Age limit for drivers?

[unassuming]

The driver is 82 years old attempting to parallel park.

Should there be an age limit on who can drive?

Nanny struck by a car lauded as 'hero' for pushing boys to safety

A Toronto nanny is being heralded as a hero for pushing two small boys in a stroller to safety.

torontosun.com

 

[wpgguy]

The driver is 82 years old attempting to parallel park.

Should there be an age limit on who can drive?

Nanny struck by a car lauded as 'hero' for pushing boys to safety

A Toronto nanny is being heralded as a hero for pushing two small boys in a stroller to safety.

torontosun.com

No to a hard and fast upper limit but I would 100% support retesting every two years from 70 to 80 and annually above 80.

 

[thumper18474]

they just overhauled the driver age requirements

The old policy required seniors to only complete a written test. Now, all Ontarians age 80 and older must undergo a mandatory in-class screening process to determine driving eligibility.
When I got worried about my dads ability to drive safely I had his doctor request a medical assessment of his abilities..He failed and Bye bye licence.

 

[TeeJay]

The driver is 82 years old attempting to parallel park.

Should there be an age limit on who can drive?

I do not think there should be a maximum limit on people driving

However I have argued they SHOULD RETEST people every so often (5 years? 10 years?)

Seriously there are enough changes in laws that it makes sense plus this way can weed out people who have had significant changes in their ability to drive before an accident kills someone

We all know peoples fear of losing license but then again if they drove properly it wouldnt be an issue


The other argument is reduce number of demerit points you can accumulate
12 is preposterous


@thumper18474
???
The Senior Retest Program has been around since (at least) 2014
What do you think changed recently?
(The only change I see online is due to covid they are not required to retest now)

 

[TFZL1]

My mom caused an accident, turning left on a green light. That was just before she was supposed to get tested.
No injuries, just both cars needed fixed.
Mom never drove again, my brother drove her car till it died.
Doctors can take away licenses as well.

 

[skinnyguy]

There should be a road driving re-test every 5 years after age 70, and every 2 years after age 80 IMO. Not just written tests, those will prove nothing. It's about awareness and response times as we age, some people deteriorate physically and / or mentally more than others obviously.

 

[realthing69]

My mom caused an accident, turning left on a green light. That was just before she was supposed to get tested.
No injuries, just both cars needed fixed.
Mom never drove again, my brother drove her car till it died.
Doctors can take away licenses as well.

This is what happened to my Mom after being diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimers.

 

[thumper18474]

I do not think there should be a maximum limit on people driving

However I have argued they SHOULD RETEST people every so often (5 years? 10 years?)

Seriously there are enough changes in laws that it makes sense plus this way can weed out people who have had significant changes in their ability to drive before an accident kills someone

We all know peoples fear of losing license but then again if they drove properly it wouldnt be an issue


The other argument is reduce number of demerit points you can accumulate
12 is preposterous


@thumper18474
???
The Senior Retest Program has been around since (at least) 2014
What do you think changed recently?
(The only change I see online is due to covid they are not required to retest now)

I should have added ...
They changed the requirements a few years back...my bad

 

[SaturnFan]

The driver is 82 years old attempting to parallel park.

Should there be an age limit on who can drive?

If your criteria for keeping a drivers license is demonstrating that one can parallel park, then there would be lots of people OF ALL AGES that shouldn’t be on the roads!

 

[y2kmark]

If your criteria for keeping a drivers license is demonstrating that one can parallel park, then there would be lots of people OF ALL AGES that shouldn’t be on the roads!

When I first got my license I failed parallel parking and still passed. I'd take the test over any time, with the sub compact I drive now I think could even pass the parallel parking...

 

[unassuming]

If your criteria for keeping a drivers license is demonstrating that one can parallel park, then there would be lots of people OF ALL AGES that shouldn’t be on the roads!

It's not so much about parallel parking , but about reaction time and coordination, if you saw the video, he was backing into the space and could not slow the car or brake in time and mounted curb , thus sending woman through store window.

