Eye on Trucking: Is it time to rethink rules for getting medical certificate?

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Rule #1: All drivers require medical certificates to operate any vehicle on any road at any time.

Rule #2: IQ will be taken into account when applying for a certification.

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The best way to rob a bank is to own one.

Didn't someone here predict this happening in the other story about this accident?

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What has been seen...

...cannot be unseen.

They tend to change everything but what matters every time there's a bad accident like this. Unfortunately they're all dumber than a box of rocks so we're all pretty much doomed.

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The best way to rob a bank is to own one.

That would be me.

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there are a lot of "I KNOW I CAN HANDLE IT" drivers causing accidents, than older drivers.... But i also think when we get to our 70's , we need to be examined a little closer... common sense will tell you this fact....

I'm no spring chicken myself anymore. I know I don't have the reflexes and ability to concentrate I once had. I try to overcome this by driving slower, keeping a longer following distance, and since I am running team, I make sure we chance off at the same times every day so each has the same sleep pattern.

I have ran with a couple of guys several years older than me, that don't seem to realize that they are not what they once were. I have noticed tailgating, taking corners too fast, and other things that unnerved me. I mentioned these things in the best way I knew how, but it didn't seem to help much.

Most peoples eyes loose the ability to change focus from far to close, or the other way around as we get older. Older drivers seem to tailgate because their glasses are prescribed to see clearly at a certain distance, which is fine most times. But if a person is not aware of this, they will get close enough until their eyes are clearly focused, and not feeling any strain. Unfortunately, this is way too close to the vehicle in front of them.

This is an unconcious thing, and must be consciously overcome. It takes some time, but can be done. Older drivers just may need to have better, or different testing. I hate to say it, since I am knocking on the door myself, but we all need to be safe and healthy.

Bring the youngun that I am, I still recognize the affects of time on my ability to recover from it.
Secondly, in the commercial pilots case, they have mandatory retirement at the age of 61 or 62. Not to say that many commercial driver can't do the job past that age, but maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for something like that to be phased in for the commercial trucking industry.
Or maybe transfer the experienced drivers past a certain age become salaried trainers to pass on their knowledge to younger drivers.

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LIFE IS GOOD

I would be more inclined to figure heat exhaustion would have more to do with an accident than strictly age.Its just a matter of time till these anti ideling laws are the cause of a terrible wreck involving fatalities,of course the blame wont be on the states but on the trucker who couldnt sleep in his own sweat.

Commercial pilots also make more money and have better benefits. How many truck drivers can honestly retire comfortably at 61 or 62?

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What has been seen...

...cannot be unseen.