Driving Is Not For Everyone Essay Research

Driving Is Not For Everyone Essay, Research Paper

Most people who have a driver s license have seen a large car in front of them that is having trouble staying between the lane markings. There are many factors that can cause the person to have this problem. Some of those would be that the car is too large, so their ability to drive is hindered. The person could also be too short or not be able to see very well. There are many other reasons, but do you really want these people driving death wagons, attempting to navigate down roads at high speeds? I certainly do not. I would think that they would be restricted to not drive. At the age of sixty-five insurance rates begin to rise. This makes me think, if these people are all around the same age, there should be some kind of warning given to the public or a physical test that is required for these people to drive at this age.

The only test given to renew a license is a written test, similar to the test taken for a permit. It is known by insurance companies that as you pass the age of sixty-five your driving becomes worse. Some people say that new drivers are just as dangerous drivers as older drivers. When you first get your license you are required to take a written and physical test of your driving knowledge and driving skills. When you are young you run a high risk of getting into a accident because you are inexperienced. When you are older you run a high risk of getting into a accident because you just can t react fast enough, or you can t see or hear what is going on around your vehicle. Most older people know all the laws of driving because they have been driving for many years. Because of this they can pass a written test easily. If they had a physical driving test, I am sure that the road would be am much safer place for the rest of us drivers, the dangerous drivers would be weeded out by the test.

Another reason why we might worry about older people driving is that they are more prone to illness. It is not as simple to drive while you are ill, then while you are well. When you are ill at an old age, the symptoms of illness are much more worse. Some diseases that effect people in their old age are arthrit

is and Alzheimer s disease. “Ninety-seven percent of people over sixty have some kind of arthritis.”(Arthritis:). The effects of arthritis are from a light soreness to intense pain that can cause severe damage and total loss of body control. If someone is having trouble with their arthritis, I hope they don t drive. Alzheimer s disease usually is prominent in older people. The big problem with Alzheimer s is that its effect are gradual, so the person might be unaware that they have it. “Alzheimer s is a degenerative brain disease.”(Alzheimer s Association). First, you start to forget recent events or familiar tasks, such as driving. “It eventually causes confusion, personality and behavior changes and also a impaired judgment. It is hard to finish complete thoughts or even follow simple directions. Most people with Alzheimer s become unable to care for themselves.”(Alzheimer s Association). One out of ten people between the ages sixty-five and eighty-five have Alzheimer s. Half of the population over eighty-five has Alzheimer s. The only way to confirm that someone has Alzheimer s is through an autopsy. If so many people over the age of sixty-five have physical health problems, there should be a physical driving test to find out if these people can actually drive. The time spent on a physical test is comparable to a written test, so it wouldn t just be wasted time if you are a good driver. Some older people don t have any physical or mental problems, they would be able to pass the test with flying colors.

I believe that if there are more tests when you reach the age of sixty-five and continue to retest every three to five years, the roads will be a more pleasant place to travel for everyone old and young. It will be safer and I think their will be less accidents and maybe even lower insurance rates for seniors. I am sure that the seniors would be happy to save money on their insurance rates. There could also be classes to inform the public of the hazards when it is difficult or challenging to drive. All these things together would help to make everyone a better driver, a more understanding person of how hard it is to be old, and still have to work like you were young.

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