I think most states are taking a very hard look at driver qualifications given the fact that by 2030 the number of drivers aged 65 or older will double to around 65 to 70 million. I hate to say this at the risk of falling victim to my own thought years down the road, but I dont see anyway around stepping up driver license renewals for elderly to maybe every three years, stopping mail-in renewals and administering eye exams each renewal for 70 years and older.
Its also why we simply could never have an "American Autobahn". That first step would require revamping our entire driver's training and licensing program - not to mention retraining most of our law enforcement officers and rewriting most of our laws pertaining to driving.
I could see a way to have an 'American Autobahn', but it wouldn't be conventional or all-inclusive. In my world, in order to drive on such a highway (and it would have to be a seperate highway), you would have to receive training and certification above and beyond what is required to drive on most roads. Those authorized to take advantage of the higher rates of speed would have special license plates on their automobiles and unique driver's licenses. Drive the 'USAutobahn' (like my clever name for it?) without the special license plate and you will be pulled over and lose all driving priveledges for a certain amount of time. Do it twice, lose your car and face jail time. Drive with a 'forged' license/plate or stolen license plate or get pulled over and not have the unique driver's license that goes along with a legit plate and you will go to jail, lose your car and driving priveledges. If you have a 'legit' plate, you loan your car to someone without the special licensing and they get caught on the USAutobahn, then your car is forfeit - no warnings, no leniency.
I think most states are taking a very hard look at driver qualifications given the fact that by 2030 the number of drivers aged 65 or older will double to around 65 to 70 million. I hate to say this at the risk of falling victim to my own thought years down the road, but I dont see anyway around stepping up driver license renewals for elderly to maybe every three years, stopping mail-in renewals and administering eye exams each renewal for 70 years and older.
These things would be even better if they applied to everybody. Why stop with getting dangerous drivers who are 70 or older off the road? Let's make it tougher for any bad driver to keep their license. Will the majority of folks caught by this process be senior citizens? Most likely, but it would also give a chance to filter out younger bad drivers who might have slipped through the cracks on the first go-round.
Of course, not having a license won't necessarily stop folks from driving. Having worked at a public library where a DL was one of the ways to prove ID/address in order to get a library card, I can say that you'd probably be surprised at how many people drive without them (I have even had a few people say that they had been driving for 20 or 30 years and had NEVER had a DL.)
Actually, Georgia is about to embark on a similar experiment. Pretty soon a seperate lane will be set aside on certain roads that will be available only for those who pay a very high yearly fee.
Its already being called the "Country Club Highway".
Given that Atlanta is saddled with a perpetual EPA freeze on new road construction, cannibalizing entire lanes on key highways to rent to the limosine set is not sitting well with the locals.
You might keep an eye pealed on the whole affair. I predict it becomes a huge political albatross, and dies in a fiery crash. Several groups are already raising funds for a court challenge based upon constitutional grounds, and I suspect they might just win.
The problems will occur because it won't be a seperate toll road or a private road, but a subdivision of public roads based solely upon the user's ability to pay a huge fee for access.
Since the exclusionary lanes will immediately make all other traffic (already running neck and neck with LA as the worst in the nation) even WORSE, it may well be the next source of class warfare in the United States.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JB02GT
I could see a way to have an 'American Autobahn', but it wouldn't be conventional or all-inclusive. In my world, in order to drive on such a highway (and it would have to be a seperate highway), you would have to receive training and certification above and beyond what is required to drive on most roads. Those authorized to take advantage of the higher rates of speed would have special license plates on their automobiles and unique driver's licenses. Drive the 'USAutobahn' (like my clever name for it?) without the special license plate and you will be pulled over and lose all driving priveledges for a certain amount of time. Do it twice, lose your car and face jail time. Drive with a 'forged' license/plate or stolen license plate or get pulled over and not have the unique driver's license that goes along with a legit plate and you will go to jail, lose your car and driving priveledges. If you have a 'legit' plate, you loan your car to someone without the special licensing and they get caught on the USAutobahn, then your car is forfeit - no warnings, no leniency.
__________________
tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Actually, Georgia is about to embark on a similar experiment. Pretty soon a seperate lane will be set aside on certain roads that will be available only for those who pay a very high yearly fee.
Its already being called the "Country Club Highway".
Given that Atlanta is saddled with a perpetual EPA freeze on new road construction, cannibalizing entire lanes on key highways to rent to the limosine set is not sitting well with the locals.
You might keep an eye pealed on the whole affair. I predict it becomes a huge political albatross, and dies in a fiery crash. Several groups are already raising funds for a court challenge based upon constitutional grounds, and I suspect they might just win.
The problems will occur because it won't be a seperate toll road or a private road, but a subdivision of public roads based solely upon the user's ability to pay a huge fee for access.
Since the exclusionary lanes will immediately make all other traffic (already running neck and neck with LA as the worst in the nation) even WORSE, it may well be the next source of class warfare in the United States.
