Should Codger’s Be Allowed to Drive??

[Palehorse]

From this afternoon's headlines:

Driver, 93, Crashes Into Store, Injuring 6
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/cnn-news/19632372/detail.html
Pike firefighters rescue rower on Eagle Creek
An 81-year-old man was rescued this morning after his boat overturned on Eagle Creek Reservoir.http://www.indystar.com/article/20090602/NEWS02/906020366/Pike+firefighters+rescue+rower++81++on+Eagle+Creek

This begs the question; at what point do we eliminate or severely restrict an individual's ability to obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle or ability to utilize a watercraft?

We've all met folks that are still as sharp as a tack in their ripe old age, and often we comment about them each time we run across them. But more often we encounter those who are afflicted with the various maladies that come along with aging, yet in many communities they continue to endanger the general public by being allowed to operate vehicles and / or watercraft.

Society has been moving toward "political correctness" in coming down hard on those who operate a motor vehicle in an impaired condition; typically a substance of some sort in these cases. But just how much better is a 93 year old man's reflexes when compared to someone who has downed a couple of beers and hopped behind the wheel to go home?

I've seen fossils driving 40 foot mobile homes on the highways of this country, and they struggled to keep the darned thing between the lines. How much damage do you think it would cause if they failed to control that thing in a severe crosswind? Just look at the poor folks at that Wally World in Boston! That guy got confused and hit the gas instead of the brake. (Mistakes can happen, but they seem to happen an awful lot to geriatric drivers).

Annual testing or at least bi-annual testing of the elderly should be enacted. I mean, if they're healthy enough to operate a vehicle then they can drive down to the license branch one a year and take a test. What else are they doing at that age anyway? And if they're so "busy" keeping health care appointments or getting treatment, then it only serves to magnify the importance of this now doesn't it?

I dunno', maybe I'm off base here but it sure appears to me that these codgers (and I'm working my way to codgerdom too you know) are a real danger. . . aren't they?

[Exterminator]

Hell, I've seen old people with IV poles mounted in between the front seats driving.  For all practical purposes, these people are dead and they're still driving!  We used to have more stringent requirements for elderly drivers here in Indiana but the AARP lobbied the legislature and the law was changed...just goes to show that traffic law isn't about public safety; it's about revenue.

[Bo D]

And I have told the tales before of the blue haired ladies with Florida tags on the Washington DC Beltway.

They can barely see over their white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel as they drive at 20-30 mph.

You can see the chaos they cause - cars coming up on them at 70 mph and swerving wildly to get around them. I've had more than a few close calls myself.

[Henry Hawk]

My dad is 86 years old....he STILL has a license, but does NOT prefer to drive.  Up until a year ago, he was extremely sharp, and his driving ability was as good as most drivers out there....Thankfully, he came to his OWN conclusion, that it may be time to NOT drive....My sister or myself, will drive him to the store and doctor....I am thankful, that I did not have to deal with this issue on him NOT driving.

I think there should be an age limit set.  It would also not bother me if they raised the age of when you can get your license.

[Palehorse]

Just a couple of weeks ago I was riding my motorcycle to work since it was so nice out. The first day I did so that week I was subjected to 2 occurrences of almost being t-boned in broad daylight, and just 3 blocks from work.

One idiot pulled out despite the fact I was less than 25 yards from him on the main road and with the right of way. I swerved to go around the tail end of his vehicle as he zoomed out in front of me, and as I did so the idiot behind him gunned it and I was right in front of him! I had to grab a fist full of throttle to get out of his way.

Both of them were coming out of a side street onto the main thoroughfare in broad daylight. I ride a HD Road King, it is black and gold, and all three headlights were on. How much more visibility do they need? BOTH of them were bluehairs!

It took no small measure of restraint to keep from turning around and going after those idiots. But what satisfaction is there to be had in pummeling senile old people? 

Instead we need to be ensuring they are indeed capable of operating a vehicle safely and maintaining control. If they are 100 years old and still able to pass the driving test and demonstrate to the examiner's satisfaction that they can consistently maintain control, fine. But lets make sure they are tested every year and keep the general public safe for crying out loud. . .

And Henry, your dad has my utmost admiration for stepping up to the plate and admitting that he cannot operate a vehicle in a manner safe enough to meet his own standards of safety. I'll drive him to the store, the doctor, the drug store, or anywhere else he needs to go if you cannot do it. I owe him at least that much for being such a good man!

[Henry Hawk]

And Henry, your dad has my utmost admiration for stepping up to the plate and admitting that he cannot operate a vehicle in a manner safe enough to meet his own standards of safety. I'll drive him to the store, the doctor, the drug store, or anywhere else he needs to go if you cannot do it. I owe him at least that much for being such a good man!

Thanks PH,  My dad is as good as they get.  Up until a few months ago, he did NOT act like an old man.  He looked like a man in his early 70's or late 60's....but, a bum hip is starting to get the best of him.  He has slowed down, and is beggining to look like an old man, for the first time in my life....I always wondered HOW, when the time came, I would tell him that he no longer should be driving....but, I underestimated him, (something I should have learned by now, NOT to do)
He simply told me and my sister, that he does not feel comfortable driving, and we caringly offered to drive him ANYWHERE, ANYTIME....

