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Do you think that people over 70 years old should be allowed to drive?
Random & Fun / 4:38 PM - Wednesday November 04, 2009

Do you think that people over 70 years old should be allowed to drive?

Yes or No?

- Asked by augustbaby82, Female, 26-28, New York, Financial / Banking

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Yes depending on the individual. My aunt is 72 and you wouldn't believe me if you met her!

- Response by dragontulip, Female, 36-45, Therapist

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My parents are 81 and 85. My sweetie's parents are 79 and 77.

All four of these people are excellent drivers with no tickets or accidents. They have no physical limitations and are more active than people half their age.

How many of YOU can make the same claim of a perfect driving record?

I feel safer with them driving than aggressive drivers who are in the 20's and 30's.

- Response by utahmom, Female, 46-55, Salt Lake City, Managerial

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NO!!!!!!!!!!!

- Response by melodyalise, Female, 29-35, Salt Lake City, Managerial

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I can't give a straight yes/no answer. There are some drivers that are over 70 and are still excellent drivers. There are drivers who are in their 60's and should have their drivers license taken away. I think it has to go by each individual. I do believe that once a driver hits 65 they need to retest(both written and road) for their licenses, and the after 70 every 2nd year.

- Response by MaryAnne, Female, 46-55, Who Cares?

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yes, but they must retest periodically.

- Response by guy5432, A Couch Potato, Male, 29-35, New York, Who Cares?

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I think that they should be required to retake driving test to determine whether they are able to drive or not.

- Response by 1erwynj, Female, 18-21, Artist / Musician / Writer

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My Dad is 83 and still drives. He is very functional.

People are living longer and are more capable at an advanced age. When I'm 70, I still want to be able to fly.

- Response by stillagoodguy1, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 46-55, Celebrity

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I think they should be tested frequently. If they can pass the tests, then sure. My mom drove just fine until a few years before her death at 79.

- Response by justpassingthru, Female, 46-55, Financial / Banking

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I'm still undecided on this.

I see old people driving down the road and they jerk the car left and right, cut up cars and react very late. In that respect, they're quite dangerous on the road.

But then there are many people in and around the 70 mark that have no problem whatsoever with their awareness or reaction time. To turn around and say, "Hey....you have to take a test to prove you can drive" is not only offensive but also portrays them as liabilities (which they're not).

- Response by mantis, A Creative, Male, 18-21, London, Student

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Yes. Once you get to 85 or 90 that's when things start going bad.

- Response by workplay, A Career Man, Male, 26-28, Los Angeles, Internet / New Media

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Only if they can pass a drivers test.

- Response by clueless37, Female, 36-45, Administrative

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yes however, they should be tested with periodic testing afterwords to insure they can remain safe drivers. Maybe adding restrictions as is done with teenage drivers.

- Response by cosmicdog0, A Guy Critical, Male, 46-55, Denver, Science / Engineering

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LOL
If they can see over the stearing wheel......

- Response by seasons4, Female, 46-55, Milwaukee, Financial / Banking

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My gut wants to yell NO!

I think driving tests need to require a HWY training test in addition to the regular test because some people do not know how to drive faster than 55 mph and those people DO NOT BELONG ON THE HWY!

- Response by chal08, A Rebel, Male, 26-28

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Yes, No and Maybe so .....

I think that they should be tested and re-tested, as some of them DO NOT belong behind the wheel of a car

There is an Age to get *A DL*, so, There should be an AGE to do away with ONE, just my .02



~w

- Response by wolfspirit, Female, 29-35, Self-Employed

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I think they should but we should begin to check their skill level more closely at 70 and beyond.

- Response by justme85206, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 46-55, Phoenix, Other Profession

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It depends on the person. If they're relatively healthy and mentally fit, why not? I lived in FL for years and there were many old folks that shouldn't be driving. Some would come to our medical office practically blind with cataracts and we'd see them on the road, driving and waving to us, lol. Like I said, it really depends.

- Response by italiangypsy, Female, Who Cares?, Philadelphia, Other Profession

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That all depends on their health status. I have an elderly friend I play bingo with who is 84, she still works full time and drives. Well, she recently collapsed in the bingo hall within minutes of arriving and I hate to think what could have happened had she fainted a few minutes sooner. The really sad part is that she has a Daughter who is in denial and won't make her stop driving because she can't accept her Mother is getting old. This is clearly a case of someone needing to be forced off the road for everyone's safety but I believe anyone with a serious condition regardless of age needs to give up their keys as well.

- Response by dalaimama, Female, 29-35

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Honestly, no...even though the elderly THINK they can still drive well..they can't. I was in the Walmart parking lot this past week and saw an elderly lady pull into the parking spot and drive straight into the pole...yes she still had enough sense to back up..but she shouldn't be driving..the part that was really scary was that she had what I'm sure was her grandson with her. I feel bad that this is part of their independence that we're talking about taking away...but that's part of getting older...

- Response by steph22187, Female, 22-25, Who Cares?

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ya

- Response by bigcurt, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 46-55, Pittsburgh, Self-Employed

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It depends on the 70 year old.
My Dad is 73, and very sharp, mentally and reflex-wise.

However, A co-worker of mine was killed when the car her daughter was driving was hid broad-side by a full size van. The man who was driving was elderly, and had a history of being at fault in several automobile accidents. This was the first at fault accident he caused that resulted in a death.
How sad that this man's licence wasn't taken away before this happened....

- Response by goodnaturedb, Female, 36-45, Self-Employed

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Depends. If they still have an intact mine, then of course! IF they are starting to get forgetful, or are in the beginning stages of demensia, then no.

- Response by girldownunder, Female, 29-35, Sydney

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lAST MONTH i VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERED MY CAR AND LICENCE,BECAUSE OF EYESIGHT.fOR THE PAST 5 YEARS HAD UNDERGONE MEDICAL AND DRIVING TESTS . i FELT IT WAS TIME TO GIVE UP DRIVING , NOW HAVE AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER

- Response by duggers, A Guy Critical, Male, 66 or older

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My father just turned 90. He still drives. Tries not to drive after dark, but he still has all his faculties. It should be a personal decision, not mandated by law.

- Response by betterbird, A Creative, Male, 46-55, San Francisco, Administrative

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I can't really say yes fully and without a doubt, just as I can't say no fully and without doubt because it really depends on the driver, how their record is and their mental ability to focus, keep their mind on the road and to be careful...my dad is 85 and although I do believe he 'thinks' he's still capable of driving, I sure wouldn't want to put him on the road driving because he does wander in his mind and his focus and would probably put himself and others at risk more than anything...and yet, his brother who is 79, has an impeccable driving record and hasn't ever been in an accident but 'chooses' not to drive and I would feel safer with him on the roads more so than my dad...it's just because he's more attentive and cautious and my dad isn't...:D

- Response by fastball, Female, 36-45, Student

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Yes. Some of them are better drivers then people in there teens through early twenties

- Response by rubee, A Single Gal, Female, 36-45, Who Cares?

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No!

- Response by roanna, Female, 46-55, Self-Employed

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so long as they can still drive safely then why not?

- Response by babydoll69x, Female, 22-25, Sydney, Retail

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It depends on their physical condition, if their reflexes, sight, hearing are still good, etc. Some older people drive better than younger people because they are more cautious and take their time. It really needs to be judged on a case by case basis.

- Response by experience101, Female, 46-55, Who Cares?

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P.S. Yes, But not in New York...LOL.

- Response by clip22, Female, 29-35, Executive

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