sparks259

Two things: what does being able to drive a manual transmission have to do with anything? Most cars today are automatics of some sort. #2, at 65? Really? I would agree with 70 or 75, but certainly not 65. Full disclosure, I am 65, a CDI, and still do de events.
#3, ok, I lied, but I would be certainly be more concerned with drivers' physical limitations at any age. Let remember, a dl is a privilege, not a right.

JD ARTHUR

I'M 73 and drive a Kenworth with a trailer in the city every day. I got a couple of V8 powered bikes that each have 400 HP that I ride all the time. I have to pass a physical every two years as a requirement to keep my commercial license, my blood pressure has to be lower than a commercial pilots which seems unbelievable but true. In any case I think anybody over the age of 60 should have to take the same medical. The medical is as important as a driving test and would eliminate those who are about to have a stroke or heart attack or who can't understand what the hell is going on around them. If a person 60 or over gets a moving violation then another driving test should be required before a license can be renewed. My most radical opinion of how to have safe highways no matter what the age of the driver is as follows.
When I was young people realized that the DRIVERS were the problem not the cars. Today all cars have air bags, seat belts, impact bumpers, turn signals, abs braking, rear view mirrors, padded dash, collapsible steering wheels, etc. The early cars didn't have this stuff. The drivers were expected to pay attention wether they were old or young. Since over time it was realized that the drivers were becoming used to better brakes and power steering and automatic transmissions and great sound systems driving was becoming very relaxed. Now the cars all look alike and are very safe but the drivers are even less attentive. Its almost impossible to drive for a whole week without seeing an accident, even a day is getting rare. Here is my idea to make the highways safe once more. I suggest that every car be equipped with a razor sharp RHINO HORN that extends from the horn button to about 3 inches from the drivers chest, the tip of the RHINO HORN would be dipped in Cuarie, a poison that is placed on the tips of arrows when the tribes hunted in Africa. If the poison coated nicks the drivers skin he will die almost instantly. As the number of bad drivers are eliminated from the highways they will become safe again and the manufactures will be able to have chrome bumpers and any design they want and the cars will once again look great and will be different from each other. Motorcylists who have had to put up with lousy drivers for decades will start to live longer. Just another idea from a guy most consider crazy but one that would work. I don't expect anybody will take this to seriously but its fun to think about.

Hurdigurdiman

65 is the retirement age from working. That's the time a guy is eligible for Old Age Pension and the Government made that decision. Seems like common sense that 65 should be the same age for re testing drivers. If you are too old to work safely, you are too old to drive safely. So the Governments say. So let the Government do the re testing on a yearly basis. Makes sense to me. I have no fear that I would pass my re test and would be more than willing to take any test that the Government cares to sling my way. What say you other drivers over 65 years of age. Women should be re tested from 60 yrs onward.. I mean I have great difficulty holding my hand still as I put my lip stick on when looking in my rear view mirror hahaha.

5CHN3LL

Social Security is currently optimized for retirees who begin taking benefits at 70. 65 is no longer the "official" retirement age...

http://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/delayret.html

You can start drawing benefits as early as 62, but you really burn a lot of your cat food and boxed wine money if you start benefits too early.

I'm not certain about the age at which lipstick becomes difficult to apply, so I'll defer to your knowledge on that matter.

Macster

And that's the fault of the older driver? Oh please.

Alansglide

Agreed.

That 20 year old does not have the maturity to be driving .

Perfect example of why he shouldnt have a drivers license.

Alan

eastcoastcab996

http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Right-Except-to-Pass

fanny bay r1

Of course it isn't his fault but it's at the route cause of the issue!!

morganabowen

I will be turning 70 on my next birthday and people still complain about my driving. I have been driving performance vehicles all my adult life and have continued to scare the **** out of people up until the present. That is just my style of driving. However, my grand daughter complained last year that I was driving too fast and I looked at the speedo and she was right. I've slowed down considerably with the 996 not only because it is slower than my 928 S4, but I like to think I am more responsible. There is that DAMN word again, RESPONSIBLE

mcbit

when I become a danger to other road users, I will stop driving.

...perhaps I should've stopped 40 years ago

sparks259

Re: an other poster, since when does one become" dangerous to work" at 65 ? I call MAJOR BS! As a retired electrical contractor, I've been exposed to voltages up to approx. 15kv for years. I've was in trade for 35 years and obviously survived so far. I think because some have been exposed to a few bad " elderly" drivers, they want to lump all of us into this so called dangerous group. Think before you press that " enter" button.

silotwo

Had an uncle who had been a lifetime "beat cop" who ended up being legally blind yet still drove. In his state a vision test was required for driver license renewal and yes "his friends" made sure he passed the test. He and my aunt took objection to any of us who suggested he shouldn't be driving. He didn't stop until he drove his car through the brick wall of his garage.

My Mother still laments that we sold her car. When she was 80 years old my wife and I decided that it was no longer safe for her to drive. Her position was that she had been driving since I was born (1955) and she never had a ticket, an accident, or was ever stopped by the police. But she drove a maximum of 15 MPH and when drivers behind her would blow their horn she had this great response of "blow it out your *ss, I'm not going to get a speeding ticket". Whenever she complains about not having her car we just tell her that we are happy that she is till here to complain about it.

In the case of older drivers, I'd rather see common sense prevail be it on the part of the driver or family members to intervene.

I have a bigger issue with smart phones in the hands of dumb people behind the wheel - but that just leads me to a rant and rave session.............