Too old to drive

[Time2]

Hear, hear!

That's a different problem, we're talking eyesight here.


I have Amblyopia, did correction as a kid and the doc gets me to 20:40 or a little better. I once took the eye test for a drivers license and I read half the letters and the lady said, "how about the other eye?" I said, "nothing there!" she said, "yes there is" I closed my good eye and there it was. I won't repeat that next time.
Strangely, the optometrist removed a full diopter from my contact lenses prescription for that eye at my last appointment. If I keep that up, in 20 years I won't need contacts. eh, probably won't need them either way.

 

[Car-Guy]

Hear, hear!

That's a different problem, we're talking eyesight here.

 

[TrvlBug]

I am not looking forward to my next DL renewal. My state requires in-DMV renewals when over 70 along with eye and written testing.

When I had my cataract surgery 8 years ago, I got monovision which allowed me to see w/o glasses for the first time. I had to politely argue with the clerk at my next renewal (under 70 but had been auto renewed for decades) that I don't need glasses because my vision in one eye doesn't meet regs. After all, I drive with both eyes and have 20/20 vision. She agreed and I was able to get my license w/o the glasses requirement.

I can't wait to see what they will say at my upcoming renewal. I recently lost functional vision in my dominant distance eye and now have to wear glasses. However, I can only pass a vision test with my one eye even with glasses.

 

[Lsbcal]

W2R you are just 75. I am the same age and would never think about stopping driving until I cannot hit the accelerator anymore.

There may be times when you have to drive. Maybe an emergency crops up or you look back in a few years and wish you hadn't let this stop you or Frank himself needs temporary driving help. Anyway, you know best but don't stop out of discouragement.

At our DMV I had to ask once to get an eye test poster that was in a properly lit place as the lighting was goofy in the one they first suggested. They were very accommodating. Oh, and if you decided to take the test again make sure you are breathing nicely like they tell us before the blood pressure test.

You could go rogue and memorize the poster surreptitiously. Just take a pic with your phone. You didn't hear that from me.

Best of luck.

 

[Car-Guy]

W2R you are just 75. I am the same age and would never think about stopping driving until I cannot hit the accelerator anymore.

There may be times when you have to drive. Maybe an emergency crops up or you look back in a few years and wish you hadn't let this stop you or Frank himself needs temporary driving help. Anyway, you know best but don't stop out of discouragement.

At our DMV I had to ask once to get an eye test poster that was in a properly lit place as the lighting was goofy in the one they first suggested. They were very accommodating. Oh, and if you decided to take the test again make sure you are breathing nicely like they tell us before the blood pressure test.

You could go rogue and memorize the poster surreptitiously. Just take a pic with your phone. You didn't hear that from me.

Best of luck.

If you are using an eye chart/poster, just read the last line on the chart. The small font that says "Made in U.S.A". (Or China or Japan as appropriate) . That will impress them... Or maybe not...

 

[Out of Steam]

Trying to reason with a government person can be like trying to reason with a brick. It's above their pay grade.

That's where you hire a lawyer to reason with their bosses.

 

[Koolau]

That's a different problem, we're talking eyesight here.

So glad everyone got it.

 

[Hermit]

I hadn't really thought about it much, but no driver's license would likely mean moving down from the mountains for me. No Uber up here. Maybe l could rely on Amazon and Walmart for food delivery? Next driver's license test for me is in 2025 - only a year and a half away! I think I will get new glasses just prior to that test thanks to reading this thread.

W2R, I'm glad you are in a place where you have ride share options and a close friend to rely on if needed.

 

[W2R]

I hadn't really thought about it much, but no driver's license would likely mean moving down from the mountains for me. No Uber up here. Maybe l could rely on Amazon and Walmart for food delivery? Next driver's license test for me is in 2025 - only a year and a half away! I think I will get new glasses just prior to that test thanks to reading this thread.

W2R, I'm glad you are in a place where you have ride share options and a close friend to rely on if needed.

Thanks. Also those are good ideas for ways for you to get groceries, if they deliver up there in the mountains! Another problem could be getting to doctor and dentist appointments, or getting blood work done for doctor appointments, and picking up any regular prescriptions you might need. I guess that public transportation like busses and cabs would not be an option up there either.

 

[Time2]

A point I'm not sure I understand, I wear contacts, I take the eye test with them in, pass and get my license. So, never any point made that I need glasses to drive. No question if I wear contacts. Seems like a flaw in the process.
In my case it doesn't matter as I always where my contacts.
Could be a way around the process, you could get a contact for the eye that needs correction and wear it for the test.
Some people don't like contacts, many years ago, I put a contact on my eye, it disappeared and like Magic, I could see the world. I love them.

 

[eytonxav]

When my father was in his 70s, I started to notice damaged fenders on his car and eventually realized he may have been the cause himself. He did not live beyond 74 which is where I am at. I think there can be other factors as well that make seniors bad drivers like slowed reactions and occasional dizziness.

 

[Koolau]

A point I'm not sure I understand, I wear contacts, I take the eye test with them in, pass and get my license. So, never any point made that I need glasses to drive. No question if I wear contacts. Seems like a flaw in the process.

I'm guessing one question on the form is whether you wear glasses/contacts.

Of course, then again, keep in mind who you're dealing with.

 

[Dash man]

My DFIL still drives at 89, turning 90 next month. He totaled a car a couple of years ago when someone ran a stop sign. He bought another used car within a week. There have been a few dents and a deceased mangled shrub next to our driveway, but he refuses to give up driving. At least he doesn’t drive at night. We have an Apple AirTag on his car to help find him if needed.