Now that is ridiculous. It's why I say that the USAutobahn would have to be a totally seperate road. It is moronic to tell folks that 'you can't drive in this lane because you haven't payed the premium.' It might work some places, I don't know, but in Atlanta, or anywhere in the South? Yeah, good luck enforcing that one.
Oh, and for the record, I have driven in Atlanta rush hour (usually evening rush hour) traffic on more than one occasion. It's a PITA, but I think would rather drive in Atlanta traffic any day than drive in Knoxville when traffic is heavy. Too many semis here, tourists everywhere, no bypasses and the amount of traffic has far outgrown the road system.
These things would be even better if they applied to everybody. Why stop with getting dangerous drivers who are 70 or older off the road? Let's make it tougher for any bad driver to keep their license.
Current statistics show that drivers in the 70+ age group show a sharp increase in fatalities. Combine that with the number of eldery drivers expected to double by 2030, thats the age group that will be MOST in need of stiffened renewal requirements by 2030.
But to your point, I think if someone is a bad driver as demonstrated by acrual of points or at-fault accident then yes, they should undergo more stringent drivers license renewal requirements.
However, if someone has not demonstrated themselves to be a bad driver or fall in the high age-risk category I set forth then they should not fall under more strict requirements and therefore it should not apply to everybody.
i believe they base the rankings on the amount of time the average commute takes, multiplied by the number of commuters. Part of the problem is how spread out Atlanta is (100 miles wide and 100 miles long). This is another similarity to LA. Urban sprawl with few natural limits. With virtualy no remaining neighborhoods INSIDE the I285 perimeter highway, more than 90% of the workers have commutes of 20+ miles (many have commutes over 30-40 miles). I live 12 miles from the center of the city (and because its so "close in", I could no more afford to buy here now than the man in the moon), and my last job was down there. On the ocassion when I ended up traveling between 730 am and 10 am, those 12 miles took me more than an hour - a LOT more if there were any accidents (2 hours was not unusual). ONE WAY. Double that, and you're sutracting 2+ hours of your life every day to travel 24 miles. The evening commute was usually worse, so I'm probably understating the problem.
Most people who don't live in the area experience Atlanta's Summer traffic patterns - which are a good bit lighter due to the lack of bus, student and soccer mom traffic. My commute when school is out used to drop 15 minutes or more.
They will have no problem finding well-heeled suburbanites willing to pay big bucks to get back some of those 10-20 hours per week spent sitting in traffic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JB02GT
Now that is ridiculous. It's why I say that the USAutobahn would have to be a totally seperate road. It is moronic to tell folks that 'you can't drive in this lane because you haven't payed the premium.' It might work some places, I don't know, but in Atlanta, or anywhere in the South? Yeah, good luck enforcing that one.
Oh, and for the record, I have driven in Atlanta rush hour (usually evening rush hour) traffic on more than one occasion. It's a PITA, but I think would rather drive in Atlanta traffic any day than drive in Knoxville when traffic is heavy. Too many semis here, tourists everywhere, no bypasses and the amount of traffic has far outgrown the road system.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
No doubt about it. Some people are safer drivers at 85 than others at 25. Making that determination with our rubber stamp licensing process just doesn't happen.
Its like identity theft and credit card fraud, though...
Until the pain level gets high enough, nothing will be done about it.
Its also why we simply could never have an "American Autobahn". That first step would require revamping our entire driver's training and licensing program - not to mention retraining most of our law enforcement officers and rewriting most of our laws pertaining to driving.
I have to disagree with you here about 85 year olds being safer then 25 year olds.
As we get older, our sight, hearing, reflexes, etc. all slow down. There is no way that an 85 year old, or 70 year old has the same sight, hearing, reflexes, etc. of a 25 year old.
I will say that both COULD be equally Dangerous though.
The 25 year old drives and acts like he is invincible, causing him to drive recklessly. Thus, being a dangerous driver.
The 85 year old drives super slow and overly cautious because his reflexes have been slowed by age. This way of driving is just as Dangerous as the 25 year old.
I know 85 year olds with sharp minds, 20/20 eyesight, and wisdom and judgement I envy. I know several 25 year olds (infact, I'm related by marriage to one notable example) that are unsafe at any speed.
There are always exceptional examples (hence the sentence modified with the term "some", vs say, "all") - but there is also a bell curve at work that is easily found.
The typical 17 year old has faster reflexes and sharper senses (and cannot legally acquire intoxicants like alcohol) than the typical 27 year old - but participates in far more serious accidents.
Somewhere around the middle of the bell curve (which roughly parallels the human life span) you find the middle-aged humans - and the safest group of drivers. Insurance companies know this, and this is why 55 year old humans buy insurance at a lower cost than 25 year old humans.
So logically, the most scrutiny should fall upon the two ends of the bell curve (say, 15-25 year olds on one end, and 70+ year olds on the upper end).
