I too agree. I wish my mother were like most senior citizens who don’t have Alzheimers or dementia but, she’s not. My mother could easily have hit a train and she wouldn’t have even known that she did it.
Believe it or not, this phenomenon has been recognized for many years. Way back when I took my first mandatory Defensive Driving Course (military required all those using Department vehicles to pass the DDC), the term “highway hypnosis” was proposed to the class. Of course, I wasn’t in my 80’s at the time, and took it that it was a recognized condition of driving for at least some people, if not most of us eventually, or at times.
I sure hope my own dad, now nearing 80, is smart enough to see to it when the time is right. He drives many miles each year still, and has no accidents or infractions on his record. And, yet…
-Crandell
I just have to add my two cents. Certainly, there are those who are driving that should not be, but don’t put all older people in that catigory. I’m 81 and I’m leaving Sunday for Chama, New Mexico to ride the Cumbres & Toltec. Going with me, are my wife, and my daughter and her husband. I will be doing the driving, and they don’t seem to mind at all. Oh yes, my wife and I took a trip to eastern Oregon in June and had a great time. Forgive me if I seem to be bragging.
Paul
I think the simple answer is to issue a drivers license with an expiration date. Once expired you go back to get retested and you either pass or fail. I don’t think the durations that I posted earlier impose an excessive burden and everyone can benefit from some refresher training.
I wasn’t trying to paint the elderly with a broad brush. We have all seen drivers in every age group who required remedial training in the operation of their automobile. On the other end of the spectrum I feel that teenage drivers should be governed under a gradual licensing program. I know several states due this and are having a great deal of success. This feeling about teenage drivers comes from not sitting up on my high horse but rather from the experience of the stupid stuff that I did as a kid when I started driving. Only by the grace of God am I alive today. My cousin wasn’t so lucky. His exploits got him killed before leaving the 10th grade.
We require recurrent training and testing for several fields. Nurses renew, pilots are required to hit the simulators every six months (I know, my job is in jeopardy every 180 days), concealed weapon holders are retrained every 2/4 years, etc. Imposing recurrent training on drivers, in my opinion, isn’t unreasonable and could very will improve the quality of the drivers on the road and lead to fewer accidents and lower insurance rates.
An Okie driver. Even worse.[:O]
J/k. Born an raised there myself friend. Enjoy the trip. We’re headed to Durango for the D&S in October.
macjet
I’m really not an Okie. I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Is that worse?
Paul
Not to make light of any real situations, but I’m reminded of a joke -
“I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and crying like the passengers in his car…”
Yes, it is!
I was in Omaha a few weeks ago for a short time. I couldn’t believe how nice it is up in that area. Most of my Nebraska experience is on the west side coming back south out of Sturgis. It really was nice up in that area. I saw a huge string of the KCS black/red/grey covered hoppers when we were on short final for the airport and I was wanting to stick around and get some pics. Maybe next time.
I had an uncle in Nebraska who was in his 80s and all but blind, but the state sent him a new license IN THE MAIL.