She can also be hazardous to those who are driving the speed limit. However, there are still many elderly drivers who are trying to beat the system. In Manuel’s article he made a valuable point about renewing your license. He stated, “So if when anyone turns 21, they go and renew their license they can get it for 10 years. That means that they will renew it again at 31, 41, 51, and 61.” Unfortunately, the law has changed for the state of Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services you can only renew your license for either 5 or 8 years. I believe that this change is due to the fact of unsafely drivers. In the article, Elderly Drivers-Is Your Loved One Driving Safely, there is a list of signs for a person to checkout to make sure that their driving is safe. In some states there is a required driving retest that for drivers over 70 if they are involved in two or more car accidents. I however feel as if this may be too late. It only takes one accident for some to be seriously injured or worse killed.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Get Granny From Behind The Wheel
In response to my first blog, I agree with all of you. I can really understand you. Yes, it is wrong to take the license of the elderly who are in healthy conditions. My grandmother is pushing 75 and she is still driving. She works part time, cooks, keeps up her garden, and attends as many sports events as she can. Her main problem is driving under the speed limit. She can also be hazardous to those who are driving the speed limit. However, there are still many elderly drivers who are trying to beat the system. In Manuel’s article he made a valuable point about renewing your license. He stated, “So if when anyone turns 21, they go and renew their license they can get it for 10 years. That means that they will renew it again at 31, 41, 51, and 61.” Unfortunately, the law has changed for the state of Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services you can only renew your license for either 5 or 8 years. I believe that this change is due to the fact of unsafely drivers. In the article, Elderly Drivers-Is Your Loved One Driving Safely, there is a list of signs for a person to checkout to make sure that their driving is safe. In some states there is a required driving retest that for drivers over 70 if they are involved in two or more car accidents. I however feel as if this may be too late. It only takes one accident for some to be seriously injured or worse killed.
She can also be hazardous to those who are driving the speed limit. However, there are still many elderly drivers who are trying to beat the system. In Manuel’s article he made a valuable point about renewing your license. He stated, “So if when anyone turns 21, they go and renew their license they can get it for 10 years. That means that they will renew it again at 31, 41, 51, and 61.” Unfortunately, the law has changed for the state of Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services you can only renew your license for either 5 or 8 years. I believe that this change is due to the fact of unsafely drivers. In the article, Elderly Drivers-Is Your Loved One Driving Safely, there is a list of signs for a person to checkout to make sure that their driving is safe. In some states there is a required driving retest that for drivers over 70 if they are involved in two or more car accidents. I however feel as if this may be too late. It only takes one accident for some to be seriously injured or worse killed.
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Elderly People are just as dangerous on the road as young people because their motor functions begin to fail and the reaction times slow significantly around the age of 65 drivers face an increased risk of being involved in a vehicle crash. After the age of 75, the risk of driver fatality increases sharply, because older drivers are more vulnerable to both crash-related injury and death.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree slightly with this argument. Elderly people have been the cause of my bad moods in the mornings when trying to get to school, when they seem to be driving at a walking pace. However, we can't just take them off the road without their fair chance. Kia posted from a website that in some states, women and men over the age of 70 have to take a "driving retest" to keep their license. This is a very smart way to approach this situation. The "retest" should be used in all states. The statistic of "senior citizens over 70 likely crashing three times more than people between 45-60", could dramatically improve (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article723916.ece). If elderly people just have to forfeit their licenses over at a certain age, that would take away from their rights as an American, right?
ReplyDeleteTeenagers go through safety courses, written exams, and road tests before they can get their licenses. Why shouldn't the elderly be required to go through similar practices to make sure they deserve to keep them?
ReplyDeleteSome might consider it discriminatory to assume that one's reflexes, eyesight, and general capabilities weaken with age; however, if they do, they'll pass the exam. I don't think we should take any risks when it comes down to it; a license to drive is to a license to operate a two ton bullet.
I'd be fine if we made road tests mandatory for those over 65. I'd even be okay if we required additional tests for those who don't do well. I get it-- old people are people, too. But we need to take a stronger stance when there could be lives at stake.
Elderly people have been known to forget things, and when it comes to driving I think they forget all the laws and rules. I feel like they think they are invincible when they are in their cars. I completely agree that elderly people over the age of 70 should have to take a retest on driving to keep their license. It isn’t just dangerous for elderly people to be behind the wheel, but it also affects all drivers. There is more of a risk for someone to crash into an elderly person, if they are too old to be driving. If elderly people had to take another driving test when they are over the age of 70, I think it will be better for the safety of all drivers.
ReplyDeleteI think the title of your blog is connected well with your argument. The picture you chose caught my eye because it made me laugh a little at something this serious. I think you presented your overall topic well. I can agree with you when you say,"It only takes one accident for some to be seriously injured or worse killed." Some elderly people are "head strong", stuck in their ways,and they feel they are heathly enough to drive, but really they need to give it up. I have seen plenty of elderly drivers that I felt should be off the road, and if that requires giving them another test, than lets do it. This could help prevent future wrecks.
ReplyDelete