Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Elder drivers - Pro/Con - Continued

Ronni Bennett writing at Time Goes By raises a good question on elder drivers and should age be the factor in determining issuing a license to drive:

As the number of elders increases dramatically in the next few years, there are questions all elders, and local governments and communities, need to consider: Should a different kind of testing be required for elder drivers? If so, at what frequency? Should there be a standard cutoff age for driving in later years as we have for teenage beginning drivers? Are there medical conditions that should automatically require revocation of driving privileges? Should there be an age at which license renewal by mail is no longer allowed?

In the comments, I posed the argument that age should not be the single factor, nor should there be a single factor in determining a license.

I would further propose that the license be granted upon successful completion of the following for anyone and everyone who seeks to obtain a license:

1 - financial wherewithal; proof of ownership of said auto and proof of insurance

2 - basic driving skill; annual written & driving test up to 21, bi-annual written & driving test to 55, and a return to an annual written & driving test thereafter

3 - validation of physical fitness to be capable of driving (with legitimate exceptions for handicap individuals in vehicles with adjustments for their handicaps)

What do you think?


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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:34 PM

    You've made this simpler than I realized it could be. In essence: prove you can drive and prove you know the rules. The only change is the need to test more frequently at early and later ages.

    Just one thing, however: I don't believe auto ownership and insurance should be connected with licenses for driving. For nearly 40 years, I've had a license and driven rental cars, but haven't had a need, in New York City, to own one. I can't be the only person in that position.

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  2. Steve Sherlock8:08 PM

    Ronni, from a license to drive perspective they should not be connected. From an ownership perspective, then both the ability to have paid for the car in some way and to afford insurance on the vehicle should be criteria for issuing the auto (i.e. plate) license.

    There are two licenses and I agree I was not as clear as I should have been in the first pass.

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