by Leonard J Sherrott

Created on: March 04, 2008   Last Updated: April 07, 2011

Setting a maximum age for driving in the US is an interesting concept to contemplate. Logistically, Telling fifty governments how to do their job might not go down too well. Even more difficult would be having fifty governors agree on the number. Regardless, while freedom of choice and anti-censorship campaigners may scream, the idea of introducing a maximum age for drivers has some merit.  

The hardest thing to accept in aging is probably the need to be dependent on others. Unless a benchmark is set, very few will voluntarily surrender their right to independence. It is a harsh realization to resign oneself to. Unfortunately, there are remains of many citizens in cemeteries whose twilight years were cut short by a driving mishap. Tragically, some of them may have cut the lives of others even shorter in the process.

Obviously, it would be naive to suggest that everybody at the age of seventy, eighty or even one hundred instantly loses the ability to function. To that end the introduction of a maximum age limit would ideally include a clause to allow appeals on the grounds of competence to continue driving. The whole concept is common sense based.  There is a minimum age at which each state believes drivers are mature enough to be behind the wheel. Surely the same logic should be applied by authorities to mature age citizens. No doubt many states already require retesting regularly for older citizens. In fact the state of Alabama begins the process from forty five years of age.   

It must be appreciated that the average car is lot more responsive today than the designs of fifty years ago. There was also much less traffic on the roads. Automotive technology has taken a quantum leap. For the most part everybody drove a lot slower than we do today. Just over half a century ago, it wasn’t even compulsory to wear a seatbelt. Believe it or not, many of those enjoying the sunset of their lives today were self taught and paid a small fee for a licence. That doesn’t necessarily make them worse drivers than the rest. Their maturity of years however, makes them vulnerable to the elements of road rage and undisciplined behaviour of others which can result in injury or death.

Prevention is always better than the cure. Far from being an act of censorship, setting a maximum age would be morally and socially responsible for all concerned.

    

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