Elderly Driver

[SkyRider]

It's happened again. A pedestrian crossing an intersection on a green light was mowed down by an elderly driver. Should there be an upper age cut-off for elderly drivers?

Here is a sad but true story. A few years ago, the petite wife of a co-worker was out jogging when she was hit by a car driven by an elderly driver and dragged all the way back to senior's home.

 

[S.C. Joe]

No there should be no pre set age, unfair to those who can drive safe.

But ALL at fault accidents resulting in a death should be a traffic CRIME, not just a plain old traffic ticket. The offense should stay on their driving record forever and their drivers license should be review and most times pull for a while--if not forever.

 

[james t kirk]

It's happened again. A pedestrian crossing an intersection on a green light was mowed down by an elderly driver. Should there be an upper age cut-off for elderly drivers?

Here is a sad but true story. A few years ago, the petite wife of a co-worker was out jogging when she was hit by a car driven by an elderly driver and dragged all the way back to senior's home.

I remember that. I believe it was in Etobicoke that it happened.

I had a vehicle of mine side swiped whilst parked on the road on my street about 10 years ago. (It was a year old at the time.)

Long story short, the guy who hit it (and just kept driving) was 94. Ninety fucking Four. Some neighbours saw him smash along side my vehicle and got his plate and told me. I called the cops and they told me the deal. Apparently the guy had hit a number of cars because his vehicle was completely wrecked with damage from multiple accidents. (And the fucker just kept going.) Anyway, the cops said they were going to pull his license. About a year later, I'm sitting outside and I see the old fucker drive by. Well, the reason is that there were garbage trucks on the road and he drove up onto the sidewalk / grasss strip to go around the garbage truck. I got his plate and realized it was the same old fucker who nailed me. Still driving a year later.

I called the cop I had dealt with last time and he admitted he had let it slip through the cracks. So I went over to the cop shop on Mavity and practically had to jump up and down on the counter to get them to take a report. When I asked for a photocopy of the report, the big fat cop (350- pounds) working behind the counter asked me "why". I told him why. He went into the back then came back 5 minutes later and told me that the photocopier was broken. So I took the report, walked over the library and photocopied it there.

It was like pulling teeth to get the cops TO DO THEIR JOB.

 

[whollycheeses]

It's happened again. A pedestrian crossing an intersection on a green light was mowed down by an elderly driver. Should there be an upper age cut-off for elderly drivers?

If you're talking about the incident today, Jan18, it was not an elderly driver. It was an elderly victim hit by a TTC bus.

 

[red]

If you're talking about the incident today, Jan18, it was not an elderly driver. It was an elderly victim hit by a TTC bus.

It's up to seniors and their doctors to decide when it's time to stop driving, not the government, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday in the wake of an accident that claimed the life of a Toronto mother.

"For some folks, it's sooner rather than later, but there does come a point in time when it is no longer safe for you to drive a car," McGuinty said.

"You have to be honest with yourself in that regard ... and so does your physician."

McGuinty's comments came a day after a mother was killed when she and her baby were hit while crossing a busy intersection by a car that allegedly ran a red light. Police said the 12-week-old boy suffered only minor injuries despite being knocked out of his stroller.

The driver was an 83-year-old woman, police said.

McGuinty said he's willing to listen to any advice his transport minister may offer, but he doesn't believe the accident is "something that calls for actions on the part of government."

"But it does call for, I think, careful consideration by our seniors and by their doctors," he added.

Ontario has the "toughest regime" in Canada for elderly drivers, said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.

When drivers turn 80, they must pass a written test and attend a class with other drivers. If the driver has any demerit points, they must pass a road test, he said.

Drivers over the age of 70 who caused an accident are required to undergo a re-test. Any medical problems must also be reported to the ministry by law, and the driver's licence is suspended until those problems are overcome, he added.

"We get most of our complaints from senior drivers who think it's very onerous," he said.

However, there's very little driving-related activity that McGuinty hasn't touched since he took office 2003.

The Ontario Liberals have imposed sweeping regulations, from stunt driving to outlawing the use of hand-held devices like cellphones, banning smoking in vehicles with children and imposing new restrictions on young drivers.

Questions about whether senior drivers posed a bigger risk to public safety surfaced back in 2000, when a Toronto woman died after being run over and dragged for almost a kilometre under a car driven by 84-year-old Pilar Hicks.

 

[Questor]

I think the laws in place are sufficient. Suspension of drivers licence at a certain age is ridiculous without a history of accidents and traffic violations. In the case mentioned by Kirk, it was a question of laws NOT being followed which allowed the senior to continue driving. And the attitude of the cop at the station sucks.

 

[S.C. Joe]

The Ontario Liberals have imposed sweeping regulations, from stunt driving to outlawing the use of hand-held devices like cellphones, banning smoking in vehicles with children and imposing new restrictions on young drivers.

s.

That is the joke here, many drivers are facing restrictions and fines and haven't hurt anybody or cuased any accidents. Yet for some reason the most at risk drivers can drive at any time on any roads.

Glad to know at least if you are 70 years or more and have an accident they re-test you. Too bad you need to first have an accident.

