In the last decades, a significant increase of crash rates for drivers aged over 60 has been reported.
Researchers note that "24.8% of drivers aged over 74 years keep driving". "When they are involved in a car crash, the injuries they suffer are more serious than that of middle-aged or of young drivers'".
I believe this problem is not limited to the elderly however, and that an individuals driving skills should be reassessed every 30 years, regardless of their age.
Should driving licenses expire?
Please share your opinions on this matter.
I think a driving test every 2-3 years or so would be good.
Here (in Michigan at least) you are required to renew every 4 years in-person. I have a few elderly relatives who have gotten their licenses revoked because of poor eyesight or other factors when going in to the Secretary of State office to renew. That being said, there are plenty who still make it through the renewal process that probably should no-longer be driving.
If they made the renewal process involve a more comprehensive driving test, I'm sure it would catch a lot more potentially dangerous drivers. 30 years seems like a bit too long though. Your health and ability to operate a vehicle can change drastically in just a few years.
[QUOTE=Olas;41685114]30 years seems like a bit too long though. Your health and ability to operate a vehicle can change drastically in just a few years.[/QUOTE]
Hmm yes fair point.
[editline]2nd August 2013[/editline]
I think minor checks for health, eyesight for example should be done every couple of years. A full retest would obviously be massively inconvenient for some people who rely heavily on their vehicle to do every few years.
I think once you reach a certain age (say 50) You should have to take a simple test every 5 years or so, but up untill that point i don't see anything wrong with the current system.
[QUOTE=Gustafa;41685128]Hmm yes fair point.
[editline]2nd August 2013[/editline]
I think minor checks for health, eyesight for example should be done every couple of years. A full retest would obviously be massively inconvenient to do every few years.[/QUOTE]
I know it would cost a fair amount of resources, but perhaps something like a normal renewal (eyes, written test) every ~4 years and a more comprehensive driving test every 10.
I think driving test every 10 years would be great. Because road laws change often and you need to be able to show you're capable of driving.
I think some basic testing should be done once you reach 60-70 which checks eyes, ears, reflexes and just sees if they can still drive. I see far too many elders who drives in the middle of smaller roads and totally ignores common sense in traffic.
I think it is highly needed, yes.
Every 5-10 year there should be a re-legitimation for drivers licenses.
Driver's licenses are handed out like candy these days. It isn't just old people that can't drive. So yes, we do need to do a LOT to restrict driving licenses. You should only be allowed to hold one if you can demonstrate the ability to decisively and safely control a motor vehicle under any circumstances [i]without any electronic aids helping you.[/i] AKA: Pass your driving test in a Ford Model A, that way when the ABS in your Fusion fails you can still panic stop without crashing.
Basic outline:
* Every 3 years: New road test
* Car used for said road test must be roadworthy and must [B]not[/B] have any working electronic aids. Your daily car can and probably does, but you need to know how to handle a car that doesn't have them.
* Adverse conditions test must be passed as well. If you can't drive in snow and you live where snow happens you need to learn how to drive in snow.
* Reaction times are tested. If you can't react to an emergency and begin evasive maneuvering in 0.3s you probably shouldn't be driving.
* Drivers must know how to change a flat tire on their own. Stranded cars are a crash hazard and it's often faster to change your own flat than it is to wait for AAA to get out there.
* Drivers must know how to pull over properly. Getting onto the right hand side of the white line is not far enough, you will be crashed into if you do that.
I absolutely agree with the above, driving tests (and thus licenses) are far too easy. A closed course in a parking lot with cones to test various situations should be a part of the driving test. BASIC vehicle maintenance should also be tested, there are many times I've seen vehicles on the road that should not be driving. One example was a car that had a huge lump on the tire (due to the internal metal bands failing) and the driver continued to drive at highway speed thinking its fine, while the tire could have burst at any moment.
As far as the testing goes, there has to also be some kind of high speed maneuvering testing because there are many drivers that can't even handle turns at the speed limit in perfect conditions (slowing down considerably where it is not necessary and or reasonable to do so (my mom does this)). Wet/dry tracks, or snow and ice if local conditions permit. Basically the test needs to go beyond a little trip around the block near the DMV consisting of 35mph driving and signaling turns. The driver's competence in handling a vehicle in normal and emergency situations needs to be assessed (spin outs, emergency braking, counter-steering) so they are able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
I think it should be even sooner, 3 years would be amazing so you can make sure people know what is going on, on the road.
