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This question has been in the news recently after an elderly driver struck a group of pedestrians in a Bradenton parking lot—killing three and injuring four others. In fact, this accident as well as other wrecks involving older drivers have many wondering if even stricter old-age driving laws should be imposed on seniors who live in the Sunshine State.
Although the state of Florida already requires eye exams for senior drivers looking to get their licenses renewed, the state allows drivers over the age of 80 to keep their driver’s license for six years without having to pass another eye exam. While there is no specific age an older person needs to surrender their driver’s license, many people feel like there should be in order to reduce the amount of fatal car accidents caused by senior drivers.
However, we need to be careful not to group all senior drivers together. For example, someone who is 90-years-old might be in better health than someone who is 75-years-old. A driver who is 65-years-old might have just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and shouldn’t be on the road, but an 85-year-old driver might not have any health conditions.
Determining an age in which a person is too old to drive might not be fair. Instead, maybe drivers over the age of 75 should have to go into the DMV and pass an in-person driver’s license renewal more often than every six years. The reason for this is that as people age their vision can change, different medications could impair their driving skills, and medical problems could prevent them from driving safely.
Whether the driver was old or young, when a driver runs into you from behind you have a legal claim for your damages. To find out more, contact us for a free copy of our book, What You Need to Know After a Florida Auto, Truck, or Bike Accident.
