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Extra
Baby boom drivers blast back
Readers want to put the brakes on worry over a generation of soon-to-be geriatric drivers.
By MSN Money Staff
MSN Money contributor Debora Vrana warned in her article "Too old to drive?" that "an estimated 40 million baby boomers will clog the left lanes of America, blinkers flashing, one foot trembling over the brake" in less than two decades.
After reading how Vrana drove home the statistics showing the higher risks associated with aging drivers (and teenaged drivers for that matter) and explored how some states are deciding when seniors should get off the road, many of you scrambled to the keyboard. Here is just part of what filled up the MSN Money e-mail folder:
Too old to drive? Baby boomers driving in the left lane with one foot on the pedal? What rubbish! Our roads are dangerous because of those who drive 15 and 20 miles-an-hour over the posted speed limits and law enforcement allows this to go on. Our income taxes could be reduced to nothing if police started enforcing the traffic laws and courts gave hefty fines to these lawbreakers who are a danger to all safe drivers on the road-and safe drivers come in all ages! True, there comes a time in life to give up the keys, but it is simply discriminatory to state that baby boomers (just because there are so many of us) will make the roads more dangerous. I'm tired of the doom and gloom that comes from everyone when baby boomers are mentioned in reference to the future of our country!
Garbage. As a 52-year-old driving in Tucson, Ariz., I've learned to be much more wary of the 17 to 25-year-old drivers -- no common sense and little driving skill. The old drivers may be slow, but I'll take that over the "youngsters."
I am almost 67 and I noticed a slight change in my driving. These changes keep me very alert while on the roads. I believe that around the age of 75, renewed licenses should be extended by two years, not the standard four years. After the age of 80, a physical driving test should be mandatory! To give renewed licenses with only a written test and eye check every four years is putting seniors and everyone in a dangerous situation. Been there, done that with my parents! As a side note, I feel teens need more experience and time behind the wheel with an adult before being let on the streets by themselves and with friends.
Related news and commentary on MSN Money
In my opinion, if a person cannot open the door of their car they should not be driving. Now that doesnt mean handicapped, younger drivers, but the ones that do not have the strength to open the door. Every state should test the driving skills of drivers over 60. And also do not forget maintaining speed with the rest of traffic. Older drivers are the cause of a large amount of road rage and accidents as drivers struggle to get around them. If they cant keep up -- keep off.
Way off base on the baby boomer article about driving. I am one, born in 1954. The studies are correct about people that age now. But we will be a much safer bunch of oldies because we grew up on the highways driving at highway speed. We wont be as afraid of the road as old people now are. Im not one of those people who zigzag in and out and drive like a maniac, but I do know the pedal on the right and the steering wheel will get you out of more situations than the brake will. The real scary bunch will be the next two generations after us, when they are still trying to drive like idiots when they get old.
I am one of the boomers and I, too, feel that there should be driving tests for those renewing their license. But I feel that it should be for everyone renewing. The 30 something generation is in such a hurry that they have forgotten safe driving techniques. They speed constantly, never stop at stop signs, ignore yield signs and do whatever possible to keep their fast-paced life afloat. Lets slow down the rampant disregard for traffic laws and make everyone understand that it is a privilege, not a right, to drive.
Too old to drive? Youve got to remember that driving is still a privilege, not a right. So why isnt the government stepping up to the plate and denying the privilege to unfit older drivers, instead of dodging the issue?
Being a resident of Florida for the past 10 years, I believe with all my heart, that any person over the age of 75 should have to take a driving test again. They are dangerous and if any of you do not believe me, then you come to Venice, Fla. and see just how bad these drivers are!
Regarding the baby-boomer threat and clogged highways -- not likely. We are all at far greater risk from Generation X and younger drivers, who see interstate driving as a video game. And don't even get me started on the drunk drivers killing people by traveling the wrong way on the interstates. Thanks -- I'll take my chances with the baby-boomers.
Too old to drive? If I had an alternative, when the time came, I would gladly give up my license. Living in the rural Midwest and without children to chauffer me in my senior years, I will continue to drive as long as possible. How about some major revamping of our public transit system? In rural areas we need a way to get to larger cities as well as a way to get around once we get there.
There are plenty of "youngsters" who drive horribly. Maybe everyone should be retested or at least be educated on how to drive smartly. My mother at 81 is a far better driver than most people on the road.
I continue to drive because I cannot stand the maniacal driving of my daughter and son-in-law. I am a fast driver but get in one lane and mostly stay there until my destination. I find that younger drivers will drive fast and also weave from lane to lane. Older drivers consider safety more.
Rarely has an article inflamed me enough to comment on it, however, Im tired of the discrimination against seniors. While I acknowledge that some seniors may have problems driving -- rather than immediately penalizing the seniors, what alternatives are being proposed to offer an alternative to driving? I see how we are going to take away their license to keep us young folk safe, but they still need to function in society. In fact, I see reliable transportation as a very necessary thing for most seniors. As we age, there are usually more appointments, often medical, that have to be made. There are also important social activities including family and their community. Many of our best volunteers are retirees. What happens if they cant get beyond walking distance because of lack of transportation?
Too old to drive safely? Not in the near future! Im on the leading edge of the boomers; I turned 60 last year, and celebrated with a 600 mile bicycle ride. Few people half my age can keep up. Furthermore, I expect to see the far side of 100. But time does eventually catch us all, My mother will be 93 in a few months. She quit driving a couple of years ago, shortly after she had to give up line dancing. As Dirty Harry says, a mans (woman) got to know his limitations. Older people, I would guess do a better job of that than some other generations.
Editor's note: Letters may have been edited for grammar or spelling. Due to space considerations, some letters have been condensed and are not presented in their entirety. The views and opinions expressed in the letters are those of the authors and not necessarily those of MSN Money.
Send your comments to: investor@microsoft.com.
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