Are your parents still driving? How old are they?

[Anonymous]

My parents are 65 and 67 and are still driving. So far no issues and they are still more than capable of making long road trips. We'll need to have a talk with my dad within the next few years as he's had some surgery on his eyes and the dr warned his vision could start to deteriorate but so far so good (and he's had lots of checkups and vision tests to confirm).

My grandfather was still driving into his 80s and we all thought it was fine. That was until my aunt rode with him one day and realized he was just driving around town based on memory and couldn't really see anything. He blew a new stop sign they'd just installed because he couldn't see it and he couldn't see his speedometer very well either. Turns out he'd memorized the vision test at his drs office so was able to pass with flying colors every single time despite being essentially blind. Grandpa wouldn't agree to give up his license so the kids got together and agreed to sell his car instead (aunt had PoA) so he couldn't drive any longer. They made arrangements for younger retired family members to drive my grandparents to appointments and the store when needed.

[Anonymous]

My parents are 79. No big deal and I would trust either of them before trusting about 90% of the DMV drivers.

[Anonymous]

My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

[Anonymous]

Both my parents are almost 76. My father drives fine and his wife, who is in her mid 60s is keeping an eye on it. They recently moved out here from the west coast and she is very conscious of his lack of experience in snow, etc. I feel perfectly safe driving with him.

My mother is a very different story. She is 100% there in her thinking, but her vision and reflexes are not. I asked her to have a third party test her driving and she passed, but I have to say she scares me in terms of her spatial awareness and not seeing stop signs at night for personal experience. But there is always an "excuse" for the lapse. BHer eye doctor has also said she is fine to drive. I have no ability to stop her but I will not get in a car with her and I will not let her drive my children. We do not talk about it because it gets her worked up and changes nothing. She has a very strained relationship with my sister who basically did an intervention.

It has me planning to be a little more reasonable when I reach her age and I am looking forward to self driving cars.

AARP has some videos online for family members thinking about how to talk to parents about driving issues and aging.

My mother will call me when she gets home if we are together, which is good. I also have stopped using her for babysitting because I don't want to be responsible for her driving at night. This actually has hindered her relationship with my kids and it makes me sad that that is not enough of a reason for her to try and work with me on this. She used to see them at least once a week but it always involved her driving.

[Anonymous]

Mine are 60 and 63 and drive with no issues. By my grandmother drove till 80 and shouldn't have. 60+ drivers should have to take a road test yearly. My parents agree. Anyone not willing to shouldn't be allowed to drive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

No. They should just be tested instead of auto-renewing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70 isn't that old, it really depends on the person's health and individual circumstances. I know an 84 and a 93 year old who are both still driving, but only during the day. They are both still in good health and their eyesight is good.

Yeah. A few of them are running for president. Since when is 70 too old to drive?

LOL!!! I mean, seriously!! How old do these people think Hillary and Bill are??!! Of course, they're still driving!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

No. They should just be tested instead of auto-renewing.

You think HRC should be tested??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

No. They should just be tested instead of auto-renewing.

Do you think Bernie, Hillary, and Donald should be able to run for the presidency without taking a test but should be tested to drive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

No. They should just be tested instead of auto-renewing.

Do you think Bernie, Hillary, and Donald should be able to run for the presidency without taking a test but should be tested to drive?

What? Why did you post twice? This has nothing to do with politics. ANY elderly person driving should be tested. Relying on an exam they took 60 years ago is nonsense given how many elderly people lose their sight, reflexes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70 isn't that old, it really depends on the person's health and individual circumstances. I know an 84 and a 93 year old who are both still driving, but only during the day. They are both still in good health and their eyesight is good.

Yeah. A few of them are running for president. Since when is 70 too old to drive?

LOL!!! I mean, seriously!! How old do these people think Hillary and Bill are??!! Of course, they're still driving!!

No one is suggesting they be retested because they are suddenly suffering from dementia. It is literally about physical reflexes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

No. They should just be tested instead of auto-renewing.

Do you think Bernie, Hillary, and Donald should be able to run for the presidency without taking a test but should be tested to drive?

What? Why did you post twice? This has nothing to do with politics. ANY elderly person driving should be tested. Relying on an exam they took 60 years ago is nonsense given how many elderly people lose their sight, reflexes, etc.

What age do you consider "elderly" and in need of a test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

No. They should just be tested instead of auto-renewing.

Do you think Bernie, Hillary, and Donald should be able to run for the presidency without taking a test but should be tested to drive?

What? Why did you post twice? This has nothing to do with politics. ANY elderly person driving should be tested. Relying on an exam they took 60 years ago is nonsense given how many elderly people lose their sight, reflexes, etc.

What age do you consider "elderly" and in need of a test?

I suppose it's debatable but I would say 65-70+. At 65 you are "aged" per government standards, so it makes sense to use that number. I honestly don't see the big issue. I really think they should make EVERYONE periodically retake a road test. There are some BAD drivers out there. Curious, what is your protest in having an elderly person retake the test (and be allowed to continue driving if they pass?) I don't think it is in dispute that your reflexes decrease as you age, not to mention, in many cases, your ability to move. As it stands, it is up to a person to recognize they can't drive (rare) or their kids to fight them on it (bad situation.) Making the DMV the bad guy is a win/win.

[Anonymous]

Yes, 55. Grandparents near 80 and excellent health, still drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My father is 81 and my mother is 80. Both still drive although not much after dark and they haven't done a VA to FL drive in a few years but they will tackle 3-4 hour drives regularly.

For those who act like anything over 70 is old and driving should be limited - what is one supposed to do after that age? Curl up and die? My parents still do their own yard work because they enjoy it. My father just bought himself a new power washer yesterday. In comparison my IL's are closer to 70 and they act and look older than my parents. It's really about the individual and their condition.

No. They should just be tested instead of auto-renewing.

Do you think Bernie, Hillary, and Donald should be able to run for the presidency without taking a test but should be tested to drive?

What? Why did you post twice? This has nothing to do with politics. ANY elderly person driving should be tested. Relying on an exam they took 60 years ago is nonsense given how many elderly people lose their sight, reflexes, etc.

What age do you consider "elderly" and in need of a test?

I suppose it's debatable but I would say 65-70+. At 65 you are "aged" per government standards, so it makes sense to use that number. I honestly don't see the big issue. I really think they should make EVERYONE periodically retake a road test. There are some BAD drivers out there. Curious, what is your protest in having an elderly person retake the test (and be allowed to continue driving if they pass?) I don't think it is in dispute that your reflexes decrease as you age, not to mention, in many cases, your ability to move. As it stands, it is up to a person to recognize they can't drive (rare) or their kids to fight them on it (bad situation.) Making the DMV the bad guy is a win/win.

I'm not opposed to it after 75 and think it's often needed. I disagree that 65 is elderly; and I find it humorous that anyone could view active, healthy people like Hillary, Bernie, and Donald as elderly.