Should Old Drivers Be Re-Tested For Licenses?

[watson]

<p>Recently the story below was in the local newspaper</p><p> I would kindly ask the oracle if old people over age 65 lets say should be retested for their driver's licenses every 3-5 years????</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Story: </p>An 82-year-old Allentown man accidentally stepped on the gas pedal when he meant to step on the brake, resulting in the death of an Allentown woman when his car hit her and crashed into a jewerly store, police said.<br /> <br /> Sung-Yeung Kam's car barreled 40 feet inside Bixler's Jewelers at the Village West Shopping Center in South Whitehall Township on Nov. 21.<br /> <a href="http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/all-bixlersphoto1220,0,2021675.photo?coll=all-news-hed" target="win_26979100" onclick="if (window.windoid) windoid('','win_26979100',760,450,'resizable=1,scr ollbars=1')"><br /> </a><span class="credit"></span> Joan Zamborsky, 59, of 917 N. St. Lucas St., who was entering the store to shop, died after being hit by Kam's car. The Lehigh County coroner's office had said she died of blunt force trauma.<br /> <br /> South Whitehall police said a complete vehicle inspection revealed no mechanical malfunction in the car. Three other women were injured in the crash, though none seriously. Kam and his wife, Celia, 72, were not hurt.<br /> <br /> Kam's charge, careless driving causing the unintentional death of another, is a summary offense, meaning Kam will receive a citation in the mail. <span class="post_edited"></span>
<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by watson on 12-21-06 @ 12:04 AM</span>

[spot]

This poll is lacking something..

[empulse]

<strong>spot</strong> wrote:<br />This poll is lacking something.. <p>A Farmers Market?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I live in SWFL and have had the elderly almost kill me on about 5 occasions now.&nbsp; I was driving down Kings HighWay one night when i saw an old Lincoln comming at me in my lane.&nbsp; I was flashing my lights, blowing my horn and it didn't help, I swerved and they hit head-on into the car behind me, both had to be traveling at 45mph when they hit.</p><p>It's not uncommon for R41 and 75 to be closed down completely for hours, in season, because they will pull out onto roads doing 40mph in traffic doing 85mph on the highway.</p><p>They will never make them re-test tho.&nbsp; wanna see a large demo of voters turn out, threaten to put that legislation on the ballot and every Cracker Barrel in the state will empty just to vote.</p>

[Fez4PrezN2008]

<strong>spot</strong> wrote:<br />This poll is lacking something.. <p>Obvoiusly the other option of &quot;pee in my butt&quot;</p><p><font color="#ffffff">Which I would choose til the day I die!</font></p>

[Judge Smails]

<p>My father-in-law&nbsp; has the early stages of Parkinsons which unfortunately seems to be developing rather quickly.&nbsp; Thinking back to last Christmastime I can see that he's gotten much worse.&nbsp; It takes him close to a minute to get himself to a standing position from the couch.&nbsp; The Parkinsons, coupled with the fact that he's nearly 400 lbs. really affects his reaction time.&nbsp; He's got a handicap tag so he doesn't have to walk that far to and from the car.</p><p>I see him pulling out of my driveway sometimes and it really concerns me.&nbsp; I've never ridden in the car with him, because I'm not that daring so I really don't know how good or bad he is.&nbsp; I know that I won't let my wife and kids ride with him either.</p><p>I mentioned to my wife that maybe it's time that he stop driving and she gave me the same excuse that they always give for old people: &quot;He's a widower and he's all alone.&nbsp; His car is the only connection he has to the outside world.&nbsp; If you take it away he'll&nbsp;deteriorate even quicker.&quot;&nbsp; She says that if his doctor doesn't think he should stop driving then who are we to say.</p><p>I love the guy too, but I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself or someone else.&nbsp; As bad as it sounds,&nbsp;I would seriously consider making some kind of anonymous report to the authorities.&nbsp; But then again, who would I report it to.&nbsp; Again, his doctor doesn't see a problem with it.&nbsp; If he had to take the driving test however, I'm pretty sure that he probably would fail.</p>

[Gvac]

<p>My local Quik Chek got victimized by an old lady a few weeks ago when she hit the gas instead of the break when pulling into a parking space in front of the store.&nbsp; </p><p>What I see on the road every day leads me to believe that older drivers <strong><em>must </em></strong>be re-tested.&nbsp; It's not a violation of their rights, it's for the safety of the general populace.&nbsp; It's no secret that reflexes, eyesight, and hand-eye coordination diminish greatly with age, and far too many of our senior citizens are operating a potentially deadly projectile without the skills to do it properly.&nbsp; </p><p>If it's going to be done, I say age 75 is perfectly acceptable as a re-test age. &nbsp;</p>

[Snacks]

