Would you...

[72doug2,2S]

Would you admit your driving abilities have diminished with age?

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did–in his sleep. Not yelling and screaming like the passengers in his car.”

[GH85Carrera]

Not yet for sure.

Yes, if my vision gets bad or reactions get slow. I will be at the autocross this weekend and after 40 years of autocrossing there is little doubt I am a better driver now than when I was a teenager.

I am hopeful that by the time I am ready to quit driving the fully autonomous car will be commonplace.

I think when the day comes I can tell it is time to quit driving.

[island911]

What if you consider knowing one's limitations as a skill?

[wdfifteen]

Hells yes! My eyesight isn't what it was and I don't think my reaction time is as quick. My Valentine used to be my speed limit, but I sold it two years ago. I flirted with speeding tickets for years, and collected 3 or 4, but no more. I'm at or under the speed limit and driving defensively all the time. I had a Mercedes C-280 that I flogged without mercy. Now I drive a Volt.

I used to make regular trips to southern Illinois. It was 380 miles. Even in bad weather it took 5 hrs. On a good day it was 4 1/2.

I once drove from Sterling, Colorado to Lincoln, Nebraska (370 miles) in 4 hrs.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I will be at the autocross this weekend and after 40 years of autocrossing there is little doubt I am a better driver now than when I was a teenager.

I thought the OP meant driving on public roads. AutoX and track are totally different that street and highway driving. I'm probably better at those now than I was 20 years ago when I had good eyesight.

[JavaBrewer]

I went (well still on-going) through this with my Dad. He is angry that we took the keys and that the DMV took his license. We had to take the keys cause he was going to drive regardless of what the DMV did. He struggles with mild dementia and Type 1 diabetes and was dangerous behind the wheel. That was almost 18 months ago, still an open sore for him.

So to the question, I already acknowledge my DD skills are not what they used to be. I am more easily distracted these days and my eyesight not as keen. My 39 years of driving experience is the saving factor here. At some point if I don't hand over the keys voluntarily then I hope someone will take them.

+1 on the autonomous car. That would be great to have in 20 or so years.

[scottmandue]

We went through this with my dad... riding with him was like "Mr Toad's wild ride" (if you don't get the reference then GET OFF MY LAWN!")
Lots of close encounters, lots of unexplained dings and scratches, fortunately after a few calls to the DMV he gave up before anyone got hurt.
And yes we hid the keys (he had new ones made) we disabled the car (he had AAA come out and fix or tow it ti a mechanic).

All that to say when my time comes I will give up the keys.
Planing retirement in a one lever house walking distance to shopping.
In a small town we can get around in a golf cart.

[ckelly78z]

Hell I have the best skills on the road....everyone else has their hands full with wild kids, makeup, shaving, texting, and rage.

[pwd72s]

Loaded poll. I will admit, that at age 72, my reflexes have diminished. I also consider myself a better street and highway driver than when I was younger. Can't remember my last ticket...maybe 15 years ago? No dings & scrapes on any of the cars and pickups I drive. More into defensive driving than when I was in my early 20's. In good health for my age, so I should quit driving when? The poll as posted doesn't allow for this...so, no answer from me.

[Bill Douglas]

57. Not quite as good as I was, but I've made up for it by being slightly more sensibile and driving more defensively.

[island911]

can you edit the first poll choice to read: The older I get, the better I was. (?)

just a thought.

[syncroid]

55 here. Given that my job requires me to drive cars (different cars) all day long, I stay sharp. No diminished skills here. (not yet, knock on wood)

[unclebilly]

I'm not a bad enough driver yet that I need to sell the 911's and get a mustang...

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

Would you admit your driving abilities have diminished with age?

Abilities down, surely @ 60.

Risk to other drivers is less than when I had testosterone. Even then, with a raging stiffy, I was a pussy.

I keep the farking car a safe distance from the one in front of me. I triple check lane changes.

What's the downside of this?

Wandering here........

I just batched at an African American male at an expressway exit when stopped waiting for the lights to change. Windows were open. I said "Dude, you are a tailgater and you can't drive for MF shiet" His response was "Effin batch, you are driving a POS car (2007 RAV 4), I am 22 and am driving a whizz bang SUV. You suck."

GFY, I say, with a finger telling him he was number one. Oh, I was a badass.

That said, I can't imagine where the driving skill/abilities query can even get a foothold. Jeebus. Akron. No real traffic and it's a war zone. I have white knuckled the 405 with eyes as big as saucers. Seven years on the Eisenhower two days a week in Chicago. I can't imagine what you'd see on those freeways over time.

[Evans, Marv]

I find at 74 that I am a lot more relaxed & laid back than I was at younger ages. Maybe it's because I seldom have time demands or restraints. I find I give other drivers room and passage compared to younger years. Sometimes I do wonder how much longer I will continue riding my motorcycle. I don't take chances, ride too fast, & don't lay it over as much as I used to. Funny thing is I don't feel like my riding has deteriorated, which might be a dangerous thing if it has & I don't perceive it.

[LakeCleElum]

The older I get: THE FASTER I WAS..............

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

57. Not quite as good as I was, but I've made up for it by being slightly more sensibile and driving more defensively.

This is where I'm at. I'm 66 and my driving is more measured. My eye sight isn't what is was when I was younger. I have more patience too.

[RKDinOKC]

Before I started autocrossing I was a great driver (on public roadways). My first autocross I got 2nd...from the slowest time. Over the next 2 years I went from 2nd from the slowest to the one to beat very often setting FTD. I would say my driving skills of being a great driver was made even better (yes even on public roadways).

With my increased age I don't think anyone except for me would notice my skills have diminished at all. But being an honest person I would say they have diminished slightly, mostly in situational awareness of where the car is as in speed/traction/direction and the resulting slower reaction to make the car go where I want. Where I used to just go into the zone and drive, now I have to think about what I am doing.

[Nickshu]

Tough to answer. I'm 40. By the time it's an age-related issue for me we'll probably have cars driving us around so it won't matter anymore.

[GH85Carrera]

I have not had a ticket at all since sometime in the late 1970s. Well, I got a parking ticket once but I paid the $1 fine that day. I bet parking tickets cost more now.

I have not had an accident that was my fault since I was 16. The mini skirts in the early 70s were SHORT. A lady ran a stop sign in the mid 1970s and hit me in the door since I was stupid enough to think she was going to stop at the big red sign that said STOP. So no tickets or wrecks since the 1970s. I have driven my 911 to California three times, just recently up to Bar Harbor Maine and Canada. Savannah, GA and all the way to the Michigan upper peninsula and many other trips. After 20 year in the 911, no tickets. 25 years and over 300,000 miles in the El Camino, no tickets.