It's time to retest old drivers

[bluestateguy]

The tragedy in Santa Monica, California yesterday reveals the need to retest elderly drivers with eye exams and in-car driving tests. Some 86 year old people are perfectly fine to drive, but many others are not, and sometimes no one in their family has the courage to take their keys away.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I thought that at 70 they HAVE to show up

I haven't watched the news to see how they are spinning it but two of my best friends were at the scene and they are quite upset that the man was released. They feel if it were a youg kid they would have never let him go. One of my friends was right there on Arizona and said he appeared to be swerving and aiming for people, and bodies were on top of his car. Apparently he had dragged a stroller under the car as well. An old man who frequents the farmer's market from my friend's complex is still missing. It is quite sad. Both of my friends are very shook up.

At any rate, I think in California they start getting tested again at 70 but I am not certain.

I don't think one event should make it mandatory and when added up, this is still not the demographic group causing the majority of traffic fatalities

[Journeyman]

2. Why focus only on the elderly?. . .

I've seen and unfortunately been in cars with drivers in their 20s who had no business operating a motor vehicle. Instead of focusing only on old drivers, lets expand it to all drivers. With the gaming technology available today, it shouldn't be too hard to create a virtual reality driving simulator that would test a driver's reaction times and judgment. Set 'em up in a storefront situation, require every driver, every five years to pass a test that would measure their knowledge, their judgment, and their reaction times. It could be funded by the drivers themselves, who would be required to pay for the test. If you fail on the simulator, then you have to take a real driving test on a closed course, to prove you are responsible enough and physically capable of driving a car. Like I say, there are plenty of people, old and young alike, who could not pass such a test. And we'd all be better off with all of them off the road.

[deek]

3. Let's make sure public transportation is fully funded then

...which is should be, anyway.

In most parts of this country, not being able to drive a car means NO AVAILABLE TRANSPORTATION. No ability to get to work, buy food/meds...anything. We've created a society that MUST drive, whether they are capable/want to or not.

[bluestateguy]

5. I am all for doing that, but driving a car is a privilege, not a right

.

[sandnsea]

4. With an exemption for no tickets???

I have never gotten a traffic ticket or had a wreck, not in 26 years of driving. Why should I have to pay extra to take this test? If there is an exemption for those who have had no tickets or wrecks in 5 years, then I would agree.

[retread]

6. It's past time for public transportation.

eom

[izzie]

7. Well I am 68 and can not wait to stop driving.

I drive good and have ins. that gives me a good rate for it but it is this. I may not think I drive bad but I must be slowing up at this age. I have seen some awful drivers my age( yes and at other ages also) but more as they get older. I have had some real fights with friends my age that are just awful on the road. I have been talking about selling car and just taking a cab as little as I go out and everyone thinks I am crazy. I will say this, I have always hated to drive. I think in Maine you need an eye test from doc and lic every 4 yrs. not 6. But could be wrong on that. I had to have my eye doc sign something last year and I have 20-20 on my test.You see some real nuts up here in Maine, old people on vacation.

[Loonman]

8. Damn straight

Some people should not be allowed to drive.

[izzie]

9. This is even better. In Maine and please read

You get a free hunting lic when you get old. Nice a lot of old fools that can not see well with guns yet.