Too old to drive?

I just read about the single car accident in Chapala and another one (at least I think there were two).

It's always sad when "innocent" people are injured or die and this is no exception.

Several years ago I read about an accident in Ajijic where an "older" gringa was parked in front of Salvador's and had her car in drive rather than reverse, hit the gas, jumped the concrete parking block injuring some people at a table.

I'm wondering if Mexico has any laws about really testing drivers when they are "very old" to see if they have both the physical AND mental capacity to drive.

Being honest, we know some "older" people are more likely not up to the physical and/or mental snuff to drive a motor vehicle. I wonder how often age factors into accidents here. I know the state in Florida show more "older" drivers have cr accidents than "younger" ones.

Just a passing thought.

Talosian wrote:I just read about the single car accident in Chapala and another one (at least I think there were two).

It's always sad when "innocent" people are injured or die and this is no exception.

Several years ago I read about an accident in Ajijic where an "older" gringa was parked in front of Salvador's and had her car in drive rather than reverse, hit the gas, jumped the concrete parking block injuring some people at a table.

I'm wondering if Mexico has any laws about really testing drivers when they are "very old" to see if they have both the physical AND mental capacity to drive.

Being honest, we know some "older" people are more likely not up to the physical and/or mental snuff to drive a motor vehicle. I wonder how often age factors into accidents here. I know the state in Florida show more "older" drivers have cr accidents than "younger" ones.

Just a passing thought.

Driving in Mexico is no picnic. At night it's just not advisable. Old people, drunk people. especially sunday nights.

I do not think you can blame people for a whole lot of accidents. Young people and drunks hold that record.My mother is 91 and drives in Paris without any problems meanwhile I see people of all ages that should not be driving.

I think a real eye test and a periodical driving test would be better than setting an age limot. for driving.

brigitte wrote:I do not think you can blame people for a whole lot of accidents. Young people and drunks hold that record.My mother is 91 and drives in Paris without any problems meanwhile I see people of all ages that should not be driving.

I think a real eye test and a periodical driving test would be better than setting an age limot. for driving.

Actually in the US old people are just as bad drivers drivers as the often picked on young male drivers if you look at the numbers. The eye test and
a simple driving test of driving down the road pull into a parking space and back out would be enough to weed out the bad folks.

When ever I visit my mother who is 82 I watch her drive and she is still pretty good. She pulls into her garage which only has two inches on either
side of car. She says when she hits a mirror she will stop driving. She is already stopped driving on the freeways. Not sure all old folks are self
editing driving wise like my mother.

Z

As a former professional driver, it's my opinion that an easy 95% of auto accidents could be avoided with one simple change in people's driving habits, and that's allowing a safe distance between you and the next vehicle. You should at least use the 3 second rule, although I personally use 4 seconds. Identify a spot in the road, when the vehicle in front of you reaches it begin your count, 1 one thousand, 2 one thousand, etc. If you arrive at the spot before 3 seconds, then you are following too closely. In rainy weather or at night, double it to 6 seconds. If you're older and not as secure about your reflexes, add another second or two. This is taught in driver's training and is probably on state driving tests, but for some reason law enforcement never seems to enforce it. It's too bad, because it really does save lives. No, instead we focus on the crash itself, as if it's an inevitability, so buckle up :P

Right on, Tony. That was lesson number one (my Dad made me take driving lessons before he would lend me the car). And almost no one does it. Down here (or in Montreal) if you leave that much time between the car in front, someone is bound to slip into that space...

HelperGuy wrote:Right on, Tony. That was lesson number one (my Dad made me take driving lessons before he would lend me the car). And almost no one does it. Down here (or in Montreal) if you leave that much time between the car in front, someone is bound to slip into that space...

Yeah, that can be frustrating, and I think that's why most drivers don't do it. Me? I just slow until I have that gap I want, and I'll just keep doing it over and over as more cars slip into the gap. My safety is more important to me than saving a minute or 2 on a trip. This is especially true when I was driving a big rig. Those things don't stop on a dime, despite what some people apparently think. Honestly, I had someone tell me that I can stop faster than a car because I have more tires and thus more brakes.

and thus more (the elephant, literally, in the room)....WEIGHT.

Yep, my buddy driving the doble remolque in New Brunswick for McCain, and losing a giant load of frozen fries due to icy roads, would have to say: "More tires = more brakes...? Why didn't I think of that?"

when i get too infirm to ride the beezer,i will have a trike made but then i won't be able to pass all you slow moving drivers on the right anymore like i did today. bummer!

MexicoPete wrote:Talosian wrote "Several years ago I read about an accident in Ajijic where an "older" gringa was parked in front of Salvador's and had her car in drive rather than reverse, hit the gas, jumped the concrete parking block injuring some people at a table."

I was there that day. It could have been as many as 5 or 6 years ago. As of several months ago, (the last time I saw her), she was still driving. She has a very large car which helps protect her when in an accident.

Yes, it protects HER.

The thing with "Old" people (and you define that term), is they get confused; as I recall, the woman at Salvador's thought hit the gas instead of the brake; or it may have been putting the car in "D" rather than "R."

And then the real kicker is that in Mexico, if someone loses a leg in n accident with the other person is at fault, they get their medical bills from the insurance company for the wrongdoer and maybe a little more. As I understand it, there is nothing for "Pain, suffering, loss of wages (including future wages), etc. "

And I don't know if there is anything with the idea of "Wrongful death" where the breadwinner" is killed; family may get nada.

If someone knows different and has the time to enlighten me, please do so.

What has age got to do with your questions on insurrance' You either have insurrance or you do not if you don´t it is all your problem. You can sue for all kind of things but that does not me you will get anything so have plenty of insurrance.

I was 78 when I gave up driving 3 years ago. I didn't feel age-impaired, but my eyesight was not good enough for me to feel safe on the road.

Going back to the lady who ran over her friend. I have often said that if I were to contribute to the death of someone else through my driving, it would be my last turn behind the wheel!

Good for you Rolly, I think killing someone by accident who be the end of me.