Driver’s License Makeover
The other day I got behind “grandma” driving 43mph on a state highway. Of course, it happened to be a state highway that is relatively busy, making it rather difficult to pass! Then, the next morning I heard a radio DJ talking about the elderly & their driving abilities…and once again, it got me thinking! (Scary, I know!)
I think we’ve all encountered that person who drives significantly below the speed limit or even just enough that you have to let up on your cruise. Now, I’m not expecting everyone to drive OVER the speed limit, just the SPEED LIMIT!
If you aren’t driving the speed limit, why is it? If it’s because the roads are icy or snow packed and you don’t want to lose traction, you get a free pass this time. If it’s because you are road farming, drive on the gravel. If it’s because you don’t have a valid license and don’t want to get picked up, shame on you! If it’s because you don’t feel you have enough control driving the speed limit, GET OFF THE ROAD!
At what point should people (not neccessarily just the elderly) be required to give up their license?
I think we’ve all ridden in the car with that person who is a creeper! (And I’m not talking about the stalker kind!) These are the folks who creep into intersections, creep along, slow down getting on the interstate, instead of speeding up to the speed of traffic. Why? What good does creeping do? If your vision is blocked by something I understand a little creeping, but what if the road is clear?
Are you a nervous driver? Are you always worrying about the traffic around you? Are you so on edge when you are behind the wheel that you have become a hazard?
Don’t get me wrong, I dont’ think we all need to hit the highway at crazy speeds, driving without inhibitions, but I also believe that there are folks out there that are so cautious that they have actual become a danger to themselves and to others.
How do we monitor such situations? How do we monitor ALL drivers? Anymore I don’t think we can point the finger at just the elderly. So, here is my proposal:
I believe that there should be more requirements when renewing your license.
I think the DOT should make people between the ages of 14 and 21 drive every time they renew their license. It seems as though kids are getting their license and the freedom of having a car sooner all the time. This is a time when they are developing their driving skills and aren’t always aware of the errors they make.
I also believe that anyone over the age of 60 should have to drive everytime they renew their license. Not because I believe they are all bad drivers, but because physically this is when people start to decline (whether it be due to eye-sight or reaction time). It has come to me that this is also the age when a lot of people stop changing with the times. This tends to reflect itself in their driving as they refuse to drive a lick over the speed limit or become a creeper (at least in my experience)!
I also think that there should be a “lottery” when renewing your license. There should be a system in place that may cause you to drive when you renew your license (and not just because you missed the deadline), without knowing ahead of time. I think you shouldn’t always be guaranteed you won’t have to drive. I think this would keep everyone more “on their toes” when it comes to their driving skills.
Now, I know what you are all thinking…”I don’t want to drive!!!’ That makes me think you are one of the folks I’m talking about above! If you are a good driver you shouldn’t be worried about a thing. Am I a perfect driver?? Absolutely NOT! But, if someone were to tell me that in order to renew my license, I would have to drive…I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. I also wouldn’t be concerned that I wouldn’t pass. I’d be happy to drive! WOULD YOU??
8 comments
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I’ve often thought exactly like this and actually wrote a blog post a few years back on the same subject, although I was considerably more lenient than you. But all great minds think alike, I guess.
It’s a problem. Far too long we’ve been concerned about the jackass doing 90 in a 55, but not with the granny barely making it over the dashboard doing 15. I understand in-town; my 93-year-old neighbor still drives downtown and gets groceries on his own, but seems to stay away from going anywhere significant. Not all are so smart. Not all know when to give it up.
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So what are the actual rules over there once they hit a certain age? I know here at 70 they must undertake a medical and eye examination and after 85 must have a practical driving test every year. I know it varies from state to state. Some states and territorys here actually make you have an eye exam even if you are young every time you renew.
and 14? are you seriously telling me kids are driving at 14? what the??? they are babies at 14. Why is it Americans wont let you drink til you are 21 but you can have a weapon in the name of a car at 14??
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@Nathan – You are absoulutely right! Why does the law only concern themselves with those breaking the laws by going OVER the speed limit?!
@Mel – I’m not exactly sure about the requirements for the elderly, but in my experience, there aren’t enough. And yes, kids do start driving here at 14. At 14 you get a driver’s permit, which means you can drive with an adult over the age of 25. At 15, you can get a school permit, which means you can drive by yourself to school and back on a specific route. At 16 you get a full blown license!
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@Mel: There aren’t any laws concerning different requirements as you age right now. As long as you pass your vision test every 5 years, you don’t have any other requirements. No driving, no tests once you get your full license at 17. The only time you have to test is if you don’t renew it on time.
@Katy: The law changed slightly in 1999; For getting your license, at 14 you get your instructional permit, which you can only drive with another adult. At 15 you can get a “school license” which lets you drive by yourself to/from school and school activities only. At 16 you get a conditional license which you can drive alone but not between 12:30 am and 5:30 am. At 17 you get your full, unrestricted license. At any point in the 14/15/16 range you get a traffic violation (or worse), you can be “held back” by the system from getting your full license at 17; the punishments vary.
The idea of giving kids the ability to drive so early is that people around Iowa used to be largely rural, meaning that it was a huge hassle to have teenage, high school kids in lots of activities without their own car. But that also brings problems with it, hence the tightening of the laws.
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Touchy subject. I don’t think that you want all of what you are asking BUT we probrably need to look in to something. I would hate for YOU to get picked to drive and fail and have to figure out a different way to get around.
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@tj – then what do YOU suggest? Because I know you think there are idiot drivers out there!
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@TJ: On the contrary; if my sister takes a driving test and fails it, then I very much DO NOT want her out there driving. Much better for her to have to find other means than endangering others with her inabilities. The same goes for me.
The problem here is that we assume that driving skills only improve, not degrade; that your physical skills in manipulating a vehicle get better with age. We assume that if you’re not causing traffic violations, you must be doing ok, otherwise the cops would pick you up. The reality is that a great deal of drivers get away with a lot of crap simply because we NEVER check them once they’ve gotten that precious license. This is, at best, moronic.
A real driving test wouldn’t be so strict as to stop a person from driving should they make a minor mistake, but would instead provide an opportunity for correction and instruction. Only when a major mistake (or several minor ones) happened would the instructor/tester be able to say, “You clearly don’t know how to drive, or you’ve forgotten — please attend this required refresher course.” Only failure to complete that refresher course would result in loss of license.
For some reason or another, we’re afraid of telling people they aren’t doing it right. But that kind of reflects on a national attitude towards any number of things like this, too.
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@Nathan – I agree with the remedial class and actually what I was thinking before I ever read your reply to @tj. If you fail your driving test, you would get the option to take a 3hour class on a Saturday morning, say, to “earn” back your license and review the rules!
@tj – I agree with Nathan that I would rather myself or others be aware of what we are doing wrong, than be ignorant to it! I’m not saying my ideas are perfect or even ideal, but I do think it’s important that we not only focus on everyone who is a hazard on the road. I think we all need to remember that driving is a privilege, not a right.