Are older drivers dangerous? The DMV is enforcing a rule that says people 70 and older have to take an in-person test and eye exam. Some say it's discrimination.
When you’re 40, 70 seems old. When you get there, not so much, and I’m closing in fast.have had to take a written test and an eye exam at a Department of Motor Vehicles office to get their licenses renewed, it got my attention.
Actually, the 70-and-older in-person requirement isn’t new. It was in place since 1978, until Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order for a temporary waiver during the COVID-19 pandemic. That waiver expired because the virus threat has waned, and we’re simply back to the way we were.To be fair, for those of us who are older and not bionic, the eyes begin to go, reaction time fades, and driving at night can become more of a challenge.
“I just don’t have a problem with it. I think you need to put a stake in the ground somewhere,” Snyder said, and 70 strikes her as a fair number. And most, but not all, states have similar renewal requirements for older drivers. The California Highway Patrol reports that in 2019, drivers 70 and older made up 10.4% of all licensed California drivers. But they were involved in only 7.2% of fatal crashes and 5.5% of injury crashes.Drivers 20-24 made up 8.1% of licensed drivers in California but were involved in 11.9% of fatal crashes and 12.5% of injury crashes. And folks 25-29 made up 10% of all drivers but were involved in 13.4% of fatal crashes and 12.8% of injury crashes.
OK, but if drivers 70 and older drive less and are more inclined to take short trips to the post office and the supermarket, is the extra burden of testing justified?“A 70-year-old today is markedly different from what a 70-year-old was in, say, the 1970s,” said Gould, whose San Fernando Valley law firm represents clients of all ages doing battle over license suspensions and other issues.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Column: Camp Pendleton Marine wins war of words on quiz show 'Lingo'Lt. Riley Compton and her mom team up to win big bucks on show hosted by TV personality and San Diego native Rupaul
Read more »
U.S. Copyright Office AI Guidance Sparks More Questions Than Answers for Music (Guest Column)How will the Copyright Office rule when human and AI contributions are more intertwined in music? (Guest Column)
Read more »
Column: California's population is on the decline, and high-income earners have joined the exodus'It turns out high-income people are also fleeing the state — a new twist in the California exit. 'That should worry ruling liberal Democrats who love to tax wealthy people and spend their money, especially on social programs,' writes LATimesSkelton.
Read more »
Column: Chicago Cubs rotation picture appears clear after another strong performance from rookie Hayden WesneskiDavid Ross confirmed the worst-held secret in Chicago Cubs camp Thursday when he announced Marcus Stroman as his opening-day starter.
Read more »
Column: India's coal + renewables mix makes for messy energy transition: MaguireIndia has emerged as a renewable energy star after boosting solar capacity by a whopping 28% in 2022, rivalling China's growth rate and outpacing European heavyweights which deployed record funding on energy transition efforts last year.
Read more »
Column: Republicans oppose free markets to stymie investments in green energyBill vetoed by Biden would have kept fund managers from considering climate risk, social factors in pension fund investments
Read more »