Elderly Driving
One of the hardest thing to do is take away a patient’s license. Sometimes, it is a person’s only lifeline to society. Even if the patient has supportive family members it can create isolation and depression. That being said, we have all seen some major horror stories of old people who should have not been behind a wheel and killed people. At least this story didn’t end in total disaster.
NBC local affiliate WOWT Channel 6 reports that just before noon on Wednesday an elderly man got his foot stuck on the accelerator of his car and drove into a Valentino’s pizza restaurant. While concerned citizens called 911, the man placed an order for a pizza.
At least he knew where he was.
Yeah, I think we need better testing on people after a certain age in order to allow them to drive. But that’s just me.
Agree with the road testing. Docs rarely turn their patients in, and never will. Cars are lethal weapons, and objective, 3rd-party evaluations are the answer.
My soon to be 84 y/o Dad and I have gone to watch High School Hockey games over the past several years and he prefers to drive – he probably navigates those back road short cuts at night better than I. However, he is still an impatient tailgater and I am sometimes concerned about his reaction time. He sometimes misses road signs, but knows when he does and finds another way to get where he needs to go.
I concur that a periodic Road Test is in order, but at what age? 65? 75? (hopefully not at 57 yrs old – I have one more cataract extraction later this month – then I will be ready).
The problem, as evidenced by the previous comments, is where or at what age do you draw the line? There are people at 85 who are better drivers than some at 50. Testing every 5 years or some other magical number will only drive up the costs of getting a license and will probably not remove the dangerous drivers from the road. They will know their license is on the line and will concentrate very hard to pass the test.
It sure depends on the person. I took my dad’s keys away when he was 89,but not his license. I felt it might be less demoralizing that way. He still tells folks that I took his keys away… but it was time.
I think everyone should have a drivers test every 5 years- there are people younger who are a danger too- then no one could claim discrimination
I agree with Carol. I’m willing to take a basic “drive around the block” test, maybe every other license renewal, to prove that I’m safe. There are plenty of unfit drivers that shouldn’t be on the road, and this makes it nobody’s fault but their own when they lose their licenses.
I joke with my parents about them driving on the sidewalk (they’re 75 and fine right now). When the time comes that they’re dangerous, I’ll step up and do what it takes to get them off the road.