[QUOTE=Basshead;41749155]I think it should be even sooner, 3 years would be amazing so you can make sure people know what is going on, on the road.[/QUOTE]
Exactly - It's amazing how many people don't know how roundabouts & 4-way stops work.
Another concern of mine is how some people just sit in the middle lane blocking traffic from flowing properly on streets, sometimes they go as much as 15mph slower than the flow of traffic around them (I don't mind large trucks/ buses, that is understandable, but these are regular sedans that can easily drive faster). Every time I drive there's at least 2 or 3 of these people that practically park their car at some speed creating massive congestion behind them, while in front of them the road is wide open. Sometimes the people trying to get around them also create a hazard as they ride bumpers of the car in front of them that is creeping past the slow guy.
Example:
[img]http://mikesuploader.com/files/squeaky/That%20Guy.png[/img]
After a certain age, say 60 or so, I agree there should be at least one check-up of your driving skills and perhaps more frequent checks when you get even older. But not before that.
Here is my opinion:
If you're under 55, you get a driving test every 5 years.
If you're over 55, a test every year.
I think we should let the statistics speak for themselves, and make it a state by state basis. For example, if in Michigan, accident rates rise at late 50s and early 60s then renewal should be focused then.
However, I agree that it should be mandatory for anyone whose recovered from some significant illness or injury that could impede or jeopardize driving.
Getting a driver license in Norway is ridiculously pricy (costs about $2500 +/-), so no thanks. That's if you'd have to pay the same price.
Every 5-10 years I'd be thrilled with. There would be so much less dangerous people on the road, and that's not very inconvenient for anybody. Literally what are the negatives to this?
[QUOTE=Just2Rusty;41753198]Every 5-10 years I'd be thrilled with. There would be so much less dangerous people on the road, and that's not very inconvenient for anybody. Literally what are the negatives to this?[/QUOTE]
Costs money.
Governments=Not a lot of money
[QUOTE=Just2Rusty;41753198]Every 5-10 years I'd be thrilled with. There would be so much less dangerous people on the road, and that's not very inconvenient for anybody. Literally what are the negatives to this?[/QUOTE]
A trip to the DMV becoming even more hellish than before and maybe a slight cost increase for more employees but other than that I don't see any.
You have to pay car registration every year. Say every 5 years you have to pay like a $50 fee to renew it. Not much money on the individual. An income for the government. Relatively reasonable when considering the benefits. No?
[QUOTE=Novangel;41685113]I think a driving test every 2-3 years or so would be good.[/QUOTE]
Wouldn't that cost money? I would bump that to 10-20 years.
How many accidents are caused by people not knowing the rules/being unable to follow the rules as opposed to intentionally ignoring them?
Also, the driving instructors don't know shit. 90% of the people I've ever met don't know how to properly set side mirrors in order to get rid of your blind spot. (hint: if you can see your own car in the side mirror you're doing it wrong)
[QUOTE=Novangel;41685113]I think a driving test every 2-3 years or so would be good.[/QUOTE]
Do you drive??
I would shoot myself if I had to do a driving test that often.
I have to renew my license in 2019. I live in Florida.
You've got to be off your rocker if you want to have to go though DMV hell every 2-3 years. The DMV gets it shitty reputation because it's a shitty place. Nobody wants to be there, everyone is angry, the wait times are ridiculous and the people conducting the tests are jerks.
How about this, an [i]optional[/i] test every 5 years. With the incentive being a lower insurance rate. If you don't want to deal with the DMV then you don't have to, if you do then the time you've wasted there saves you a bit of money in the end.
What if the initial test is harder and includes the closed course testing as mentioned previously, then have a retest at age 60 (also the previous retirement age for airline pilots (now 65)) with the same requirements.
All i know is i'm surrounded by drivers who i question how they're still licensed
[QUOTE=Minx;41766453]All i know is i'm surrounded by drivers who i question how they're still licensed[/QUOTE]
I think the US driving test is too easy. My friend doesn't even know how to reverse into a parking spot (piece of cake right?) and she got her license easy enough. Most people around here don't even know what to do when they see a bicycle
I don't think having a driving license necessarily proves that you are able to drive responsibly on your own. All it proves is you can do it under observation to pass a test which enables you to use the roads.
Having more tests might remind some people but others will just conform for the test and then just go back to driving how they were before afterwards.
Social responsibility is a big problem with this I think. The bigger or more powerful or expensive a car someone has the more they seem to disregard the wellbeing of those around them in their mode of driving.
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