This car incident in CA exemplifies my only bipartisan issue....

[vi5]

I have for years declared that I would vote for any candidate of any party affiliation, for any office, who declares that he will institute madatory re-testing for drivers every 2 years after age 65.

I know this will never happen, but still.

[greyl]

1. talking about this on c-span right now.

And I agree with ya.

[eyesroll]

2. My late uncle Bill

was suffering from dementia for years. His wife, who was in denial and refused to do anything, finally got the hint when he plowed his car into a succession of eight parked vehicles one sunny morning.

I'm not sure if that issue would get me to vote Republican, but it would definately get my attention. Problem is -- politicians are so afraid of pissing off the "senior lobby."

[BOSSHOG]

3. How about for everyone over 40?

Reflexes start to dwindle at an early age. If retesting started at an earlier age, drivers would be more apt to prepare for it and would continue to do so for life. I'm 49 and I would welcome it. This is an age-old argument (pardon the pun), but I believe 16 and 17 year olds are more of a danger on the roads than 70 year olds, not because of physical infirmaties but because of an attitude of invincibility.

[vi5]

4. I agree with you on a few counts.....

Teens are a danger because of that air of invincibility. Now that I'm a father I wish they would raise the driving age to 21.

I also wouldn't mind if the re-testing started at 40. This way it wouldn't be a "senior" issue but would still keep tabs on all of us as drivers when we got older.

[LiberalLibra]

9. BOSSHOG: I AGREE WITH YOU, 16&17 yr olds are the single biggest.......

....hazard on the road these days. In fact, I am of the opinion that EVERYONE under the age of 25 should be required to retake the writen and especially the driving part of the test EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Yes, I think EVERY OTHER DRIVER should be COMPLETELY retested every 2 to 3 years. I know, I know, those between 30 and 50 will disagree but since a "stearing wheel" controls what can be a "deadly weapon" NO ONE SHOULD BE EXEMPT from PROVING they are capable of controlling that deadly weapon.

DRIVING IS NOT A RIGHT IT IS A PRIVILAGE

[booksenkatz]

5. Elder issues aside

No one has ever been able to explain to me how someone can plow through THREE (in this case) city blocks and not pull the foot off the accelerator. Even if a person thinks it's the brake, it obviously is NOT the brake when you are continuing to go forward. Every driver knows what it feels like when you're pushing the accelerator, I mean, come on. How can a person go for three blocks and not stop, not make some sort of simple connection that they're pushing the accelerator? I can't wrap my brain around these types of incidents when they occur, I just can't.

And a child the same age as mine died, so I was totally unable to sleep last night.

Sheesh.

If it would help, I would be willing to have EVERY driver re-tested every 2 years, regardless of age. Maybe it would make ALL of us pay more attention to what we're doing when we're driving a vehicle.

[Lost4words]

6. You cannot protect everybody from everything all the time.

the same is true with terrorism. As an infant I took a car out of gear while parked on a hill. What do you think we should do to children with hands?

Who would pay for the retesting every two years? The same thing can and does happen to younger drivers. I'll support your idea when we have mandatory intellegence testing for voters!


I know this will never happen, but still.

[greyl]

8. but driving is considered a priviledge

The wise assertion that everyone should have to meet higher standards to gain and retain that priviledge doesn't mean it's not a good idea for aging drivers to be tested more frequently.

Just check some statistics:

www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/olderdrivers/

JANUARY 2003

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 18.9 million licensed drivers age 70 and older in the United States in 2000 (latest data available). These older drivers made up 10 percent of the total U.S. driving population in 2000, yet accounted for 13 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2001. Older drivers have higher rates of fatal crashes, based on miles driven, than any other group except very young drivers. NHTSA also predicts that the number of elderly driver traffic fatalities could triple by 2030.

There is a growing need to help older drivers sharpen their skills as well as recognize their changing abilities and adapt their driving practices appropriately. Insurers have partnered with state and local governments, and groups such as the American Association of Retired Persons, to create programs designed to address these needs. In addition, an increasing number of states routinely attempt to identify, assess, and regulate older drivers with diminishing abilities who cannot or will not voluntarily adapt their driving habits.


KEY FACTS


In 2001, older people (70 and older) made up 13 percent of all traffic fatalities, 12 percent of vehicle occupant fatalities, and 18 percent of pedestrian fatalities, according to NHTSA.


In 2001, 82 percent of fatal accidents involving older drivers happened during the day. Seventy-three percent involved another vehicle.


According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, about half of fatal crashes involving drivers 80 years and older occur at intersections and involve more than one vehicle. This compares with less than 30 percent among drivers up to age 65.

[sendero]

7. this is just common sense...

... and I have only a small quibble with ya - I would require it every year. A *driving* test.

These kinds of accidents are far from rare. A noted community leader in my area made a left turn right in front of an oncoming car, killing himself and the other driver.

Driving when your reaction times, sight, and judgement are impaired due to age is little if any different that driving while impaired on alcohol or drugs.

Where is the outrage?

[Karenina]

11. I was rear-ended in Santa Monica

years ago by an elderly driver (there are LOTS there). The man was totally panicked and did more damage to his own fender than mine. As he was obviously a bit disoriented, I told him 'no harm, no foul' but asked if he had family in the area, took down his info and insisted he go straight home (he lived quite nearby). Called his son, who was beside himself and told me he'd been waiting for this to happen as he was HELPLESS to keep his father out from behind the wheel. Then called the police who said there was little they could do, even if the request came from a family member. :shrug:

Fast-forward 10 years and my own mother is incompetent to drive. It fell to my younger sister to wrest her car keys from her. (Shit, better her than me, my mom can be a FIRE-BREATHING DRAGON). It was a HORRIBLE WEEK-LONG struggle that only ended when my sister stated flat out, "If you're in an accident, don't call me. I WILL NOT COME" and gave mom back her keys. They've hung on the wall, unused by her ever since.

This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

[radwriter0555]

10. Problem is, SENIORS STILL VOTE.... So a bill like this would possibly

doom a politician.... Seniors have a number of huge voting lobbies and are sacred cows. The likelihood of a politician seemingly impuning an important voting bloc is unlikely.

[el_gato]

12. Cars Kill!

the stats are something like 42,000 people a year in the U.S. in auto-related deaths.

I hate automobiles, especially in overcrowded cities.

[tomp]

13. so gald you have your priorities straight. nt

[Skittles]

14. seeing how the overwhelming majority of people drive

perhaps it would be prudent to TEST EVEYONE MORE OFTEN.