Some people think that seniors should be required to retake the driving test because they think that with age comes decreased vision, hearing, and reaction time. This is certainly true to a certain extent because this occurs to different people at different speeds. I think that once a person reaches about 75 they should have annual appointments for vision and hearing tests, and if they don’t do to well then they should be required to retake the driving test. Once people reach a certain age their health starts to degrade. It is more severe with some people than with others because it can faster to some people and slower to others. This severely affects a person’s driving capabilities. You need to have keen vision to spot hazards on the road.
Elders are great people, but their driving skill may not be too great. Elders should take a driving test every year, for one reason there would be a decrease in car accidents. Many people have been killed by the lack of the elderly peoples driving skills, also because elders should be reminded how to drive because of their fragile health.
Your senior loved one should not be driving if they have not had their eyes checked in the last two years. You should also make certain that the windows and mirrors in the vehicles are kept clean to insure they can see properly out of them. If you notice any hearing difficulties, address this with your senior loved one so they can make sure they can hear well enough to respond when driving.
Majority of the information found relates to medical testing (their physical ability to drive). The South Australian My Licence website states that “You will be sent a Certificate of Fitness in the mail and asked to visit a medical practitioner for a medical assessment if: you have a medical condition recorded against your driver’s licence that is subject to a periodic review or you are aged 70 or older and hold a licence for a class of vehicle other than a car e.g. heavy vehicle or motorbike.” The same source also goes on to state that a practical driving assessment is then required “if your medical practitioner feels it is necessary to help determine your fitness to drive. It is a short drive of about 30 minutes; it is not the same as the test that new learner drivers undergo to obtain their provisional licence…. It primarily looks at the ability of the driver to control the vehicle and demonstrate safe driving on the road in light to medium traffic while complying with road rules.” This source validates this key finding as it is evident that there is no compulsory ability test for car class licence holders as they age to elderly drivers, however there is the possibility of sitting a test dependent on medical conditions. This in turn helps to answer as to whether elderly drivers should have road rules specifically applying to
We have all had the experience of being stuck behind someone that is either driving too slow, swerving, or breaking way too early; then when we drive up next to them its 9 times out of 10 an elderly driver. I believe that at the age of 75, and older, maybe even a little younger, yearly driving, medical, and vision exams need to be done to renew their licenses. This process can reduce the number of accidents involving seniors, and even help to reduce road rage situations for other drivers on the road. Now I am not trying to say that all accidents are caused by seniors, because younger drivers are responsible for, and are involved in a greater number of serious road traffic crashes than seniors. (Carvel 2002) The point I am trying to make is
This will guarantee that all individuals are driving securely and submitting to the traffic laws. I've seen excessively numerous elderly individual’s relatives, family, and friends who are losing their vision/hearing or can't see around evening time, yet they keep on driving as though nothing has changed. To the extent I know, having Alzheimer’s or dementia doesn't influence your driver's permit in the US, however I believe it's an exceptionally perilous benefit to keep up for those sorts of individuals. I'd say the more than a half of elder established individuals who keep on driving can do in this way, yet re-tests ought to be compulsory and executed at a particular age to test for mental mindfulness (both about road laws and potential circumstances) and physical response time to work a 2000-pound object that could go to more a 100 mph. In the event that messaging or holding a wireless while driving is illicit in a few states, so ought to drive without having the greater part of your faculties in place(Debate.org, 2013).
Lees et al. (2007) asked the participants to verbally express what they saw in terms of landmarks (e.g restaurants). While the participants explained the landmarks, the experimenter assessed all the driving faults that occurred and tallied the number of correct landmarks that were acknowledged (Lees et al., 2007). Without being biased towards elderly drivers, Lees et al. (2007) found a common factor. It was not so much that older people could not detect change; it was the speed to which they could react to it (Lees et al., 2007). It seemed as though elders are cognitively busy both assessing the change and deciding what to in regards to it. Lees et al. (2007) acknowledged that people of all ages are susceptible to traffic crashes and proposed that people be aware of the need of attention in driving. Lees et al. (2007) also explained that when researching on different ages, specific stimuli may be considered more attractive to one individual more so than the other.
