thing is the OAP drivers aren‘t the only risk on the road. Teenagers who have just passed their test are exactly the same. How many of you have been annoyed at a young driver, with their loud music blaring and friends in the back who speed through residential areas - surely they pose exactly the same risk?
I’m not saying we should let senile old people get behind the wheel after 70 years, I do think retesting is a good idea but not just the over 60s. Why not make everyone test again after 10 years? Why single out older drivers - there are many bad drivers out there and I can tell you not all of them have a blue rinse and wrinkles!
What do you think: Should the over 60’s get retested or should they be banned from the road?
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I agree with the re-testing program, because I have seen so many accidents or near accidents caused by lack of control or slow reactions in older or disabled persons that should never be allowed to drive a vehicle. Anyone that is impaired for any reason be it alcohol,drugs,or old age, must not be allowed to obtain a drivers license or re-issued one.
LUIS MAIO
katespero@rogers.com
I support the idea of retesting drivers every four years, each time they have tio renew their license. Every ten years is not often enough because the development of many mental and psycological diseases and disabilities occurs much faster than one might realize. From my personal experience, I have witnessed my grandpa’s mental decline into Alzheimers and dementia. About three years ago, he was alert, attentive, and in perfect condition. One time last summer, he drove us home from church when we visited him, and he tried to pull an Acura into an 18-wheeler. He also almost pulled the car over the cliff in a parking lot, literally. Whenever he made one of these dangerous mitakes, he blamed the other drivers or the circumstances. He does not acknowledge his condition and it is pointless to try. The progession of his disease has been much more rapid than expected, and it honestly scares me that he still can legally drive. I am worried for his safety, notto mention the saftey of his wife. If there were visual, hearing, reaction, practical, and objective tests administered to people in his condition every four years, the roads would be much safersafer for other drivers.
The fact that older drivers go slower will not affect the re-test and will not induce a fail. So the ‘Go-Slow’ drivers will still be there. The older drivers that cannot reverse, parallel park, use roundabouts, what to do when an emergency vehicle is behind you, use of dual carraigeways, and the use of mirrors and indicators will affect the re-test and these are the people that need to be removed from the roads. There are many out there, I assure you of that.