[Newsbot]

Title: Driving study could keep seniors on the road longer
Category: Science
Posted By: martin14
Date: 2013-05-08 05:51:24
Canadian

[martin14]

Good idea, but there should still be yearly testing over 70.

[Lemmy]

I'm a lot more worried about under 30 drivers than than over 70 ones.

[QBall]

Confidence is not what most people are worried about. It's slowing reaction time and confusion (confusing the accelerator for the brake which there are many stories of) which concern most, and so far there's no fix for this.

[raydan]

Do we really need more seniors on the road?

[2Cdo]

raydan raydan:

Do we really need more seniors on the road?

Well said.

[Freakinoldguy]

raydan raydan:

Do we really need more seniors on the road?

As long as society keeps building communities without the necessities of life for seniors, like grocery stores, health care facilities, entertainment facilities and shopping areas within a walkable or reasonable distance they're going to be required to drive to live like everyone else just to survive.

So, saying they should be taken off the road is blatant ageism. If they can't drive take them off the road but, if you start arbitrarily taking people off the road because of their age, or testing them just because of their age you're creating a dangerous precedence that given human nature will soon be expanded to include anyone who that "continually aggravated segment of society" feels shouldn't be afforded the same rights as everyone else.

[andyt]

Testing more frequently because of age is a good idea. Things can go rapidly downhill. Nobody is talking about taking seniors off the road if they pass the test, just because of age.

Building walkable communities is a good idea for people of any age. But, all the Rob Ford "war on cars" types don't want it, see it as an evil plot. And those sorts of areas do exist, but seniors may have to move to them, not insist on staying in their suburban castle that's built around the car.

[raydan]

We remove rights from people, Freakinoldguy, to protect the rest of society... put the criminal in prison, remove the dangerous driver from the road. I don't mind at all following the slow senior or watching him spend 5 minutes stuck on a corner making sure it's safe to make a left turn... better slow and safe. If we can give them them lessons to help them remain good drivers and on the road, I'm all for it, if they become dangerous though, we don't have any choice but to take their license away.

[BartSimpson]

raydan raydan:

Do we really need more seniors on the road?

If you have a 4x4 with a decent wheelbase they don't really affect you all that much.

[raydan]

Especially for seniors, I think we should all be more accepting, forgiving and ready to make concessions. Remember, we'll all get there one day (I know, Freakinoldguy is already there), unless we die first.

[jeff744]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

raydan raydan:

Do we really need more seniors on the road?

As long as society keeps building communities without the necessities of life for seniors, like grocery stores, health care facilities, entertainment facilities and shopping areas within a walkable or reasonable distance they're going to be required to drive to live like everyone else just to survive.

So, saying they should be taken off the road is blatant ageism. If they can't drive take them off the road but, if you start arbitrarily taking people off the road because of their age, or testing them just because of their age you're creating a dangerous precedence that given human nature will soon be expanded to include anyone who that "continually aggravated segment of society" feels shouldn't be afforded the same rights as everyone else.

My grandpa drives at about half the speed limit of a small town, I haven't seen him pass 20km/h in the last few years, lately he has been getting down to around 10-15km/h. He should not be on the road at those speeds, he is a danger to other drivers who may not realize his is going half to 1/4 the speed limit in town and likely less on the highway.

[andyt]

And if the cops were doing their jobs, he would be repeatedly ticketed until the problem became obvious. Driving too slow is an offense just as driving too fast is.

[2Cdo]

andyt andyt:

And if the cops were doing their jobs, he would be repeatedly ticketed until the problem became obvious. Driving too slow is an offense just as driving too fast is.

An offense that not many people know of, including most police.

[Freakinoldguy]

raydan raydan:

We remove rights from people, Freakinoldguy, to protect the rest of society... put the criminal in prison, remove the dangerous driver from the road. I don't mind at all following the slow senior or watching him spend 5 minutes stuck on a corner making sure it's safe to make a left turn... better slow and safe. If we can give them them lessons to help them remain good drivers and on the road, I'm all for it, if they become dangerous though, we don't have any choice but to take their license away.

That's what I said and I have no problem with taking bad drivers off the road but to do like some want and arbitrarily remove the seniors privilege to drive based solely on their age is not only illegal it's a suicide mission for any politician or party that does it.