| SteelMoments |
11-13-2010 08:40 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffblue
(Post 808083)
67 really isn't that old.
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Sure... Except when it is. Some people are spry and fit at age 67, and some can barely walk upright. Most people at that age (at least in this country) are somewhere in between... Laws have to be written so that they can be enforced uniformly and fairly. When people begin to experience loss of ability due to age, often enough that happens quickly. Much better to cut off problems at the onset, then wait until they've gotten so bad that the driver is putting people at risk every time they get behind the wheel.
Accidents can happen to anyone, and I've seen people I consider excellent drivers blow through stop signs, hit curbs, light poles, other cars, whatever. It may be that this woman's failure had nothing to do with her age... Still, it's clear that aging does have an affect on people's reaction times and acuity. At 67 this woman ran a red light, and her driving ability is suspect. It should be evaluated.
Personally, I'd like to see road tests every 4 years for everyone, regardless of age... so long as it's covered by the ridiculous amount of money I'm already paying to get my license renewed. Sure it's inconvenient, but some people just plain can't drive, and they should be removed from the road so they are not a threat to themselves and (more importantly) everyone else. The United States has some of the most lax requirements for getting a driver's license in the western world... It wouldn't hurt my feelings if we had to follow the example of other countries, like Sweden:
Driver's License in Sweden
In 2000, there were 12.3 deaths by automobile per 100,000 people in the U.S.. By comparison, Sweden had only 4.3 deaths per 100,000 people. We killed 3x as many people with our cars, per person, than they did. I think we have something to learn.
List of countries by traffic-related death rate - Wikipedia |