 

[explorerzip]

Re-testing everyone sounds like a good idea, but it would not be practical. Just think of the crazy long lines at DriveTest centers to re-take the test. The only way I could see it working is if the insurance industry offers discounts for people that take defensive driving courses on a regular basis.

 

[Boss Nass]

My father passed his test at 95, hardly a mark on the sheet.

 

[TeeJay]

If your criteria for keeping a drivers license is demonstrating that one can parallel park, then there would be lots of people OF ALL AGES that shouldn’t be on the roads!

Very true but esp those living close to metro areas they NEED to parallel park

The fact so many people can not is a scary thing

 

[TeeJay]

Re-testing everyone sounds like a good idea, but it would not be practical. Just think of the crazy long lines at DriveTest centers to re-take the test. The only way I could see it working is if the insurance industry offers discounts for people that take defensive driving courses on a regular basis.

Obv need to hire ALOT more people if re-testing ever becomes a thing
Current workforce can barely keep up with new drivers

But yeah or even your idea; make retests optional and have a minor impact on insurance rates
That works

 

[explorerzip]

Very true but esp those living close to metro areas they NEED to parallel park

The fact so many people can not is a scary thing

It really depends on how often you drive into an area that has parallel parking. If you're driving into downtown everyday then you should be able to parallel park. You can still avoid parallel parking if you really wanted to. I seldom drive downtown so I always look for a parking lot so there's less hassle. Sometimes that means paying more or walking further, but that's fine with me. The convenience and safety trade-off is worth it to me.

Drivers should require some on-going training just like any other skill, but I think people need to be taught to be more aware of their surroundings. Avoid walking behind cars or chatting in parking lots. Drivers are always responsible for operating safely, but we have to remember that cars have massive blind spots and take time to stop.

Pedestrians do have right of way, but they will always lose the battle with a car. Having right of way is irrelevant if you're in the hospital or the grave.

 

[danmand]

It seems to me that Ontario's program is quite reasonable:


Ontario's senior driver programs aim to keep seniors driving for as long as they can safely do so.

Once drivers reach 80 years of age, every two years they must:

• Take a vision test
• Undergo a driver record review
• Participate in a 45-minute Group Education Session (GES)
• During the GES, complete two, brief, non-computerized in-class screening assignments
• If necessary, take a road test

This entire renewal process will take a total of about 90 minutes.

Please note that this is a licence renewal program. Existing and valid licenses will be not revoked, but all requirements need to be met before your licence is renewed.

Once you've completed the group session and screening components you may be asked to take a road test or submit medical information from your doctor.

 

[TeeJay]

It seems to me that Ontario's program is quite reasonable:

The issue I think to most people is the system is way too forgiving
Not just for seniors but drivers in general

Careless driving has an optional 6 month license suspension but it seems noone ever gets that
Province more interested in $$$ fines
(plus vast majority of cases get pleaded down)

Stunt driving is a mere 7 day suspension of your license
(again possible up to 2 year suspension but unless repeat offender or extreme danger noone seems to get)

Distracted driving (cell phone) is a mere 3 day/7 day/ 30 day suspension)

If you are financially well off you can easily pay off whatever fines / tickets you get and keep on driving
Or cheat like many do and put your insurance under a spouse / family member / friend / or even drive without insurance (I have heard figures as high as 20%)


There really should be a better way (short of high insurance premiums) to keep bad drivers off roads

Its dangerous politically (esp if targeting old people) but the idea ANYONE can drive until 80 regardless of how many tickets they incur without required retraining is too much (the only time it becomes an issue is if you get more than 12 demerits at a time, but since demerits drop off it rarely happens)

 

[Fun For All]

Mandatory re-testing for drivers of all ages is a terrible idea.

 

[jcpro]

Very true but esp those living close to metro areas they NEED to parallel park

The fact so many people can not is a scary thing

I don't know. I can parallel park my pick up with inches to spare on a first try, like a charm. Same with my sports car. My former girlfriend had a regular car(Benz) and I couldn't do it for the life of me. Same with my sister's Lexus. For some reason I have a lot of problems parallel parking sedans.