 

[TheWizard]

When my father was in his 70s, I started to notice damaged fenders on his car and eventually realized he may have been the cause himself. He did not live beyond 74 which is where I am at. I think there can be other factors as well that make seniors bad drivers like slowed reactions and occasional dizziness.

My father lived in one of those rural flyover states and when he came to the Boston area to visit (in his 70s), I noticed he wasn't using his side mirrors for turns and lane changes. I forget if he was using turn signals when he should have; it's been too long.

Point is: if you live in a rural, low population area, you may be able to drive "ok" with a reduced skill set, but you may likely have problems in a competitive urban environment, on top of dealing with unfamiliar roads...

 

[Koolau]

There aren't too many roundabouts on our Island, but my old home town where I'm Summering has a bunch. I noticed yesterday, while navigating several of these traffic devices, that I had to keep bobbing my head around the A-pillar in my car. Is that an age thing or a car thing? Do folks get used to roundabouts and not need to neck-crane to see where everyone is?

Any back-seat drivers want to chime in?

 

[TheWizard]

There aren't too many roundabouts on our Island, but my old home town where I'm Summering has a bunch. I noticed yesterday, while navigating several of these traffic devices, that I had to keep bobbing my head around the A-pillar in my car. Is that an age thing or a car thing? Do folks get used to roundabouts and not need to neck-crane to see where everyone is?

Any back-seat drivers want to chime in?

Roundabouts, or rotaries, are simple. Traffic IN the rotary has ROW, so simply monitor traffic coming from your left as you approach the rotary. Depending on volume, you may be able to merge in without even stopping.

The A pillar separates the windshield from the driver side window and isn't fat enough to be a visibility obstruction in any car I've driven recently...

 

[Koolau]

Roundabouts, or rotaries, are simple. Traffic IN the rotary has ROW, so simply monitor traffic coming from your left as you approach the rotary. Depending on volume, you may be able to merge in without even stopping.

The A pillar separates the windshield from the driver side window and isn't fat enough to be a visibility obstruction in any car I've driven recently...

It may just be my unfamiliarity with roundabouts that makes me hyper-vigilant. I do find the A-pillar in my Buick to be in my way when I want to turn left.

 

[Time2]

There aren't too many roundabouts on our Island, but my old home town where I'm Summering has a bunch. I noticed yesterday, while navigating several of these traffic devices, that I had to keep bobbing my head around the A-pillar in my car. Is that an age thing or a car thing? Do folks get used to roundabouts and not need to neck-crane to see where everyone is?

Any back-seat drivers want to chime in?

I have a property where there will be a roundabout going in. While talking with a transportation rep, I suggested they do an IQ test of people in the city before putting in a roundabout. It got a laugh out of her, but I was somewhat serious.

 

[Time2]

My DFIL still drives at 89, turning 90 next month. He totaled a car a couple of years ago when someone ran a stop sign. He bought another used car within a week. There have been a few dents and a deceased mangled shrub next to our driveway, but he refuses to give up driving. At least he doesn’t drive at night. We have an Apple AirTag on his car to help find him if needed.

Our breakfast buddy was 93 yrs old when, at breakfast he said he had a flat tire on his car so he bought a new one. Then pointed out his new car in the parking lot.

 

[TheWizard]

It may just be my unfamiliarity with roundabouts that makes me hyper-vigilant. I do find the A-pillar in my Buick to be in my way when I want to turn left.

Well you're turning right as you enter the roundabout, then left as you go around.
For even more fun, try to find a two lane roundabout, where you use the left or right lane to enter, depending on your intended exit...

 

[Koolau]

Well you're turning right as you enter the roundabout, then left as you go around.
For even more fun, try to find a two lane roundabout, where you use the left or right lane to enter, depending on your intended exit...

Heh, heh, most of the ones I traveled yesterday WERE two lane. Even more difficult to figure out. Oh, well. Soon, I'll be back where we haven't really adopted roundabouts much yet.

 

[Time2]

We had a thread about the peanut roundabout a while back.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=peanut+roundabout

 

[Car-Guy]

Now this is a roundabout.

 

[Hermit]

Now this is a roundabout.

No cars leaving or entering. Reminds me of an old song about the Boston subway... Also expresses my feelings about roundabouts!

 

[FIYes]

Just reading this thread. Giving up driving is something we may all have to face at some point. I’m hoping for self driving cars but that technology doesn’t seem to be getting there…at least yet.

One thing I noticed was the mention of driving a spouse or partner all the time. If your spouse is able to drive then you are doing them no favors by doing all the driving. For example, my uncle did all the driving. Aunt and uncle even worked at the same location so he even drove them to work. After my uncle passed my aunt had difficulty driving and truthfully she was not a safe driver. The description of the elderly, slow, scared driver fit her exactly. She even said she wished she had done more driving while her husband was still alive.

Walt, your comment about DMV machines/photos is spot on. My driver’s license photo is routinely unflattering. I accept that. However, one time my photo was downright blurry. I was just sitting down as the photo was snapped.

I don’t see restricted to glasses as a big deal. I’m nearsighted and have been restricted to glasses since age 16. I do wonder about the comments about mono vision cataract surgery. I have thought when the time comes, I might be a good candidate for that. One eye has always been extremely nearsighted…the other only moderately nearsighted. I don’t use readers because I can see close up with my nearsighted eye so well.