After seeing an elderly couple at the DMV (Orlando,Fla) taking the vision test I began to wonder about this subject (this was before the incident in Ca. and the other on the east coast). What I observed was a man taking the eye test with his wife standing behind his shoulder. The problem I had was with the fact that SHE was reading the chart to him. He then repeated it to the examiner who let them get away with this Fraud. The wife stated to me that she had to do this because he could not see well enought to read for himself. Who will be blamed if/when there is a (God forbid) accident with any level of damage/injury? I feel that the DMV examiner should also be held responsible. As to testing periods I feel that road tests should be manditory every 2 years to age 21. every 5 years to 61 and every 2 years to 75. After 75 testing every year is a must. This is road testing that I am talking about. Written testing at the same time will help too. As I hold a class A commercial drivers licence with all endorsements ( Tanker,Triples,Hazmat and Passenger Bus also motorcycle) You can imagine what my testing would be like. However If if saves only one life it should happen. Oh, have no doubt that it would save lives.

 

Right on, Tigerman!
Several years ago I had to take an eye test for my DL. When I entered the large room full of people in lines, I saw the eye chart on one wall with people being tested. Knowing I would take the test, I walked over and took a few moments to memorize the lines before getting in line. As it turned out, I had no problem with the test but I could have given her the bottom line if necessary. Last time I took a written test (in La.), I walked in without looking at a book and aced the test - it had been dumbed down so much that it was almost impossible to fail. Point is, testing systems need to be updated to mean something..
Dono

 

I'm only 26 but I think everyone needs tested. I've seen 30 year old people that scare me as well as 17 and 77 year old. Ignorance and poor driving abilities know no age. Everyone should be tested, if you ain't safe you don't belong on the roads.

 

Some things that really get me going are that some of these older people that buy a huge diesel pusher camper can't barely see to drive his cadilac. Some of them even have air brakes from what I've heard (not 100% sure). These things drive pretty poorly from what I've seen. Heck even the smaller campers I've driven don't dirve good at all.

Work buddy said that in some parts of sothern California you can take the written test in spanish. WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU SEEN A ROAD SIGN WRITTEN IN SPANISH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Another thing that bothers me is that as soon as you have a drivers license you can get in a (example) F-350 and tow a 30 goose neck or even bigger. There needs to be training and endorsements for this just like my CDL. Towing on ice is even more dangerous. I've seen inexperienced drivers (age not a factor) lose control of trucks or SUV's towing something. A lot of drivers would not know what to do if they stood on the binders and their trailer tried to come around on them.

Being 22 I'm still considered an inexperienced driver agewise. Started driving when I was 16 and have no tickets or accidents that I caused. The accident I was in that I didn't cause was caused by an old lady in an Oldsmobile that drove across 4 lanes of traffic and hit me in the passenger door while I was in a left hand turn lane. She said she never saw me but I had hit her. Ruled in my favor.

But I agree that most teen drivers are higher risk. Not because they have less time on the road (everyone has to start at 0 miles though this does cause higher risk) but because they want to go fast and such.

 

The government says you have to work until you're 71 years young, to receive full S/S benifits. Most are still hard working, beyond these years. Their driving on the other hand, is something that, not the goverment, but an independent commity should look into. Most of those "OFFICIALS" are beyond those years and wouldn't get us anywhere...
Their judgement of distance is diminished, things are darker and blurry, reaction times are much slower, and some of the concoction's of medications their Doctors have them on are a danger to them, let alone the public. I would rather have them out from behind the wheel, than to have to bury a loved one.
There is more..... so much more to go over, but something needs to be done yesterday. Not tomarrow. I may be stepping on some toes or hurting some feelings, but when I am unable to drive any longer, it may take some "other" eyes to tell me it's time to hang up my keys. Hopefully, I make that decision myself, before I kill someone.....

 

Test everyone, with a full, CDL-type road test--paralell park to both sides, back into a parking space, and driving on the highway. Ages 25-60 should be every 5-6 years, 60-70 every 2 years, 16-24 and over 70 should be EVERY YEAR. Also, if someone can't pass a DOT physical, they simply should not be driving.

I'm a professional driver (CDL-B, passenger, tank, & air brakes), and see all sorts of insanity every day.