My mother-in-law who is also 86, STILL has her license, but only drives to church a mile down the road, and she TOO is amazingly sharp and healthy....she has several people, (us, grandkids, and friends) who she does NOT hesitate to call when she want's to go somewhere....

I would be tickled to death to be as healthy as these two, IF and/or WHEN I get close to their age.

[Palehorse]

Hell, I've seen old people with IV poles mounted in between the front seats driving.  For all practical purposes, these people are dead and they're still driving!  We used to have more stringent requirements for elderly drivers here in Indiana but the AARP lobbied the legislature and the law was changed...just goes to show that traffic law isn't about public safety; it's about revenue.

In Illinois I once worked for a company that had contracted with a local trucking firm to transport product to a customer locally. The owner was a big time blue hair with a colostomy, and he used to drive a tractor-trailer around the city of Chicago every friggin day! He was blind a a bat too and wore coke bottle lensed glasses!

One day he took out a row of cars because his bag exploded sending excrement all over the cab of the tractor. Put 4 people in the hospital and caused over 125,000 dollars in damages to personal property. And the SOB was operating again 2 weeks later! So Indiana isn't the only state turning their head on this issue.

I am quickly approaching AARP age (okay, I'm over 50 and I am AARP age!), but I hope I have the stones to step up to the plate and give up my licenses when I get to the point where my abilities have erroded to the point where I may be endangering the general public. I've told my wife, my kids, and my friends to hound my ass when I get to that point, and to do whatever is necessary to make sure I do not have the opportunity to cripple or kill someone because of my aged reflexes or feeble mindedness.

I could not live with having done such a thing, regardless of the absence of intention.

[pariann]

I hope that I too, will recognize when to give up driving for good.   As it is, if I want to imbibe, I defer to 17.  She drops me off and picks me up.

[me]

I thought after age 72 people were required to take a drivers test every year or two years.  Heck my mom wasn't safe to be driving when she was in her 40's so I'm real glad she don't even own a car now. I think they should be tested at least once a year after age 72. if it isn't already like I thought it was, and make it a case where it depends on the person rather than just set an age. 

[Palehorse]

I thought after age 72 people were required to take a drivers test every year or two years.  Heck my mom wasn't safe to be driving when she was in her 40's so I'm real glad she don't even own a car now. I think they should be tested at least once a year after age 72. if it isn't already like I thought it was, and make it a case where it depends on the person rather than just set an age.

If it isn't it should be. . . everywhere!

[Mr442]

I thought after age 72 people were required to take a drivers test every year or two years.  Heck my mom wasn't safe to be driving when she was in her 40's so I'm real glad she don't even own a car now. I think they should be tested at least once a year after age 72. if it isn't already like I thought it was, and make it a case where it depends on the person rather than just set an age.

They were doing that in Indiana for a while a few years ago, but I believe the AARP lobbied and got that overturned.  I could be wrong, but I think they can just go in and renew with a vision test only.

I can't drive a heavy duty truck over 10,000 pounds without a special test and a CDL, but gramps can wield a same sized motorhome at will.  There is something wrong

[me]

They were doing that in Indiana for a while a few years ago, but I believe the AARP lobbied and got that overturned.  I could be wrong, but I think they can just go in and renew with a vision test only.

I can't drive a heavy duty truck over 10,000 pounds without a special test and a CDL, but gramps can wield a same sized motorhome at will.  There is something wrong

I think the AARP should have stayed out of that one.  I know people who can see just fine but shouldn't even be allowed to operate a motorized shopping cart. 

[Mr442]

And while I've got my undies up my crack,

As a motorcycle rider I have learned that while you watch out for all vehicles, some you pay extra attention to.  Lincolns, Caddillacs, and Volvos are my top three to watch out for.  Then you can add in anything with a handicapped (I used to think that was for a physical, not mental problems) plate or parking tag, farmers, and most everything else as you see fit.  AAA stickers, hats in the back window, square dancing stickers, anything proclaiming a love for bingo, the list goes on and on.

[Palehorse]

And while I've got my undies up my crack,

As a motorcycle rider I have learned that while you watch out for all vehicles, some you pay extra attention to.  Lincolns, Caddillacs, and Volvos are my top three to watch out for.  Then you can add in anything with a handicapped (I used to think that was for a physical, not mental problems) plate or parking tag, farmers, and most everything else as you see fit.  AAA stickers, hats in the back window, square dancing stickers, anything proclaiming a love for bingo, the list goes on and on.

One of my targeted vehicles is a Buick. . .  Typically operated by bluehairs and you have to avoid bluehairs if at all possible! 

[Mr442]

One of my targeted vehicles is a Buick. . .  Typically operated by bluehairs and you have to avoid bluehairs if at all possible! 

Yes, how could I forget?  Add Buick to the top three and make it a foursome.