Elderly Drivers- When to hang up their Drivers License?

[Boyd]

Today me and my son went to the Walmart to get the new call of duty game he's been saving for. Turning left on the green light and entering the road that led up to the different businesses I was taking it nice and slow. After all, it's a 25 mile an hour side road.. Now all cross roads leading to the resturant, bank etc all have stop signs, the main road in (the one I was on) had right of way and no stops.

An elderly gentleman driving a 20 year old cherokee ran a stop sign forcing me to slam on the brakes and I started to immediately toot my horn, turn and brake. As soon as I tooted the horn he panicked and slammed on the brakes himself blocking the intersection. I missed him by a hair. Me and my son went Phew.....

No clue why but he went all the way around the parking lot and as I'm fixing to pull into a spot he drives down the lane. So I roll down my window thinking I'd tell him to watch out, he ran a stop sign, he gave me no room to manuver even at slow speeds etc... he swerved and I thought he was stopping so me and my son got out when he didn't roll down the window. I stood in the lot waiting to see if he was getting out because I still would like to talk to him.. instead he gunned his engine headed straight at me. Thank god my son was no where near being on the other side of the car.

The darn fool almost got in real hot water because I had to literally jump out of the way. He was trying to run me down!!!!

Twice in less than 2 minutes had he endangered my life, and my sons life.

He should hang up his hat and give up the license. If he is reading this, I hope he realizes how close he came to loosing his life today.

 

[speckledhen]

That's a hard subject. My dad drove until last year (he is 88 now) when he lost his leg to an aneurysm behind the knee that cut off his blood flow. He elected not to try to learn to drive with a prosthetic leg and now depends on everyone to take him where he needs to go. He is very emotional about it, but realizes that it would endanger too many folks if he tried. Can you imagine from their perspective how awful it is to suddenly lose your freedom to do things for yourself? So hard! Even though it's hard, it's preferable to endangering everyone else, I know. So sad. Glad you and your son were not hurt.

 

[chickennurse]

I can't tell you how many elderly patients I see that are still driving. One patient a few years ago rammed into our cardiology office when she was late for her appointment. Thank god it was lunch time and no patients were in the waiting area. 15 min later it would have been full of heart patients. She was not hurt and tg the state took her license at 94. I honestly think at 75 they have to take a yearly exam and test to make sure they have the reflexes and be okayed by their medical doctor they are able to drive. The problem too is families don't want to take away their priviliges because they will have to drive them places and assume more responsibility for grandma or grandpa.

 

[bargain]

It's highly individualistic .....age and driving....

When I worked, I was a gerontologist........All things being equal, younger drivers often take unnecessary risk and are also visually and hearing impaired by distractions, text messaging, cell talk, etc., etc.

I've been taking the AARP drivers course for years to get a discount on insurance althought I haven't age qualified all that time....

If there are to be retests and there may need to be, it should happen at all ages.

Tough subject.........I know if ever I had to give up driving for whatever reason, my life would change drastically,,,,,here in the country, no cabs, no busses, no carpool groups....Okay I could walk to town a mere 2 1/2 miles, but no sidewalks.....Yup it's a very tough tough issue, especially i rural america.

 

[chickennurse]

The sad thing is even if they do take their license, many will continue to drive. The families need to take the keys and car as well. Yes losing independence is difficult but the many lives that are in danger outweigh that. I don't mean to sound dispassionate about it but I see it day in and day out in the emergency room and had a fellow nurse hit by one of these elderly people. The lady had her license revoked, had no insurance and my friend endured many surgeries and cannot practice now because the lady went through a red light she did not see due to her cataracts.

 

[chickennurse]

Quote:
I agree very tough issue. Out here we have a transport service for the elderly. They need to make an appointment 24 hours ahead but they will take them to the mall, walmart, dr appointment ect for around 5-8.00 round trip. They can get vouchers provided by medicare if they have medicaid for doctors appointments, grocery ect.

 

[Boyd]

it is a very tough issue... And trust me, new drivers annoy me more than most, but the cops just look the other way when it's somebody who clearly should have their license revoked. I wouldn't mind voting on legislation to have folks start taking a mandatory road test yearly starting in their mid 50's.. and if somebody is flagged because of illness etc even sooner. I have been in two accidents in my life... both times I was unable to avoid collision with an elderly driver who caused it. I know I'm hypersensitive about it, but today was the dot on the exclamation point. He panicked and he tried to run me down. If I hadn't had my son with me I would have called 911, and followed the stupid fool to his house if needed.

As it is, I'm venting here.

 

[phalenbeck]

We need to support mass transit vs new highways and we all would be better off, and not driving would be less scary. Our time will come. My 83 year old mother should not be driving, but even after a fault accident there was no questioning of her ability. My father drove till 88 1/2 and would get lost in the same area he lived in for 84 of his 88 years. received a 4 year new license at 88. Had to get a friendly M.D. sigh off on his poor eyesight. We need busses, trains, all over the place.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
I agree very tough issue. Out here we have a transport service for the elderly. They need to make an appointment 24 hours ahead but they will take them to the mall, walmart, dr appointment ect for around 5-8.00 round trip. They can get vouchers provided by medicare if they have medicaid for doctors appointments, grocery ect.

In michigan it's called Your Ride. They will pick you up and drop you off for $2.00. It's state subsidized just for situations like this... for folks who are unable to drive by either mental or physical defect.

 

[BlackBart]

Where I live they have to go for a mandatory road test on their 85th Birthday or if they have had a questionable accident.
Most don't pass and loose their license.
My Husband was hit by a elderly man who thought the Sun (yes, the sun in the sky) was a yield light. When the Police charged him he was charged "under the influence", he was stoned on prescription drugs.

It is a hard transition for the elderly but with Government services such as HandiDart, $2.50 a trip and Taxi Saver coupons there is no need for them to feel shut in but I am sure they do miss the freedom.

I would be curious to see the rate of accidents between elderly drivers and new drivers. Both can be dangerous.
It is now against the law in British Columbia to use a handheld device while driving or a music device other than the stereo/radio.
I wish the would make GPS's against the law while driving.