age of the driver addressed by maybe limiting the age to say 65.
Steve,
I understand your defense but there seems to be too many fact surrounding age and the ability to drive that surpass other issues we have to deal with.
The DOT physical doesn't measure capabilities or takes in account different conditions that the person sees while driving, BUT overall it measures static condition of the person which really doesn't mean much. The doctor, most of them are clinic doctors see that person once a year if they are lucky while it is most of the time they see them once in a life time. YOU can not judge a person or their capability with a 20 minute physical and 5 minute consult and out the door. The DOT is now registering doctors to perform physicals which to me is the worst thing that can happen, it forces the driver to use a stranger who knows nothing more than what it beyond the first few sections of the DOT long form and may or may not understand the patient or their past to make a proper determination.
You may not have figured out what I am saying because I'm being sarcastic but the FMCSA has taken stupid steps to ensure safety and has refused to address age as a mitigating factor in accidents when it actually is opposed to things like Sleep Apnea where there is no evidence that it causes sleep related disorders while driving and the response to Sleep Apnea has been draconian at best when it needs not to be an issue at all until it is properly studied.
I understand what you are saying but I have a question: If they make 65 the cut off age then what's gonna happen when the Feds make it 70 (Like they are talking about) before you can retire? Welfare for 5 years or what?
Problem with age limits is one 65 year old can be as healthy as a horse and another 65 year old is knocking at death's door.