Posted on 04/05/2010 7:30:38 AM PDT by KeyLargo
Elderly drivers’ risk not clear-cut
The debate about when to take the keys away from the elderly flared up again when 86-year-old driver struck three teenage Chicago cyclists on March 24
By Erika Slife and Bonnie Miller Rubin, Tribune reporters
April 3, 2010
Alice Topping was in her convertible, soaking in one of fall's last nice days, when she came to a four-way stop in her Evanston neighborhood just as another car approached.
Assuming the other driver would stop at the sign, she began to drive through the intersection when she felt a hard crash.
"Look what you've done to my car!" the elderly driver cried as he got out of his vehicle. But as the drivers inspected the damage — her right rear side, his front — it was evident who was responsible, Topping said.
"It finally clicked in with him that he had hit my car," she said.
The memory of the 2009 crash came flooding back to Topping on March 24 after she heard that 17-year-old Faith Dremmer, a friend, had been killed when an 86-year-old driver veered across the center line, plowing into her as she biked in southern Illinois with two University of Chicago Laboratory School friends.
It made Topping and countless others wonder: Is enough being done to protect motorists from seniors who shouldn't be driving? When is it time to take the keys away?
"NO ONE over the age of 70 should be permitted to operate a motor vehicle. Period," one outraged reader opined online.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Wendy’s - Where’s the Beef (Featuring Clara Peller - Drive Thru) - 80’s
http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/488/
Driving is a privilege, not a right. I’ve been a long time advocate of check rides for everyone, not matter what age, every few years. I know plenty of people in their 30’s that can’t drive for crap.
Current Illinois law:
Illinois Driver License Information for Seniors
Renewal Cycle
4-year renewal cycle for ages 21 to 80 (mail-in every other cycle for drivers with clean records and no medical report review requirements).
Tests
Vision test at in-person renewal. Written test every 8 years unless clean driving record.
Vision Tests
20/40 in better eye for no restrictions; 20/70 in better eye results in daylight only restriction. May have 20/100 in better eye and 20/40 through bioptic telescope.
Special Requirements
From ages 81 to 86, reduction of interval to 2 years. At age 87, reduction of interval to 1 year. No renewal by mail, vision test required, and on-road driving test required at age 75+.
Accelerated Renewal
2 years for drivers ages 81-86; 1 year for drivers 87 and older.
OtherProvisions
Renewal applicants 75 and older must take a road test.
Several years ago, I was in a shoe store with my kids. I had a ‘great’ parking space near the store...right up front. We heard a huge crash. My SUV got t-boned by an elderly man. I had been getting my youngest out of his carseat...on the passenger side (that got hit) moments before.
The man was somewhat angry at the scene (somehow it wasn’t his fault in his mind that he hit a parked vehicle). To my knowledge he was never sited by the police (my vehicle had to be towed) and the man’s son refused to turn the accident into insurance. They paid, out of pocket, for my rental, bodywork, repainting the vehicle. Only reason why, so dad wouldn’t lose his license. I wanted to pursue it (imo, the father should not have been drving, but my hands were tied).
Amen.
At least drivers’ go through competency testing for license renewal. Not so politicians.
I do no know at what age the keys should be taken away from a driver, but let’s have an agreement , that whatever age that is should also be the retirement age for politicians and Supreme Court Justices who are helping cause the train wrecks in our government.
We certainly do not need Congressmen and Senators who have to die in Congress.
My 87 year old parents each have their own cars and drive all the time. Neither one of them should be driving. Mom just renewed her Florida divers license— no problem. It’s good for 5 years...
Bump, basic defensive driving, establish eye contact, make sure they see you.
That looks about right.
My M-i-L is 92, and refuses to quit driving.
I would also add, that over a certain age, any No Fault provisions should be removed.
I was sitting in the parking lot of the local mall one day when all of a sudden I heard this terrific BOOM, and looked up in time to see an elderly lady hit the median in the parking lot right next to me.
She flew right over the median and continued on as if nothing had ever happened. She had to be doing at least 20-30mph.
Scared the crap right out of me.
Sounds like Al Gore’s son Al Gore III when he’s been driving one toke over the line.
We need to start driving stakes through these guys.
Anything worth killing once is worth killing twice.
http://www.zombiedefenseforce.com/ak47.php
If you don’t think they should be driving can you do something about it?
You’ll feel terrible if they hurt someone.
I know a few 30 somethings who should not be driving.
How about those women who think applying makeup while at speed on a highway is ok?
parking lots are not public streets and thus (with some exceptions) no tickets.
The left call GW Bush “Junior” (as in Bush Jr.) when in actually it was Al Gore who was really Al Gore Jr. (with his son in tow, Al Gore III).
GW’s name was similar to his father’s name, but not enough to be “Junior” as Al Gore was.
But then, the Left got their panties in a wad because Bush was a member of Skull and Bones. Not so concerned when they learned that John Kerry was also a member.
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