Having worked in a neurologists office and seen the kind of elderly people that still have their DLs (Parkinson's patients, stroke patient's, seizure patient's, etc etc etc), I have to strongly agree that they should be re-tested. Although I would go a bit farther with the age. In my opinion once you are eligible for Medicare you should have to start taking a practical driving exam every year. I think it should be something that Medicare covers. There are just too many things that can go wrong with the human body after the age of 65. I also believe that the practical exam should be longer and more difficult when you first go to get your DL, though. This five minute cruise around the block bull just isn't cutting it. It should be done in two parts. One on a closed course where they can bring about conditions to really test your abilities and then if you pass that then take you out on the real road and see how you do. There are just too many people let out on the roads who are not ready because the amount of time they devote to the practical exam is so limited. I think the number of accidents caused by the under 25 and the over 65 are staggering.
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timeasmymeasure
re-testing the elderly
Date: 2003-07-17 01:54 pm (UTC)Thus ends my long winded opinion.