But some drivers are safe at any age and some know better not to drive in bad weather or at night.

This is a worldwide problem and no real good answers.

 

[red]

That is the joke here, many drivers are facing restrictions and fines and haven't hurt anybody or cuased any accidents. Yet for some reason the most at risk drivers can drive at any time on any roads.

Glad to know at least if you are 70 years or more and have an accident they re-test you. Too bad you need to first have an accident.

But some drivers are safe at any age and some know better not to drive in bad weather or at night.

This is a worldwide problem and no real good answers.

I agree 100%.

 

[tboy]

Age has nothing to do with it. It should be based on your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Hell, there are some 20 yr olds who shouldn't be on the road.

I know after you reach a certain age you have to be retested but I think that a 5 yr mandatory retesting should be implemented.

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

If you're talking about the incident today, Jan18, it was not an elderly driver. It was an elderly victim hit by a TTC bus.

This incident?

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/752089--woman-dead-after-being-hit-by-bus

If so, sorry, we shouldn't be confusing these people with facts.

 

[red]

This incident?

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/752089--woman-dead-after-being-hit-by-bus

If so, sorry, we shouldn't be confusing these people with facts.

the original poster is not talking about that incident.

 

[Plan B]

First of all, you need certain spatial dexterity to drive..and this decreases with age, your body breaks down, you can't make sudden turns, and your reflexes don't work as fast...There should definitely be a cut off point where you can't drive after a certain age. This is too hot of a political issue for politicians to discuss as our population ages, and the baby boomers won't want any restrictions, so nobody will touch it, and old folks will continue to mow down innocent pedestrians. Its too bad some seniors are too selfish to see the bigger picture.

 

[james t kirk]

There does come a point.

A firend of mine's father was in his late 80's and still driving. My friend knew it was time to pull his license and the old man didn't take it too well. My friend had an interesting perspective and that was it was cheaper for his dad to just take a cab wherever he wanted to go than to own a car. (It was too for as much as the old guy drove.)

 

[toughb]

My family took my Dads license away from him when he was 80.

He managed to crush the side of his car three times in the underground parking garage in one month. Better hitting concrete than people.

In my opinion there should be mandatory written and driving tests after 75.

...

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

the original poster is not talking about that incident.

Never mind then.

Perhaps someone could link the incident that is being discussed.

 

[S.C. Joe]

I knew a few of my father friends who used to complain about older drivers (mid 70's and up) how they should not be on the road. Now years later THEY are in their mid 70's and older and all still drive most everyday, lol.

Careful what you say cause one day you be that age too.

 

[wolfwolf]

These accidents are also happening to the younger ones. Just a couple days ago, a 29-year dump truck driver killed Steven Seixeiro, a grade 12 student at St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Maple when the young man was cross the street in Vaughan.

 

[Damondean]

As long as you can hobby, you should be able to drive )

 

[Fireseal]

These accidents are also happening to the younger ones. Just a couple days ago, a 29-year dump truck driver killed Steven Seixeiro, a grade 12 student at St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Maple when the young man was cross the street in Vaughan.

Wow, that's freaky I know that school, wonder if that's why they put up the cross walk light o_o

As long as you can hobby, you should be able to drive )

Is that with pills or without?

Getting more serious, elderly drivers should be making the right choice themselves. I'm sure their years of experience and some safe driving habits will allow them to pass tests even if they are not really road worthy. I don't think any 15-30 min test is going to weed out all the ones who shouldn't be driving, they need to come to the realization themselves.

 

[HOF]

Incredibly sad that there have been 6 traffic deaths in the GTA, and this is only the third week of 2010.

There have been equally as many in the Hamilton/Niagara area. There are many reasons why, not to debate b/c we'll be here forever.

Regarding the elderly, it's not about them having the license taken away, it's about losing their independence! I was caregiver to my parents and not long after my mother passed, my dad started failing too. I had several discussions with him about driving and the what if's. Then, a young boy was killed in Niagara by an elderly driver just reversing out of his driveway. There was no fault, and the driver wasn't charged but will never be the same. My dad saw this on the news (His heart was failing, his legs were finished but he still wanted to keep his license. I had several disagreements with the family doctor and cardiologist, and I documented all of this, dates, times, discussion, and told the doctors if he hurts someone or is hurt by someone,I'll be providing this information to the police. Well, dad had to get his license renewed, so I went with him and I drove his car. With walker and heart monitor in hand. He went in, renewed his license, we went back to the car and he handed me his license and said he didn't want to drive anymore because he knew that he couldn't and wouldn't want to hurt anyone. He said, sell your car, keep mine and put it in your name. It's hard to lose your independence.

This can happen to any of us. We could have a heart attack, stroke, ms, sleep apnea just to name a few. In fact, sleep apnea, if you don't agree to the prescribed treatment. It must be reported and your license is gone. So now, I wear this really sexy mask and tell the ladies not to worry I look like TOM CRUISE in TOP GUN! LOL. I can't be without my license, and if I follow the other instructions from the specialist, I won't need it alot longer.