“An eighty-six year old man killed ten people and injured more than seventy when he drove his Buick into a crowded farmers market in California. In Florida, an eighty-four year old woman drove her car through a window of a Sears and into a cash register and employee” (Murphy). Sadly enough, instances like these are becoming more and more prevalent and require immediate action. It is imperative that a more comprehensive approach be taken when deciding the competence of elderly drivers. Laws must be put into action to mandate and administer testing and re-examining of the skills and eligibility of this group. Equally important, we must consider those who will no longer be able to drive, and ensure their transportation and occupational needs
Many concerns have been expressed about the potential dangers elderly drivers present when operating a vehicle. Mental and physical capabilities begin to decline as a person ages. When their health deteriorates, the well being of other individuals on the road is at stake. Many elderly drivers should not drive due to their medical history and the fact that they might suffer from possible side effects from taking multiple prescription medicines. In addition, local organizations and neighbors can provide transportation for the elderly to keep them from endangering themselves and others. The threat senior citizens create when driving can be avoided if they are tested to ensure their competence as a driver.
With every new generation, life progresses. Things evolve and become relatively easier to do. Ever since the creation of the automobile going from place to place has never been more easier. With such technological advantage some might say that it would be more efficient to give it to the young people to help with the older generation but I feel that there are many things that are overlooked. According to the following reasons, I feel like lowering the starting age limit for driving (in general) should not be permitted. Those reasons being: It will psychologically and maybe physically impact the younger drivers, Death will increase drastically, and finally how both reasons tie together into a whole puzzle of disaster, if we decide to lower the
Imagine having a loved one get in a fatal car accident caused by another driver. Elderly drivers are an extreme priority in America today. Not only are elders challenged with psychological damage, but they also struggle with the physical effects people face as they grow older. A debated topic going on is whether or not elderly drivers should be required to reapply for their drivers licenses. However, it is evident elderly people should be required with their struggle of vision, hearing, and reaction time.
An individual’s reflexes decrease with age which affects their ability to drive. The ability to make quick decisions is an important skill to have to avoid accidents. Reflexes allow an individual to react quickly to a dangerous driving situation. It is the time an individual takes to slam on the brake or avoid an obstruction that makes reflexes so important while driving, Geriatrics’ poor reflexes create delayed reactions which ultimately increase the risk for accidents. Reflexes are needed to prevent various types of accidents such as rear-ending and pedestrian striking. It is probable that as one ages, the connection between the two hemispheres of your brain become delayed (University of Michigan). Author Rachael Seidler states, “The
Driving the scenic Texas roads is joyful for drivers. But sadly, older drivers begin to experience some health issues that limit their mobility behind the wheel of a car that diminishes their driving pleasure and safety. According to AAA, 90 percent of motorists age 65 and older suffer from a variety of medical conditions, like arthritis. Fortunately, more cars with multiple “senior friendly” features are available for older drivers to help offset the physical changes that come naturally as we age.
“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans aged 65 and older account for 13 percent of the total population. This group increased by two percent each year between 2001 and 2009. And estimates show that the number of older Americans will only increase, with the first wave of Baby Boomers turning 65 in 2011. Over the next 15 years, America’s population aged 65 and older is projected to grow by another 60 percent. Currently, 16 percent of the nation’s drivers are 65 or older, up from 14 percent in 2000. Projections show that one in every five drivers will be 65 or older by 2025.” (AASHTO (2012))
Granny, I know you’ve never been in an accident, but Lord knows how many you’ve caused! Although I love my grandmother dearly, I must admit that a few of my grey hairs are courtesy of her driving. As the years passed, my grandmother’s driving progressively got worse. However, there is no test administered to the elderly which determines whether or not they are fit to drive. While my Granny was creating mayhem on the streets, I realized how much a drivers’ test for the elderly was needed. Elderly drivers impose possible threats on others, as well as themselves, and could also be paying excess money on unnecessary insurance.
Increasing age can create impairments that can affect driving ability. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers that are seventy and older have a higher crash rate per mile driven than middle-aged drivers. The number the of senior drivers is climbing rapidly. The US census counted 47.8 million Americans sixty-five and older in 2015, and this number is expected to rise to 98.2 million by 2060. In addition, older drivers are keeping their license longer than before. Currently, the laws vary from state to state for the requirements of renewing a license of someone older than sixty-five. Some states require tests that make renewal difficult for some, while other states offer discounts which encourage more drivers. Due to poor health leading to more accidents, citizens aged sixty-five and older should be required to pass a driving test and a written test when renewing their license.