i had seen that video, in the story. the trucker was 74 years old. may have been healthy as a horse, who knows, i would still say after a certain age, we all start slowing down in our reflexes and even our eyesight diminishes.
yes, we can wear eyeglasses. yes we can do daily or nightly exercising to stay fit. yes we can eat foods that don't allow us to gain weight or make us tired.
yes, we can get better sleep.
but the thing is, we are all getting older. i think a "cut off age" should be implemented for CDL drivers, of at least 66 years of age.
here in my state, "ordinary" car drivers after (i think) 80(??) must be road tested, or at the very least renew thier licenses every 1 to 2 years.
for a DOT physical, one can pass at the age of (say) 70, and NOT be in need of another DOT physical in 2 years.
we are piloting a massive vehicle, with massive weights, like the one in the story.
although my CDL driving days are all but over, i'd still would have taken myself off the road at 62. and that is ONLY because, i wish to NO longer work as a CDL driver, past that age.
with the severity of accidents that elders driving either big rigs, or cars, or even motorcycle, there really should be cut off ages for each motorized vehicle class. a few weeks ago here in MASS, a 65 (at least if not more) motorcyclist was killed in a crash. i think had he been younger, he would have found evasion action to at least survive.
a healthy 70 year old cannot say that all are healthy as him, and no one has the right to take away his CDL or other license. yet it seems everyone forgets, that any driving........IS A PRIVILEGE........NOT A RIGHT TO DRIVE.
now, here comes all the responses from OLDER CDL drivers, saying that they can still drive, like a 25 year old.....and are in perfect health.
