“We must look at setting an age limit for driving - once it is passed then a licence would be taken away. It is still at the proposal stage and it would be either around 80 or 85 years old but it is something that is being seriously considered,” Transport committee chairman Mario Valducci told The Telegraph.
Working under the assumption that old drivers are dangerous to both themselves and other on public roads, the Italians will change the current legislation, which calls for the driver's license to be renewed in stages: every ten years by the age of 50, every 5 years by the age of 70 and every three years after the age of 70.
Now, we're not sure what to make of this initiative. We know, from experience, that elderly drivers are, in fact, much more careful while behind the wheel than their younger road partners. They drive slower (painfully slow, at times), they are not aggressive and so on. On the other hand, their health, especially that of their eyes, is a serious hazard.
Of course, the timing of such an initiative is also a factor in determining whether imposing a ban for old drivers would be worth both while and money. We're not sure how many people over the age of 80 are driving in Italy at this moment, but we're pretty sure their number is insignificant.
Combining that with the life expectancy estimate of 78-79 years for EU countries' citizens in 2010, we come to the same conclusion with Victoria state transportation department: don't ban driving, but advise drivers “there may come a time when it will be necessary to reduce or cease driving.” That should be enough.
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