We are all subject to tests these days. Driving tests, bot theory and practice, breath tests and having our patience tested to the limit every day.
It is true that alcohol inhibits your driving and some illegal drugs even more so (you might suddenly decide you’re Luke Skywalker and have to destroy the Death Star), but what about people of a certain age (sorry, but that’s the way it is), who’ve had their driving licence for several centuries, who never sat a test, are now on several serious medications, half blind, half deaf, have a pair of glasses from the 70′s and no eye test since and have to pull over periodically to check who they are, where they are, where they’re going and why they’re here.
This is not a rant at elderly drivers, many of them are very competent and all that experience counts for a lot.
What I’m saying is that all of us (everyone is shite in their own way, some more so than others) are handed driving licenses at some point and told “You’ve learned everything there is to know, now go and be merry. And the state seems to assume that we will forever remain at this plateau of excellence.
But that’s clearly not the case. Your senses dull over time. Your judgment could be clouded. Your memory is not the best. It affects us all differently. Yet we assume it is our God given right to get a license (so many who shouldn’t get one anyway) and keep it till the day we keel over.
Am I the only one who thinks there should be some kind of periodic assessment to check if we’re still capable of going out there? My Grandfather gave up his licence when he became too old and ill to drive. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do.He was a true car nut. In fitting style he worked as a chauffeur. But I have to admire him for taking this step. If it comes to me, I’ll do the same before I run someone over I just didn’t see in the dark.
And now I see people everywhere who are twice as decrepit, creeping around our roads at barely 40 km/h. Should that be? The argument I hear over and over is “ah sure, it’s the only way he’ll get around”
Not good enough.
What if I’m coming out of the pub at 3 am with a few pints on me and it’s the only way for me to “get around”, does that make it ok? Don’t think so.
The law does not only state you shouldn’t drive under the influence of alcohol, but also under any other circumstances that would render you not exactly on top of your game. Being old, disabled, ill or just plain nuts should not be automatic reasons to put you off the road.
But there should be some kind of line where the state steps in and says “enough”. It sucks not having a license, but it sucks even more to cause an accident and even kill someone because you are not competent to drive.
3 Comments
Absolutely correct. There should be zero tolerance for drivers who drive while under the influence of any impairing medication.
As for older and infirm drivers. They should be reviewed annually by an independent medical practitioner – not their own GP who will probably re-certify them as fit.
Ah shure poor old Pat – he’s only driving to the shop. I know his family and all belonging to him. How could I put him off the road now. What would Molly and himself do when the pension day arrived.”
It happens every day.
As a 20 year old, who is on 18 different types of medications, I welcome the day any garda comes and stops me. I’m going to list off ALL my medications (generic names) and watch his face change! Muahahaha.
::Ro:: It looks as if some of these are indeed mind altering.
Will you be alive when the man in blue comes – or will you have hit the speeding truck head on?
Stay out of Galway.