We are doing a lot of work getting drunks off the road...

[Archae]

Every year though I read stories like this.

What was this guy doing driving in the first place?

(And my own Mom doesn't have Alzheimers, but she is 82 now. She still drives, and hasn't had an accident since she was a teenager.)

Friends: Man in I-43 wrong-way crash had Alzheimer’s disease

We’re learning more about two men killed in a wrong-way crash on I-43 in Sheboygan County.

The victims have been identified as Richard Brill, 84, Oostburg, and Mark Graceffa, 35, Grafton, according to a report from our Milwaukee sister station WISN.

The crash happened Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Oostburg area.

The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office says Brill was driving the wrong-way down southbound I-43 at full highway speed when he hit Graceffa’s vehicle.

The crash killed both men. There were no passengers.

Friends of Brill told WISN that the 84-year-old had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

http://wbay.com/2016/01/22/friends-man-in-i-43-wrong-way-crash-had-alzheimers-disease/

[snooper2]

1. When you hit 65 drivers test required every 4 years...eyes and vision every 2

[Archae]

2. The biggest obstacle to this is the AARP.

They will lobby against any rules like this, and the elderly are a larger voting bloc.

So politicians don't want to be "taking away the rights" of elderly impaired drivers.

[snooper2]

3. There are plenty of videos like this we can sway the public with.

Although the elderly are a large voting block LOL-

Note- The baby was injured but lived...amazingly

Published on Apr 18, 2012
PALM COAST, Fla. -
The Florida Highway Patrol has charged a 76-year-old woman who drove her car through a busy Publix grocery store, injuring ten people, including a baby in a stroller.

Officers charged Thelma Wagenhoffer of Palm Coast with careless driving after she slammed her 2004 Toyota Camry through the front door of the Publix at 4950 Belle Terre Pkwy. on Saturday. Investigators said they found no apparent problems with the car's brakes. Witnesses said the car appeared to be going about 50 miles per hour. Now, she'll have to explain to a judge what went wrong and has a mandatory court appearance set due to the severity of the injuries.



Here she is...like, what happened

[FLPanhandle]

6. It's been proposed in Florida multiple times but it's political death

We have so many old people and they all vote.

No Florida politician would dare try again.

It's a shame because I'd rather be on the road with a bunch of teenagers than a bunch of elderly.

[Odin2005]

7. I think an issue is that in many places there is little or no mass transit...

...and so taking away seniors' DL would significantly restrict their freedom of movement and I think a lot of people are reluctant to do that.

[Journeyman]

4. Given the incredible realism of electronic gaming, I wonder why we don't do driver's tests. . .

every so often within a simulator. Not just for the elderly, but everyone. There are plenty of 20-year-olds who have no business behind the wheel.

Using a simulator, a test could be devised not only to assess a person's knowledge and understanding of the rules of the road, but their reflexes, their spatial perception, and their ability to perceive developing problems and react to them.

Such an examination could be administered in a store-front setting, at little cost, and made a requirement for renewing a license. Maybe administer it every five or ten years up to age 70, then bi-annually after that.

If a person scored poorly on the simulator, they would then have to undergo further tests, in real-life driving conditions, to further assess their ability to drive safely. This would help us identify early those who are experiencing difficulties behind the wheel, and perhaps devise conditions or restrictions on their driving in the interest of safety for all.

[SheilaT]

5. I agree that older drivers should be tested more often.

I'm 67, my license comes up for renewal later this year. In my state (NM) once I turn 75 I need to renew every year, but won't be charged for the yearly renewal.

Some day, if I live long enough, I probably won't be fit to drive, and I hope I recognize that before I fail a test or someone needs to take the keys away from me. I keep on thinking that before that happens I will want to relocate to a city with better public transportation. Right now I'm very happy with where I live, but I want to be realistic about the future.