But "safe driving" and "acute senses" are NOT synonyms.
A person doomed to wear eyeglasses to correct their vision to 25/25 but with sound, experienced judgment and firm control over their impulses will OFTEN be a safer driver than a younger man with perfect vision and a few more issues in life yet to work out. The statistics prove it - and the insurance companies calmly stick out their palms and demand the extra dime because of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pg3ibew
I have to disagree with you here about 85 year olds being safer then 25 year olds.
As we get older, our sight, hearing, reflexes, etc. all slow down. There is no way that an 85 year old, or 70 year old has the same sight, hearing, reflexes, etc. of a 25 year old.
I will say that both COULD be equally Dangerous though.
The 25 year old drives and acts like he is invincible, causing him to drive recklessly. Thus, being a dangerous driver.
The 85 year old drives super slow and overly cautious because his reflexes have been slowed by age. This way of driving is just as Dangerous as the 25 year old.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
In IT we have an acronym, PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.
I think the same rule applies here PEBSAS - Problem Exists Between Steeringwheel And Seat.
Nice. Can I quote you? Everywhere???
As for seniors being retested, I agree. I ALSO agree that EVERYONE should be re-tested. I am as guilty as they are and so are you. We've all made traffic violations, though seemingly minor, that could be the difference between a pass/fail on a driver's test.
I've been passed by a white fuzzball behind the wheel of an old Cadillac. Yes, I remember that quite well... He/she was moving along at EASILY 50 mph over the speed limit on the highway. Yep, that went against the stereotype...
I also remember when a REALLY old guy revved his engine at people at my college, flipped us off, and held his hand in the air with the "rock" symbol, and drove away. That was funny as Hell.
As for seniors being retested, I agree. I ALSO agree that EVERYONE should be re-tested. I am as guilty as they are and so are you. We've all made traffic violations, though seemingly minor, that could be the difference between a pass/fail on a driver's test.
I've been passed by a white fuzzball behind the wheel of an old Cadillac. Yes, I remember that quite well... He/she was moving along at EASILY 50 mph over the speed limit on the highway. Yep, that went against the stereotype...
I also remember when a REALLY old guy revved his engine at people at my college, flipped us off, and held his hand in the air with the "rock" symbol, and drove away. That was funny as Hell.
Watch out for us geezers. We can fool you. And so can our cars.
__________________
tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Now that is ridiculous. It's why I say that the USAutobahn would have to be a totally seperate road. It is moronic to tell folks that 'you can't drive in this lane because you haven't payed the premium.' It might work some places, I don't know, but in Atlanta, or anywhere in the South? Yeah, good luck enforcing that one.
Oh, and for the record, I have driven in Atlanta rush hour (usually evening rush hour) traffic on more than one occasion. It's a PITA, but I think would rather drive in Atlanta traffic any day than drive in Knoxville when traffic is heavy. Too many semis here, tourists everywhere, no bypasses and the amount of traffic has far outgrown the road system.
They do that in LA now!
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GO TEAM BULLITT. Check out our audition video in my profile!!! Then check us out on the SPEED channel Feb. 9th on BULLRUN season 2!!
Why is it you can never find an elderly driver when you really need one to manage unruly, destructive protesters after championships?
Or unruly, obnoxious religious zealots at the funerals of heroes.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
Excerpt from Road User's Handbook : RTA (Australia): "Drivers aged over 80
From the age of 80 you need to have a medical examination every year to make sure that you are fit to drive. Each year when your medical examination is due, the RTA will send you a medical report form to be completed by your doctor.
Drivers who hold a licence other than a class C (cars) licence have to pass a driving test every year once they turn 80. If you have a class C licence, your annual driving test starts at 85 years. The RTA will advise you when your test is due. A medical examination must be passed before the driving test.
...
If you are over 85 and have failed an aged driving test and been issued a learner licence, you do not need to display L plates on your vehicle or complete a log book. However you are required to have a supervising driver with you when you drive."
Excerpt from Road User's Handbook : RTA (Australia): "Drivers aged over 80
From the age of 80 you need to have a medical examination every year to make sure that you are fit to drive. Each year when your medical examination is due, the RTA will send you a medical report form to be completed by your doctor.
Drivers who hold a licence other than a class C (cars) licence have to pass a driving test every year once they turn 80. If you have a class C licence, your annual driving test starts at 85 years. The RTA will advise you when your test is due. A medical examination must be passed before the driving test.
...
If you are over 85 and have failed an aged driving test and been issued a learner licence, you do not need to display L plates on your vehicle or complete a log book. However you are required to have a supervising driver with you when you drive."
They have the over 85's test annually here..
But I bet what they don't have is the AARP or the ACLU who would both have a field day with such age-specific requirements in the U.S. (it is my understanding that lobbying by the AARP is one of the main reasons we don't have anything like that here.)
