Race car driver addresses senior driving question
Louis "Topspeed" Albornoz, a professional Formula and kart driver, answered a reader's question if people over 65 years or older should be allowed to continuing driving. While Albornoz acknowledges older drivers have decreased capabilities like slower reflexes, he points out that such folks usually realize their new limitations and either turn in their license or stay in the slow lane. He writes that he'd rather share the roadways with the older set who follow the rules than the younger generation, who drive like "crazed idiots." Finally, Albornoz points to drivers such as actor Paul Newman continues to race professionally well into his 80's.Related: Retirement to include driver's tests; What Would Grandpa Drive?; Aging Boomers changing face of automobile design; British speed camera nabs senior citizen]
[Source: Topspeed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bruce 11:23AM (5/06/2006)
Paul Newman just turned 80 this Winter, I believe. Hardly 'well into" his 80's. 80 and 88 for many individuals is about as different as 8 and 16.
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Emor8t 1:33PM (5/06/2006)
Yes.... because all people over 65 can drive like Paul Newman...
What senior does he know that would turn in thier license.... This is a new phenomona to me...
Im pretty sure Old Man River isn't giving up his caddy anytime soon.
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risingsun 1:43PM (5/06/2006)
What about the countless old persons who every year kill or injure innocent people because they are driving and have no business doing so?
How about this: Driver's tests for EVERYONE every five years.
Think of it this way: It's against the law for someone to endanger another person's life by driving drunk, yet an old person who could have alzheimers or something else can drive all they want. Yet both people are endangering the lives of innocent people?
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WolfgangNC 2:48PM (5/06/2006)
risingsun is right. Testing every five yearsl but I'd take it farther. There is a growing movement to up the driving age to 18 or so unless they have a job; because statistics say 16-18 year olds cause alot of wrecks, which makes my insurance go up. But there is also growing interest in testing people more that are older than 65 years old; because of the same deal (wrecks).
People say kids don't need to drive because of the lack of experience; but older folks may not need to drive because they lack physical or mental awareness (reaction time, eye sight, hearing).
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iQuack 1:57AM (5/07/2006)
Well, I'm 29 years older than that phony prick, Patrick Kennedy, and my driving record is a hellava lot better, too!
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Rob O'Daniel 10:56AM (5/07/2006)
No disrespect to Louis "Topspeed" Albornoz (Who I'm completely unfamiliar with outside of the photo that accompanies this article) but what is he, like 19? How does a still-wet-behind-the-ears racer figure he has the perspective to weigh in on the merits of people 50-60 years his elder continuing to drive (or not)?
I'd rather hear insights from some veterans who've seen the other side of the hill instead...
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