 

Actually, most tickets are not given out for driving to slow, it's for tailgating...something the united states really needs to start buckling down on. I think a lot of kids my age go fast because they have never tested the limits of a vehicle and want to see what the thing can do. If you go on a high performance driving test, it'll show you what the limits of the car are. I went to a driving school where the parents were able to come. Most of them were 40+ years old and learned just as much as we did. Most of them didn't even know what to do with ABS vs non-ABS vehicles. We went 55 or so mph and slammed on the brakes to feel what the car would do and how the ABS would respond. Most of the parents were just speechless. Not many of them had any experience with high speed turning or manuvers. Most people don't even know their basic physics. At 60 mph the average car stops in around 120-130 feet. At 70 it's up around 160-180 feet. Most people don't realise that.

 

Anyone, regardless of age that cannot get off of their cell phone should not be able to drive. This also applies to those who must fidgit with the radio while going down the road. Look at german driving laws on the audobahn(sp?). The police will pull you over for running in the left lane, insulting other drivers (hand gestures, mouthing thing, screaming yelling) and talking on the cell phone! This is a major problem here in central ohio. I drive a full size van and get stuck with some idiot with his god-forsaken phone stuck to his head wanting to go 110mph in a 65 zone, I'm already doing 70-75 and that's not good enough for them. Also I feel that all people that feel they must run over 65 with a gooseneck trailer or truck-bed camper need to be shot on site. They are a severe hazard to everyone on the road. Sorry for the vent but saw all of this on I71 coming home from school today.

 

And stopping distances go way up with a trailer even if it has brakes.

Scary, very scary.

 

I put other, just for the fact that someone 60+ years young (old) are in great shape, but there are some that cant see well, hear well, or react fast enought to avoid hitting something, so I think it should be a drive test every 2 years

 

From first hand experience I have to say I agree with the testing every two years once you hit the certain age, and that you shouldn't be allowed to get your liscence until your 18 (or maybe 21 with the way the kids were driving to the vw show last weekend almost caused a pile up on the TP because he had to be stupid and swerve in front of a big truck (18 wheeler).

The thing is that the eye test, well yes but more so they should have to take the driving test every 2 years and not the little course on a highway. The thing is the elderly generally need transportation, they have dr appts and places they need to go and like to go, whats the point of being retired if you're just going to sit in your house and wait to die? My dad's reflexes are slowing down (especially when it comes to braking) but the fact is he has never been in or caused an accident, so saying they should take his liscense in a couple years simply because he's older is not right. He leaves extra space between him and the car in front of him and is a cautious driver. Quite franky I'm more scared having to drive on the baltimore or Dc beltway at any time than I'd ever be in a car with him.
Plus many of them don't have family close by to help them when it gets to the point they can no longer drive (which my father being a retired firefighter has already said when he doesnt feel safe to drive he wont). The "kids" are too busy with their own lives to take care of them. (sad actually) So then what can they do?

just my .02

red

 

Yes Red you're right, I was not trying to say they shold not drive, just a test evey 2 years or so, my wifes Grandmother is 78 and she drives every plce, we live in Oregon and last summer she drove to Ill. and on to Ok. but like your Father she is getting a little slower, and she dose leave extra room between cars and takes her time.
She has said it as well, when *she* thinks she is unsafe she will stop driving and have the Grandkids take her where she needs to go

 

Million... I bet you wouldn't/didnt say that when you were getting your licence...


It should be a retest every 2-5 years after 60

 

I just went threw this with my dad. He's 82 years old. His reflexes are shot. He's been driving longer than I've been living. In the last year he's had two accidents. Both were his fault. He's never in over 60 years of driving had a accident then he has two. I tryed to talk him into giving up his license. He simply refused. I finally disabled his car. When he went to renew his license last month he couldn't pass the eye test. So finally he decides its time to quit driving. He lives with my wife and I and we can and do take him wherever he needs to go. I'm strongly in favor of testing eveybody every 5--10 years. Oh buy the way I posess a CDL with PTX endorsments and have been driving tractor trailers over 35 years accident free. I still feel retesting every few years would be helpful to ALL drivers.

 

OK, OK, OK, al you professional CDL drivers know whats going on. I totally agree with you on every aspect. Gatorfishing, you're a good man for doing what you can to assist your dad. I congradulate all who are. It's better we do what we can on our own, before long, "Big Brother" is going to decide for us.