[twfanmily12]

I am in a debate on "Why People Over 70 years shouldn't drive?". I need more than 5 arguments. So far I got 1)bad vision 2) they drive slowly

PLEASE HELP ASAP :) :) :)
I total disagree but I have to do it any way

[JudyKayTee]

I'm a liability investigator - slow reaction time, effects of medication, effects of poor health (more likely in older people), inability to concentrate.

How's that for starters?

[Wondergirl]

Not poor vision (we all wear glasses :)), but possibly poor peripheral vision and poor depth perception.

Confusion over accelerator and brake pedals.

Not drive slowly (actually that is a good thing), but don't keep up with what the traffic they are in is doing.

[odinn7]

If their teeth fall out, they may drop them in their lap or on the floor. The teeth could cause them to have an accident if they get stuck under the brake or gas pedal.

[Wondergirl]

If their teeth fall out, they may drop them in their lap or on the floor. The teeth could cause them to have an accident if they get stuck under the brake or gas pedal.

Same for the vodka bottle.

[JudyKayTee]

I must remember to ask that the next time I'm assigned a "rear ender" (pardon the phrase).

"Did you drop your teeth or vodka bottle?"

And vision is often a problem with older drivers who cannot afford eye exams and updated eyewear.

Also cataracts (medical problem, of course).

[joypulv]

I recall spending time in Tampa, FL, in 1966. The city seemed to be 90% elderly then. It seemed to me that no one drove over 10 mph, but no one drove under 10 mph either, and sailed right through stop signs and red lights.
All joking aside, I noticed that almost no one turned their head to look right or left. Necks do get sore and harder to move, and it's dangerous.

BUT these people were a lot older than 70. Poor choice for a cutoff!

[Wondergirl]

My elderly aunt's personal rule was that if she didn't see anyone approaching a four-way stop on her right or left, she could keep going without stopping.

Yeah, inability to look over one's shoulder (arthritic neck).

[ballengerb1]

From what I have read recently they apparently confuse the gas pedal with the brake pedal. Confusing Brake and Gas Pedals - YouTube

[joypulv]

In defense of false teeth, I think far fewer dentures fall under pedals than beer bottles.

And even though I said that 70 is a poor cutoff age, I started getting a LOT of floaters and flashers in my vision about a year ago at 65, and found that they distract me a lot when driving at night.

[Wondergirl]

From what I have read recently they apparently confuse the gas pedal with the brake pedal. Confusing Brake and Gas Pedals - YouTube

Ha ha, beat you to it -- I said that already.

[odinn7]

In defense of false teeth, I think far fewer dentures fall under pedals than beer bottles.

I was just trying to cause a "ruckus" with the older folks here by making that comment. :p

Sometimes I have a mean streak... no, really, it's true.

[Wondergirl]

I was just trying to cause a "ruckus" with the older folks here by making that comment. :p

Sometimes I have a mean streak....no, really, it's true.

Take off the loud plaid sports jacket and put on the black t-shirt. You're nicer when you wear the tee.

[joypulv]

I was just trying to cause a "ruckus" with the older folks here by making that comment. :p

Sometimes I have a mean streak....no, really, it's true.

Oh yes I saw the ruckus you were raising. How many have your raised to adulthood?

[JudyKayTee]

I find that elderly drivers sometimes feel they are no longer safe behind the wheel but refuse to give up their license because then they would be dependent on someone else.

My mother, for example, fell and broke her hip 5 years ago. Her car is parked in her garage, exactly where she left it the morning she fell. She refuses to sell the car and/or turn in her drivers license because "maybe some day ..." She knows she can't drive any longer but giving up the car would give up her last shred of independence.

[dontknownuthin]

70 seems an arbitrary cutoff and too young for many drivers. My parents are both well over 70 and there is no reasonable reason either should stop driving. My grandmother, on the other hand, was always a bad driver and only got worse with age. She made the gas pedal instead of the break mistake and drove into a retail store from their parking lot. The police let her drive home after the accident! We could not, as her family, get her license revoked and it took forever to talk her into giving up her car.

It seems it would make more sense to have some sort of testing for reaction time, a better vision test, hearing test and more frequent renewal and road test requirements after a certain age.

While all the problems listed can impact older drivers, I don't like the idea of painting all older people with a broad brush. My best friend is 48 and drives like a senile 90 year old - inattentive, dangerously slow, paranoid. My parents are 76 and there's no reason in the world either should give up their license. I also find that many older drivers place restrictions on themselves such as not driving at night if night vision becomes problematic. Since night vision is their only challenge, this is a reasonable accommodation for the problem.

[Oliver2011]

I will be driving when I am in my 90s. I am going to be crotchety, use profanity, and use my middle finger a lot. Plus I will make the horn my favorite part of the car!

[smearcase]

Loss of memory plays a role also. Maybe one has to use a second or two to review the rules of the road in their head; rules that used to just come automatically. So the guy following blows the horn and the person just takes the best guess and guns it.
I attended an AARP driving course and the instructor said that she had an elderly driver in her class once who asked the question: "What is with all this horn blowing nowadays, seems like everywhere I go everybody is blowing the horn?" The instructor suggested that if you experience a lot more horn blowing in your travels -- you might be the cause of it.
Some insurance companies give discounts for drivers over 55 and PA law requires the discount, if the AARP (or other approved courses) course is completed. There is a reason for that, based on statistics I'm sure.
Night driving definitely causes problems as we get older due to cataracts and other eye deterioration.
Some states are requiring eye exam cerification for renewals, based on age.

[Oliver2011]

Loss of memory plays a role also. Maybe one has to use a second or two to review the rules of the road in their head; rules that used to just come automatically. So the guy following blows the horn and the person just takes the best guess and guns it.
I attended an AARP driving course and the instructor said that she had an elderly driver in her class once who asked the question: "What is with all this horn blowing nowadays, seems like everywhere I go everybody is blowing the horn?" The instructor suggested that if you experience a lot more horn blowing in your travels -- you might be the cause of it.
Some insurance companies give discounts for drivers over 55 and PA law requires the discount, if the AARP (or other approved courses) course is completed. There is a reason for that, based on statistics I'm sure.
Night driving definitely causes problems as we get older due to cataracts and other eye deterioration.
Some states are requiring eye exam cerification for renewals, based on age.

On the eye exam my dad used to listen to the person in front of him and copy what he said. It did work.

[smearcase]

I saw a guy do that in front of me once.
But the exams now being required by some states require vision certification from a specialist to be submitted with the renewal application.