Jeanna Watson Eng 1a 3/12/12 Argument Essay/1st Draft Should Elderly Drivers be Re-tested?

To many Americans, driving is a right they have earned, that allows them many freedoms. The freedom to go where they want, when they want to, and with whom they choose to ride with them. However, for a certain group of Americans that freedom is being threatened. According to Westport News.com, Now that seniors have longer life expectancies and Baby Boomers are beginning to age, more and more, older drivers are on the road. I believe that with this increase of senior motorists flooding the roads, and with no precautions taken by lawmakers to evaluate or test these drivers capabilities, everyone on the road is being put into danger. How many of us have been on the road stuck behind an old man or women driving 15mph under the speed limit, or cut off by an elderly driver who didnt take the proper precautions when merging. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aging affects drivers in a number of ways: Safe elderly drivers require the complex coordination of many different skills. The physical and mental changes that accompany aging can diminish the abilities of elderly drivers. These include: a slowdown in response time; a loss of muscle strength and flexibility; drowsiness due to medications; and a reduction in the ability to focus or concentrate.

Several elderly drivers have diminished or very poor hearing and vision. Senior citizens also are prone to slower reflexes and response time, making operating a motor vehicle for some, just too physically and mentally demanding. The main problem is recognizing when a family member or you yourself are too old or physically impaired to be driving. Various groups propose that once a person hits what is considered to be the official senior citizen age of 65, that person must re-take their states driving exam, just as teenage drivers must when turning 15 or 16 years old. And perhaps, re-test every 2 to 5 years after that. With these requirements in place, those who no longer have the physical capabilities to drive will be weaned out and off the roads in a much safer, beneficial way, rather than when an accident has already occurred and its too late. People who oppose these propositions are usually advocates for elderly citizens, that claim requiring a re-take of the test for elderly citizens only is an obvious form of age discrimination, and is a violation of their civil rights. Singling out Americans just because they have hit a certain age; and forcing them to retest, is the government basically saying to them We think youre incapable now that youre old. Unfair treatment due to age is a hot issue amongst these advocates and the elderly, and no one wants to violate anyone elses civil rights. Some may even argue denying these senior citizens the right to drive, will reduce and limit their mobility, resulting in the decaying of their quality of life. Others would argue, that they are adults, capable of making their own rational decisions, and the government putting this new law in place, that is them saying we dont think youre smart enough to decide, so well do it for you! However, according to the American Association of Retired People, most of the elderly decide on their own

when its time to stop (New York Times). Many say requiring the elderly to re-take a test is flat out prejudiced towards the elderly, and extremely unfair (especially those with perfect driving records), for them to have to endure unnecessary fees and hassle to re-exam and waste their time and energy. Also with this new law in place singling out the elderly, some fear it may lead to police profiling. No matter which side of the argument youre on, one thing everyone wants to avoid is discrimination against anyone, or any group, for any reason. But we also must remember that driving is a privilege, not a right. I believe state Senator Tom Rielly, who is chairman of the Iowa Senate Transportation Committee said it best when he stated, I have no problem if a senior citizen wants to keep their drivers license, but obviously for public safety, I want to make sure they can pass physical and driving test. Steve Gursten, a Michigan auto accident lawyer states, That right to drive ends when they become a threat of injuring or killing innocent drivers. In conclusion, law makers must make this a point to vote on immediately, and until then, the elderly and their family members need to be aware of their driving skills and give up the keys, or take the keys, if necessary.

Cited Sources
Author:N/A Should elderly drivers be retested? Marc h2012 Westport News Hearst Communications Inc. Web 28 Feb. 2012

Winerip, Michael The Law and the Elderly The New York Times June 2007 Web March 2012

Petroski, William Debate on Older Drivers: Do laws keep roads safe? Oct. 2009 DesMoines Register.com web March 2012