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Here we go again trying to stereotype, this time because of age and driving. I'm sure many of us have stories of our own grandparents that can very well at 90 and some that are half blind and have lost most motor skills at 70. The point is, it's the driver that should be considered in all cases rather than lumping in everyone based on the number of candle on their cake.

I do believe however that we should test our seniors more often as the aging process can quickly and without warning make itself known. We of course must have rules and standards that have to be imposed on the US such as legal minimum drinking age and ages in which a minor graduates to an adult. Classifying and limiting the elderly differs in the regard of setting baselines because individuals are affected by age in such varying degrees. To use the same method of baseline or threshold setting is not only pigeonholing but it's unfair to the ones that can perform the task of driving flawlessly. In addition I believe law enforcement should put down their revenue guns (radar) and look for the people that are driving too slow for traffic or otherwise blocking traffic flow. Impeding traffic is the typical elderly infraction but again, not all of them drive that way.

As seniors get older and live longer we'll undoubtedly see more elderly drivers and eventually something will need to be done but not an overall restriction. I would like to see law enforcement give retesting summonsing for slow drivers, overuse of blinkers and other acts of mindless drivers in the event the infraction warrants such. Tickets do nothing but fleece the public and actually make driving more dangerous when flashing lights and cars are pulled over, or worse yet, blocking a lane of traffic. That's another story but it had to be said.

The other issue of disallowing our seniors to drive is the burden placed on everyone else in the form of finding other means of transport and schedule adjusting of others. The unwarranted loss of freedom is one of the most unjust and inhumane things that can be done to a person. If we consider that many lawmakers have elderly parents themselves I doubt any such restriction would ever become law.

Learn more about this author, Rob Purifoy.
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