Even though I'm heading into those golden years, I fully support mandatory testing for anyone over the age of--let's say 70. Definitely vision test. And a road test. Maybe those could be required every 2-3 years, and the written required every 5.

Just this week, we had 2 incidents with seniors. In one case, we were behind a really ancient fellow who was going about 15 in a 30 mph zone, and weaving all over the road. Then he put on his blinker a good half mile before his turn. Yesterday, we were behind a little old lady at a light. It turned green, she couldn't seem to get her car going, and then she disappeared--don't know what she was doing down on the floor--DH took the chance and pulled around her at that point. And to be honest, my 84 year old aunt probably shouldn't be on the road (severe arthritis among other things), but she's still mentally pretty sharp and wouldn't hear of anyone taking her wheels away.

I feel that after the age of 70 we should have madatory eye exams to renew our licences every 5 years. I knew a lady that had macular degeneration and at almost the age of 90 was still driving even though she was blind in one eye and could only see shadows out of the other one. She would tell me "I drive the back streets and I drive slow." My other friend (her neighbor) and I convinced her that I should drive her 2 days a week to her appointments and shopping. She gave up her license and then gave her car to her grandson. I knew if she didn't get rid of the car she would be tempted to go out and just drive it to the store and not bother me. It is so hard to give up your independence.

I agree, I think 70 is a good time to start testing them. My mom has me do all her driving. She knows she isn't as quick to act, and can't sometimes either, with her arthritis. She can't turn her head around to look over her shoulder. And she's getting shorter. She's 4'7" now, due to degenerating disc. If it's a quick jaunt to somewhere in town, and it isn't icy, she'll do it herself. She's never had a ticket or an accident and she's 82.
Leslie

I think it should be mandatory for sure at 70. Main Man is 66 and has doubts about his ability to drive the RV.

Gayle

Vision tests are required here in Mo. everytime you renew your driver's license. Also, have to pass a road sign test.

Absolutely, age 70 seems to be a good point to require reflex and eye testing....and I am not all that fare from that.

A few weeks ago hubby was driving me to work we ended up behind a car that really concerned me. It was weaving somewhat, brake lights and turn signals coming on erratically and at a speed of about 15 in a 40MPH zone. I reached for the cell phone but didn't have it in the car. When we finally got to a traffic signal and pulled up beside the car I saw the problem. There were 3 seniors in it, the driver obviously had Parkinson's, he could barely hold on to the wheel.

I really think that privacy be dammed, the rest of us need protection too. There are some degenrative diseases like this, MS, verious eye diseases, that need to be reported to the state license officials and should result in the loss of the license.

Yesterday at the DMV the lady in line ahead of my was renewing her car tabs. The clerk actually had the nerve to ask her how old she was! 95! Holy cow..I was shocked by the clerks nerve, and shocked a 95 year old woman is driving.

I think 70 should be the age for mandatory testing too. A senior's apartment building in our community is notorious for it's residents pulling out of the parking lot without looking, and putting those driving by, and kids walking from the local school, in jeopardy. We all have to dart out of the way to avoid getting hit.

I think 70 is a good age to start that, unless the driver has a history of accidents or tickets. Then I think they should be tested every year after a few incidences, not just at renewal time. I think they should have to have a driving test, not just a written one, maybe not have to parallel park, but just ordinary driving exercises, like using signals, yielding to traffic, merging properly, etc. Safety stuff.

AR requires a vision test at every renewal and I believe a sign test, too.

65 or 70, I'd say. After spending her life as a decisive and confident driver, my mom began to be unable to make decisions, and then hastily tried to compensate. That put her danger in my opinion and is the kind of driver that frustrates others on the road. She was the original speed racer but after around 65 years old, I really thing she became a danger on the road. She hasn't had any accidents, but I know she ticks off a lot of people. I'm not sure a driver's test will reveal much. Young people pass them and are just as bad or worse on the road as the elderly.

Do you advocate a mandatory driver's license test after a certain age?
Yes, absolutely.

Written test?
Yes, for basic knowledge and cognitive reasoning.

Road test?
Absolutely.

Vision test?
Absolutely.

If you do, at what age should these tests begin?
70 years.

My mother set a very good example for me when she turned in her license at 74. She told me that her reflexes were diminished, as was her eyesight. She was unsure if she could react properly and in a timely manner in certain situations. I thought it was a very brave and selfless decision. We live in the "country" and giving up her license was a hardship for her, but she had such valid reasons that I admired her strength. She looked for alternate means of transportations and adjusted her lifestyle to accommodate it.
Last year I was getting gas and there was an elderly couple there, as well. They were in a large sedan (thank goodness), and as I was filling up the gentleman emerged from the station after paying for his gas. It took him the entire time I was filling up my tank to walk to his car, using a cane. He obviously was having difficulty walking and when he reached his car had trouble getting into the driver's seat. He started the car and moved very slowly towards the exit. By that time I had finished filling up and paying and was behind him at the exit. I watched as he proceeded to pull out into the road right in front of an oncoming car, almost causing an accident. He hadn't looked either way, and I know this because I was watching him to see what he'd do. I took his license plate number and called the local police on my cell phone. I let them know our location and that the gentleman was a hazard on the road. I asked that they at least attempt to observe him. I don't know if anything came of it but I would like to think so. I certainly sympathize with many seniors with regard to their independence, but I also think it's a selfish decision on their part not to be willing to give up their license if they aren't capable of driving safely. They're putting many people at risk.
I'm 56 and I will gladly do all the above at 70 years of age. Gladly, willingly, and responsibly.

Well frankly I agree that 70 is a good age to require testing of vision. Some seniors are still great drivers at 70 years old and as we are all living longer and healthier I might push the age for retesting to 80 if the person hasn't had an at fault accident. Frankly in my city, I find that the worst drivers are the young male drivers that are 26-25 years old.

I don't really believe in mandatory testing but I do believe in the vision test at the very least. I also believe that an older driver maybe 80 should have their license restricted at the least and if they are able to pass a driving and written test then it wouldn't be restricted. For example, I live in a very rural community and when my grandpa was 85 they restricted his license to 2 miles. He did fine at these short distances and he still had his independence. It's just my opinion.

My mother stopped driving around age 60, when she had a minor fender bender in a parking lot. She let Dad drive, even though he was a year older and had worse vision. He passed away at 75 of natural causes. My brother lives with Mom (age 84) and drives her everywhere. I am very grateful to him for living with her and taking such good care of her.

I have noticed at 75, my judgement is not as sharp as it should be, so I force myself to be more alert. I agree, people over 70 need some sort of testing and I also feel they need a Dr's certificate/letter/?? . Just a couple of days ago, a 90 year old women went thru a stop sign and injured 2 people very bad. I think that was in CA.
But the states that tried to put in these restrictions felt the wrath of AARP etc. They are so much against of it which not right.
I notice it much more in the smaller towns where they are not exposed to big city driving. I do better on freeways because that is where I learned to drive--LA freeways.