Older drivers get one more for the road

[lpara]

<span style='font-family:comic sans ms'>Older drivers get one more for the road

By Joyce Howard Price
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The number of elderly drivers in the United States is climbing dramatically, and growing numbers of states are enacting special requirements designed to ensure the driving skills of older motorists are not impaired.
Yesterday in Florida, a state with one of the nation's largest senior populations, a new law took effect that requires drivers 80 and older to pass an eye test to renew their licenses, instead of simply renewing their licenses through the mail.
Florida is one of more than 20 states getting tougher on older drivers by requiring medical or vision tests, mandatory road tests or establishing shorter periods for renewal. It is a trend that is expected to continue, as the population of elderly drivers grows.

Organizations such as AAA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety acknowledge that they are not enthusiastic about the push to single out seniors at the wheel for special testing requirements. (http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040102-120036-1446r.htm)</span>

[lpara]

<span style='font-family:comic sans ms'>We can't renew our liscense by mail. We have an eye test every 5 years when we renew our liscense in NC. Everyone should at least have that! I didn't know they could be renewed by mail http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif</span>

[Terri]

Yes, for 10 years here in Colorado. I have one of them now that was renewed by mail.

But not for drivers 65 and over.

[Leelanau]

I was supposed to have to retest to renew my driver's license this year, but when I showed up for testing all they did was check my vision. The new Michigan law states that you no longer have to take a retest every 10 years. I really don't like that!

There should be mandatory testing for anyone who has gotten several citations within a certain time period. I realize many of those would be for parking or speeding - but I'd even like my husband to be retested for his many &quot;close calls&quot; (shush...don't tell him I said that, he just thinks I'm a backseat driver!). Many of the people who get frequent citations just keep racking up the points and never are accountable for their actions.

There has to be accountabilty on the road, people's lives are at stake.

[Floridaguy]

Quote[/b] ]Yesterday in Florida, a state with one of the nation's largest senior populations, a new law took effect that requires drivers 80 and older to pass an eye test to renew their licenses, instead of simply renewing their licenses through the mail.
* Florida is one of more than 20 states getting tougher on older drivers by requiring medical or vision tests, mandatory road tests or establishing shorter periods for renewal. It is a trend that is expected to continue, as the population of elderly drivers grows. *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bowlow.gif *Praise the Lord. We have been asking for this for years. I think teens, seniors, and anyone that gets many citations in a short period should all be unable to renew by mail. Meanwhile, automobile insurance is skyrocketing in Florida, and that creates the danger of more and more people driving without it. *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tqrolleyes.gif *No offense to the *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/granny.gif *and *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/troll.gif *, but I am tired of having old people who can barely see over their steering wheel pull out in roads without looking, without apologizing once someone blows their horn at them, and who think they have lived long enough to now own the road, everyone else had just better watch out for them. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif

[Terri]

Quote[/b] ]but I am tired of having old people who can barely see over their steering wheel pull out in roads without looking, without apologizing once someone blows their horn at them, and who think they have lived long enough to now own the road, everyone else had just better watch out for them.
Oh that's ok. I'm just as tired of the whippersnappers clogging up the roads while doing business deals on their cellphones, driving too fast because they are always late for the next appointment, and having no regard for traffic laws or other drivers.

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

[lpara]

<span style='font-family:comic sans ms'>http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrinangelA.gif I predict a &quot;road rage&quot; incident coming to a forum near you http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif</span>

[Terri]

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mdr11.gif

I wonder if we could get our licenses renewed if we wiped out a whippersnapper with a turbo charged http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rockingchair.gif

Seriously, I forgot to say that you can't get your license renewed by mail in Colorado if you have moving violations.

And since you can't do it after age 65 maybe the http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cowboy7.gif would be safer if he moved north and west. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laff.gif

[Charie]

Wisconsin has had mandatory eye testing for so long I can't even remember when it started. Also, you have to go to the DMV to get your license and that's when you get your eyes tested. I have to believe that if you were walking around in a daze or couldn't follow instructions, the employees there would make sure you didn't get one. Once I hit the age of 60 I only got a 2 year license but last time I got a 4 year license. I'm not quite sure what that's all about.

There's also a voluntary driver's refresher course called &quot;55 Alive&quot; and I'm here to tell you that I was asked to teach this course twice. And I turned them down twice. I'd make a terrible teacher because I have no patience. Everybody's toes would be swollen once I got that old http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rockingchair.gif going!! I'm just glad that enough real teachers volunteered to take up the slack and do a good job. I'd probably be in jail.

[Leelanau]

Flguy- your comment about the &quot;older&quot; folks hit my funny bone! *I will say honestly though, it is one of the main reasons I hate visiting FL. *Another are all the stupid tourists - of course, I'm one of the more intelligent type! *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[pRIMrose]

Quote[/b] ] I think teens, seniors, and anyone that gets many citations in a short period should all be unable to renew by mail.

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/yes.gif to all the above. I always thought it was ridiculous to issue a six years (in Florida) DL to anyone over 70 without some sort of test, be it eye, ear or road. So much can happen in six years and many elderly have to wait until a family member is forced to make the decision for them. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif I certainly don't mind taking a DL test of any kind.

[Brenda]

GREAT NEWS FOR THOSE OF US IN FLORIDA!
However, it doesn't go far enough.
I have seen elderly persons, in the E.D. who have the reaction time of a very slow turtle, drive their spouse,friend,or other family member from the discharge ramp, after having to be repeatedly told the discharge instructions due to loss of hearing or short term memory loss.
(imho ALL OVER 65 SHOULD HAVE A REACTION TIME TEST, BE ABLE TO HEAR, AND SEE, AND DO ALL 3 AT THE SAME TIME. NO DISRESPECT INTENDED--I'LL SOON BE IN THAT CATAGORY MYSELF.)
AND HAVE SAID A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE ON THE ROAD AROUND THEM TO BE KEPT SAFE--MANY, MANY, TIMES.

On the other side of the coin --- it is virtually impossible to function in this society without a D.L., RELYING ON FAMILY MEMBERS IS BECOMING NON-EXISTANT, AND MOST FIXED INCOME ELDERLY CAN'T AFFORD A TAXI. AND BESIDES THIS IS THEIR LAST SYMBOL OF INDEPENDANCE.

[Floridaguy]

Quote[/b] ]And since you can't do it after age 65 maybe the *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cowboy7.gif *would be safer if he moved north and west. *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laff.gif *well, except for the issue of driving on all those winding mountainous roads. At least Florida is still flat. I always thought that's where people who doubted the world was round were standing when they said it was flat. *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rofl.gif

Quote[/b] ]I'm just as tired of the whippersnappers clogging up the roads while doing business deals on their cellphones, driving too fast because they are always late for the next appointment, and having no regard for traffic laws or other drivers. Well, maybe the first part, but I am very considerate and never speed. I don't make appointments if I can help it. *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif *Of course, this might all change once the campaign starts. *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif *Hey, if you had an hour drive every day, each way, you'd spend the time doing business on your cellphone, too. *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cowboy7.gif