Opinions relating to re-testing for license renewal, what's your opinion? Options

[saleeka]

I got to thinking just a few minutes ago how here in the US, we don't have licensed drivers re-test at any point to insure that they are still knowledgeable of traffic laws, and I really don't understand why... I just came back from the grocery store and had, I’ll say, an "unpleasant" experience with an older gentleman driver who clearly did not have the attention, or practical knowledge to be driving safely anymore... I've heard that too many people are against re-testing for fear that it would negatively affect them, but personally, I'm all for having to re-test at renewal time. I can't see how taking a few hours out of a good driver's day is so negative in comparison to the people who fail and are forced to take a day and go through "the basics" again and pass, hopefully leaning a few things and becoming a better driver in the process. I understand implementing re-testing would incur quite a bit of cost to fund and run, but I think a few times in a lifetime (say once every ten years) would be a reasonable refresher and good balance between cost-effectiveness and usefulness. What does everybody else think?

[forkee]

ok ive given this some thought

taking a mandatory written retest every so often would definitely be redundant (especially to those who have a clean record) and make the dmv even more hellish than it already is. but people who clearly cant drive can still read and follow directions. having the knowledge still doesnt equal having the capability to safely operate a vehicle.

putting a ceiling on what age you can drive is against everything american, lol. ive seen old people drive better than average aged people. dont discriminate just because they are old. plain stupidity is just as common as eye problems and slow reaction times.

people who receive take home tests would just give it to another family member or look up the answers online, etc. it doesn't show the true competency of their current abilities.

my proposal is to have a citizen's reporting act. if you suspect someone to be driving recklessly, report their actions by either calling a number, texting their license plate, or submitting it online via a form. Make it like the 3 strikes law. If they get more than, say, 5 reports (from individuals in seperate households) within a 2 week period saying people have seen them act recklessly, they will automatically receive a notice to retake the written portion of the exam, as well as a $10 process fee. if they receive more than 5 reports within a week's period, they will need to retake the driving portion as well as a $50 fee. right before the test, they will have to submit their license and will only get it back if they pass. if they fail, they will require taking driver's school all over again to receive it. people who report others can not currently (or within the past 20 days) have any infractions themselves and can only report the same plate once a month. if there is more than one driver registered to a plate, the test applies to all of them. Its a deterrant to make people think twice before registering their kid before they are ready to drive because if they get reported, the parents will need to retest as well.

not only does this method require a few amount of resources, (call centers, computerized storage of license plates, computerized notice distribution) but it also maintains anonymity (the reported does not know the reporter, and the reporter does not know who the reported is or where they live, but the system will match everything and only sends notices to those who have been flagged so many times). its based on how well someone drives and leaves the good drivers alone.