<p>Driving is a priveledge not a right. If you have a family member who shouldnt be driving, take the keys. Its too late after things like this happens. As for Dr's, they dont see how people or their patient drive. Its not up to a DR to tell a parent hey your getting to old or shouldnt be driving, its up to the family member to tell them the truth. </p><p>I think anyone over 65 should have to be retested everytime they renew their license. As you get older your reaction speed slows and if you top that with an illness and weight issues, your putting everyone at risk. One of you wrote that you wont let your wife or kids get in the car? Why not? If you allow that same person to drive they have more of a chance hurting someone else not in the car. So if your so worried about your own family in the car, what about some kid on his bike or someone crossing the street? </p><p>Sorry if I come across pissy but this is one thing that just bothers the shit out of me. My father was real sick before he died, we took the keys, sold the car and we drove him around. I think the problem is most people know if they stop their aging parent from driving then they have to drive them around and people are too lazy.</p>

[Don Stugots]

i know my mom's driving skills are lacking.&nbsp; she nevers drives the speed limit.&nbsp; while is always 5 mph under and insists on being in the center lane.&nbsp;

[Judge Smails]

<p>I hear ya Snacks and I'm right there with you.&nbsp; Unfortunately, this is my father-inlaw not my dad, in which case I'd be all over the situation.&nbsp; I'm trying to get my wife to come around but she still says he's not that bad.&nbsp; We have mentioned it to the doctor and the doctor also insists that he's fine.&nbsp; For me to assert myself any more at this particular moment will not accomplish anything except starting WW III with my father-inlaw and brother-inlaw.&nbsp; </p><p>That's why I said I wish there were some anonymous government body that I could snitch on him to.&nbsp; I know that some would say that &quot;snitches get stitches&quot; but I really do want to do the right thing.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[DJEvelEd]

<p>No because&nbsp;I have my&nbsp;truck registered&nbsp;in my Grandmother's name. It literally saves me 2,000 a year in insurance.</p><p>On the other hand, if she was to drive, she would kill herself and many others. She can't drive but when she went for her renewal, she was in a wheelchair and her arm was in a sling. They let her right through.</p><p>I'm voting no for selfish, monetary&nbsp;reasons. I will NEVER register a car. I'll pay someone else to put me on their policy.</p>

[FUNKMAN]

<p><strong><font size="1">Should Old Drivers Be Re-Tested For Licenses?</font></strong> </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>i wouldn't know, my ass is round and firm.&nbsp; ask those Saggy Ass people...</p>

[A.J.]

Absolutely.&nbsp; If you see a slow-moving car with Florida plates and/or a AAA sticker, you know you're in trouble.

[crb1]

<p>They should be re-tested.&nbsp; My grandmother is 91, and we just took away her keys a couple years ago.&nbsp; She was actually in good shape, but started to slide downhill (mentally) around that time.&nbsp; She still complains about not being able to drive, but she is truly dangerous and the last thing any of us wanted to hear is that she plowed through a group of children because she confused the gas and break pedals.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[cougarjake13]

<p>definitely need to be re tested and i say it should be at the age of 55</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[FezPaul]

<p><strong><font face="courier new,courier" size="2">My AZ CDL is good until I turn 65.&lt;insert any minute now joke here&gt;</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="courier new,courier" size="2">I don't know about class D drivers.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="courier new,courier" size="2">Test the old bats.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="courier new,courier" size="2">Don't expect politicians to get behind this.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="courier new,courier" size="2">The AARP will tear 'em a new one.</font></strong></p>

[SatCam]

Sung-Yeung Kam

well there's your problem right there

[shittyhambrgers]

<p>wow... old AND asian. that spells problems.</p><p>beat me to it, <span class="name"><font face="verdana" size="2" color="black"><strong>SatCam.</strong></font></span> </p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by shittyhambrgers on 12-21-06 @ 8:46 PM</span>

[NewYorkDragons80]

You can't discriminate based on age.&nbsp; What you would have to do is establish increments (5, 10 years) where EVERYONE would have to get their license renewed.

[FezPaul]

<strong>NewYorkDragons80</strong> wrote:<br /><strong><font size="3">You can't discriminate based on age.</font></strong>&nbsp; What you would have to do is establish increments (5, 10 years) where EVERYONE would have to get their license renewed. <p><strong><font face="courier new,courier" size="2">Then let's repeal the pedaphilia laws.</font></strong></p>

[NewYorkDragons80]

<strong>FezPaul</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>NewYorkDragons80</strong> wrote:<br /><strong><font size="3">You can't discriminate based on age.</font></strong> What you would have to do is establish increments (5, 10 years) where EVERYONE would have to get their license renewed. <p><strong><font face="courier new,courier" size="2">Then let's repeal the pedaphilia laws.</font></strong></p><p>&nbsp;Zuh?&nbsp; You know we're talking about consenting adults.&nbsp; Enough games.</p>