Elderly drivers and Florida Law...?

Motor vehicles are the leading cause of accidental death among elders aged 65 to 74 and the second leading cause for those over 75 years. Should Florida adopt mandatory testing of drivers over the age of 65?

Whether or not our elderly should be subjected to mandatory testing when it comes to driving, can be a controversial issue. Many of us have heard the familiar jokes about "old people" driving, but their is also a lot of weight behind those jokes. It's no secret that the older you get the more you become less and less able to do what you used to do. Your eyesight gets worse, your reaction time slows, your bones become fragile and you become more susceptible to cognitive disorders. All of these carry a lot of significance when it comes to a task like driving. But, like most of us, many elderly people depend on their cars for means of transportation and doing daily tasks. Whether it be driving to the store for food, going to the doctor or visiting family, elderly people do depend on driving on a daily basis. This creates an issue on whether or not mandatory testing for elderly drivers will affect their ability in essence to "survive." Furthermore, the argument of whether or not driving is a right or a privilege is also at hand. I for one look at driving as a privilege, and something that is earned not guaranteed.

Driving a car takes good hand-eye coordination, quick decision making skills, good memory and fast reaction skills. All of which are things that begin to deteriorate the older you become. This poses a serious issue, since driving a car can potentially become a lethal weapon due to it's sheer size, weight and potential speed. The data shows that accidental deaths among elderly is very high, most likely due to the deterioration of their fundamental motor skills and cognitive abilities.

I for one am for mandatory testing, both for the safety of the elderly drivers and the safety of all the other drivers on the road. Given that Florida has a very high elderly population, it only makes sense for a mandatory driving test here. I understand that many elderly people depend highly on their cars, but the line has to be drawn in the sand somewhere...and it's not an easy decision. If you do the right things: maintain a healthy lifestyle, proper dieting, adequate exercise and so forth, I feel that you will greatly increase your chances of living a healthy elderly life. A life free of most diseases, motor skill deficiencies and cognitive issues. So, any reasonable mandatory driving test would not be of that great of a challenge for those who age gracefully. It will simply solidify their ability to maintain the privilege of driving.

I understand that their will always be the occasions were someone will get a chronic disease regardless of their apparent healthy lifestyle, it's unfortunate and it could potentially keep them from passing a driving test. Unfortunately, that is something that statistically Florida would have to deal with.