Elderly Drivers

You can pry my drivers license from my cold dead hands! My living will has a provision to humanly put me down when I am no longer eligible to drive.

Guess that will include a bus ticket to Oregon.

 

A very few of us actually don't consider being in a position where having to struggle just to do every day tasks, and losing dignity and self worth,not to mention having to wear diapers because you can't control bodily functions, an oppurtunity.

And before you all get angry and start with the insults,I am speaking for myself. It is not something I look forward to. If the rest of the world is looking forward to that for themselves,that's fine by me.

 

Not sure why you think--I am angry or insulting anyone--I just think the OP was making a joke of something I do not consider funny--as for your personal opinion about YOUR won life--I have absolutely no problem with that--I intend to try and do the same thing--especially now as I get older--take good care of myself--eat better etc..BUT
I have unfortunately know a few people who did the same--and were very bright productive people--who took a very bad turn later in life--and it was just what it was--none of them did anything to bring it on--it just happens--like many other illnesses and it is/was one of the most awful dehumanizing things I have ever witnessed--and like most other illnesses etc...it knows nothing of heritage--race--nationality etc..

 

Out of respect towards you I will not debate your post.

 

Not sure whether this was an attempt to correct Ol'hand's correct spelling or not. But, I would like to take the opportunity to point out most young folks feel this way. Until they are waylaid by some unforseen health issue.

Who knew I would, at the age of 38, have my life taken away by a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis and have to rebuild myself to a place of productivity and self-worth? While I had the world by the short ones, dashing into fires, vehicle crashes, hazmat spills and miriad other dangerous situations, I had exactly the same thought process as you do.

Things look a little different to me now that it is a victory to get moving in a timely manner each morning. There are days it takes me 15 minutes or longer just to get out of bed. Once I get moving, I'm fine. It's just getting started.

Life looks different from various places along the path. I could go on and on about this, but due to too much TV, most young people have a short attention span and I would hate to bore you.

 

Elderly drivers scare me also,

and I am one !!!!

So is my father............but he only works(drives) a few days a month.

 

Sorry, wasn't refering to you. I was speaking generally to the people who,as a reflex action, insult people with whom they don't share the same views,like how one poster in this thread described another as a 'loser'

 

What's your version of 'Elderly'?

My dad was still hammering out about 3,500 a week at 65 years old with no incidents...

I'm 50 years old, with a spotless accident record.

---------------------------

I think what you are referring to is 'Elderly' 4 wheeler drivers.

Driving, like every other skill, takes practice to stay sharp.
Since the older folks only drive a few miles a week, church, grocery, ect.
They don't have the driving skills to be on most highways safely anymore.

A basic drivers licence is NOT a certification to operate 3 or 4 tons of steel at 70+ miles an hour safely.

It is a necessary form of ID to crash checks at Wal-Mart and given to anyone (or renewed to anyone) that can pay the $10 in costs every three to six years (Depending on state).

Since my dad is all but blind and deaf, has serious lapses in concentration at 76 years old,
I would say he shouldn't be driving at all...
BUT...
The state just issued him another driver's licence with only an eye test!

Personally, at 50 years old,
I know my reflexes have slowed down and I don't process information as fast as I once did,
But my intuition and experience make up for it,

AND,
Since I'm smart enough to realize and properly assess the decline in reflex time, I've changed my driving habits to compensate...
I slow down at night or in the rain to compensate for vision that isn't what it used to be and for road conditions...
I'm maintaining my safe driving record and avoiding accidents like I always did...

-------------------------------

You are dealing with people that are 'Comfortable' in their chosen areas, so they aren't as observant as they should be.
Highway speeds have changed, traffic patterns have changed, vehicle sizes and weights have changed, and we all know the roads aren't getting any better!

The "Everybody knows I turn here at 3:00 on Thursday" types,
Or "Everyone knows I take the kids to school this time everyday" Types are everywhere, so you simply MUST watch out for them...
No matter how stupid of stunt they pull, it's STILL your fault if you hit them from the rear,
And even if they left turn in front of you, you are STILL going to get sued by some ambulance chasing lawyer, even if you weren't found to be at fault.

------------------------------------------

If I took this personally,
I would question your 'Safe Following Distance'...
The fact that you had to 'Smoke Trailer Brakes' to get stopped would get you in SERIOUS trouble in court if you would have made contact!

I know the type you are talking about, old women with blue hair in huge cars,
Old guys in pickup trucks more interested in what crop is growing at the neighbors than watching the road,
They are just part of the job!

 

I'm thinking once you hit 85 - time to be euthanized. There's a fine doctor from Michigan who would love the business.

 

some people at 85 are in great shape--would never know their age--if we are going to start euthinizing people--why put an age limit on it?
maybe we could do it by stupidity rating