Should old people have the right to keep driving....

As long as they're healthy, have all their mobility and sight...I don't have a problem with it myself.

Yup, I think they should be granted that right, just like everyone else. Bad distance perception and other inept driving skills are not only confined to old people - just take a look around, and you see some really stupid and dangerous young drivers.

Should young people have the right to start driving? They are very inexperienced and drive faster than they should. Kids are slap-happy and some of them don't give a damn. Kids have no driving ability to lose.On top of that they are much more apt to be drinking and driving. How about more transit for kids between 16 and 25?

Hi, Jenniferp! You may want to try closing your door from now on while changing your child's diaper. Just for safety precautions. I think that some old people don't need to be driving when they are mentally incapable of driving safely and efficently. I know that some of them drive very slow and careful like. I am sorry that this accident happened to you. Hopefully the olders person insurance will take care of the damage to your car door. I wonder why the police can't say the same thing, when a younger person will hit somone else's car??

I lived in Florida for 28 years. Florida is full of "retirees". And I do believe they should have to take some sort of "reflex" test. I also think all the New Yorkers that come to Florida should take a special test also. Just kidding! (about the retiree thing)

i think that they should have the right only if they have proven that they are still capable of driving and understand the rules. people age differently, so i think the yearly testing should start even before the age of 70.

There is no problem with people above 70 years old who drive for as long as they are still physically and mentally alert and capable of driving. I am hoping to drive still even if I will be 70 years old already.

I agree with you, but this is why countries usually make people re-take their driving permits every few years. If they manage to pass it they can continue to drive and theres nothing really that you can do about it. In my opinion old people should also have an eye test. As some of them are long-sited it makes it harder for them to park their cars.

I think that as long as they can still pass the driving tests, they should be able to keep driving. There are a lot of elderly people who are still quite sharp. Yes, there are some who have more difficulty, and that is why they should and in many places do, have to retake the driving tests.

Hi Jennifer, I can understand your feelings. However this is a a very sensitive issue esp these days when the old need to be independent and take care of their needs , they naturally want to be up and mobile. I feel that we cannot generalise and here probably the licence dept need to have some criteria based upon which the old people above a certain age group have to undergo certain tests and only then are allowed to drive.I too have come across some incidents like yours , once I saw an old lady driving in the middle of the road where there was no divider and at a speed of 20 kms causing a traffic jam in the morning rush hour and when asked to move faster she got very angry and started screaming at the person who had spoken to her and later at the cop who came and took his side LOL, so it may be wiser to have some strict regulations for those above 70 or whatever age group..

I was driving home from work once and of course, mentally and physically tired. There a very old man riding a motorcycle on the same road as me in front of me. I just ignore him and thinking of overtaking him as I get nearer. Suddenly, he just ride to the other side of the road without even glancing whether there's any vehicle behind. I was so surprised! What happen if I suddenly speed up to overtake him? He doesn't even realized I ride next to him and horn him after that (I don't know whether if he don't care)

Well, it's true they're old and you can't really blame them but if i were you, i'd be quite annoyed too..Because they know they're old, they should have had a driver or something..Driving themselves could have put someone in danger, there could have been an accident if they couldn't see that properly..The police should have advised the old couple to get a driver or something so this wouldn't happen again...Hope you've gotten your car fixed...=]

negatve,age is not a standard to valuate anything, if you can, if you have the capbility, if you have the energy,you can drive a plane,even, that's what comes to me.

Others have stated the sensitivity of this issue, and I must agree. This is a very sensitive issue with the need to be independent, the metal and physical ability with age, and what not. I agree with most responses here that the elderly should be required to take driving tests every few years and also have medical evaluations to ensure they are safe to drive. Other responses have stated that the elderly have the right to keep driving because young drivers do stupid things too. Of course, this is entirely ignorant. As a young driver I know that I do stupid things behind the wheel. But I also know that many elderly people and just as many middle aged drivers do equally as stupid things behind the wheel. All drivers should be required to be re-tested much more frequently It doesn't matter how old the drivers are, the fact is that human lives are at stake. In regards to you situation Jennifer, if this driver hit your vehicle despite the range of open space you describe it's obvious that this person has no safe place on the road. And yes, public transit has to be better promoted for the elderly.

I don't personally think it the age, there are people of all ages that do stupid things, and I always say that it is the young ones that are getting killed on the roads these days so if we stop the old people from driving for their silly little habits then we should stop the young people as well as they are the ones getting killed so that leaves the roads free for us middle of the roaders...yea i think i like that... I think we all do silly things but i must admit i don't want to be driving when I am old I want to be walking distance to everything...

They should only to an extent like, if they can see real good with glasses and r in good physical condition, havent had any wrecks that was unrelated to their health. Cuz we all need to be safebut we want to make sure everyone not just senior citizens.

I feel that once a person reaches the age of 70 they should have to take a short driving test to check their depth percetion, hearing, sight and response time. Just because you are old doesnt mean you are a bad driver but they do seem to cause accidents more than the youn people just learning. What would be better the test or a possible loss of someones life?