"This is pure age discrimination. They cannot provide any evidence or figures to show that drivers aged 70 and over would be more often involved in accidents."

The European Union wants elderly people (70+) to undergo medical tests from now on to prove that they are still capable of driving a car every five years. However, the proposal has been met with a lot of criticism.

    • Nalivai@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      29·
      1 year ago

      In one of the German lands, 65+ people can permanently trade their driving licence for a free public transport pass.
      I strongly feel that public transport should be as close to free for everyone as possible, but that’s a step in the right direction

        • Hardeehar@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          1 year ago

          Where I am in the US, I just have to drive or die. Easy access to public transportation would be such a godsend here.

          I’ve been through England, France, Italy, Japan, and Korea and it seems the public transportation is just so much better everywhere else.

          I would gladly give up my car, the commute, and traffic in my old age to get to the city center easier using an exchange or ID system or whatever.

          Kudos to you abroad.

      • Nobsi@feddit.deEnglish
        71·
        1 year ago

        Only for a year. After that you pay retiree prices again.

    • Gecko@feddit.deEnglish
      6·
      1 year ago

      This. Many see their car as their only means of mobility. So if you take away their driving license you essentially take away their (perceived) freedom.

      Now for rural areas there needs to be actual improvement of public transport infrastructure or otherwise people will riot. For urban areas where public transport is good, you just need to make the option more accessible.

    • Acamon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      1 year ago

      I think there’s various European countries that do that. Scotland has free bus travel for over 60s, under 22s, and people with disabilities. I think Ireland and Portugal have something similar.

    • itsJoelleScott@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I agree as well. I’m fortunate to have public transport in the United States as to go into the office (when I still had to), and it occurred to me while riding the train with a blind man that our train was such a boon for him. I can’t imagine how difficult or expensive travel must be for him if it didn’t exist.