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EU wants over 70s to prove they can still drive every five years (www.brusselstimes.com)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/europe@feddit.de
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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.

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[+] 54 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (9 children)
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  • [โ€“] 30 points 3 years ago (5 children)

    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

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  • [+] 14 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children)
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  • [โ€“] 10 points 3 years 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.

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  • [โ€“] 6 points 3 years 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.

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  • [โ€“] 1 point 3 years 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.

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