101-Year-Old Gets Driver's License Until 2011. Too Old?

May 29, 2008

Lillian Cox, 101, of Tallahassee, FL, won't have to trade in her 1984 sedan for a scooter just yet. The spunky dame has been driving since 1915 and has received the state's blessing to continue to do so for another four years. Her license < a href="http://www.local6.com/news/16422372/detail.html">just got renewed until 2011.

Cox said, "they're surprised that I'd get a driver's license at 101. But I have four more years." Drivers around town might look twice. "I'm sure I look (101 years old) but they don't let me know that," she said while driving around a neighborhood.

She's been invited to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno for her feat — and hopes that she won't have to drive herself. She'd prefer a limo instead.

While Ms. Cox passed her driver's test, is the customary four-year extension a good idea past a certain age? Should additional testing be required for older drivers? After age 90, would a yearly review be a good idea — or should we trust people to know when to turn in the keys?

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41 Comments

melOZ 4 years 36 weeks

I'm from Australia and here we have to have our eyes tested every year after we turn 80 before we are allowed to renew our Drivers License. In April this year my Great-Grandfather turned 101 and had his license renewed.

darlene 4 years 50 weeks

As long as they are driving safe then its okay

sarah lynn 4 years 50 weeks

I think people after the age of 70 should be tested more. The older population does have the tendency to start losing their faculties, and they all do it at different ages, and pace. While my own grandmother kept it together until the age of 85, once she started falling apart, it happened within a span of 2 years. Testing people every 4 years overlooks this situation.My mother and the state of Connecticut police enforcement had to become involved to get her license away from her, and unfortunately it came to her having a situation where became lost and disoriented behind the wheel and found at 2am an hour from her home (she had left at 4pm that afternoon).

sarah lynn 4 years 50 weeks

I think people after the age of 70 should be tested more. The older population does have the tendency to start losing their faculties, and they all do it at different ages, and pace. While my own grandmother kept it together until the age of 85, once she started falling apart, it happened within a span of 2 years. Testing people every 4 years overlooks this situation. My mother and the state of Connecticut police enforcement had to become involved to get her license away from her, and unfortunately it came to her having a situation where became lost and disoriented behind the wheel and found at 2am an hour from her home (she had left at 4pm that afternoon).

italianblonde 4 years 50 weeks

I put it's an individual thing because of these reasons: There are a LOT of bad drivers out there, no matter what age. Teens, frantic parents, and older people can all drive terribly. While I do think there should be yearly screenings for probably everyone..if she and her family know that she is capable of being an alert driver, then she should go for it!

graylen 4 years 50 weeks

I don't think that them being able to pass a driving test dictates whether they are safe on the road with real-life circumstances and other drivers. My 85 year old grandmother passed her test after having a stroke, people. It can be done and she shouldn't have been driving. Her technical skills were fine, but as you age your reaction abilities decrease pretty sharply. Unfortunately, most places don't offer good public transportation and the elderly need to get groceries and go to the doctor, etc. so it's hard for them to give up that freedom since they are losing a lot with age (health mainly). My dad (61 in FL) didn't go to the DMV for almost 25 years. He renewed by mail. For all they knew, he could have been blind or severely disabled. He only had to get a new one because they changed the licenses. Crazy!

fuzzles 4 years 50 weeks

As long as people can drive safely, let 'em do it. Even Q-tips. :)

chiquita29 4 years 50 weeks

I work for an opthamologist, and some of the seniors I see still driving scare me. Some will do anything to keep driving, they've went so far as to ask the Dr's to lie! I definitley think they should get tested yearly after the age of 85. She obviously passed though, and she looks great for 101! Good for her :)

chiquita29 4 years 50 weeks

Jillness 4 years 50 weeks

That is good to know that it will expire on the 65th birthday! Thanks for the info, Meg! :)

megnmac 4 years 50 weeks

Oh, and AZ is funny b/c my license doesn't 'expire' for decades, but we do have to go in and get new photos taken every decade or so licenses are always set to expire on the driver's 65th bday. Drivers age 60 and over get a 5 year license... not annual testing, but not as bad as it sounds...

megnmac 4 years 50 weeks

Persons over 75 or 80 need to be doing annual driving tests. Yes, it is a pain for them and the DMV, but it really must be done when considering the danger older drivers pose. I don't think people are aware of their slowly diminishing capacities, and not everyone has family to jump in and stop them. My husband's grandmother was having mini seizures and was one foot into dementia and she was still driving. She kept hitting mailboxes and I was freaking out that any one of those could easily have been a child and she needed the keys taken away. But it is hard to convince from a few states away, and the family there was facing the hard decision of having to then shoulder the responsibility of driving her around.

megnmac 4 years 50 weeks

leeluvfashion 4 years 50 weeks

Persons over 80yrs of age should be tested yearly; much can change in four years.

juju 4 years 50 weeks

I think that communities need to offer more public transportation and options for the eldery, so that they don't need to resort to driving when they can't do so safely.For many people, taking their license is taking their freedom from their homes, and I can understand why it would be hard to give it up. But there is no excuse for allowing folks to drive when their physical capabilities have clearly deteriorated. Just like with drunk driving....if you can't drive safely you shouldn't be driving at all.

juju 4 years 50 weeks

I think that communities need to offer more public transportation and options for the eldery, so that they don't need to resort to driving when they can't do so safely. For many people, taking their license is taking their freedom from their homes, and I can understand why it would be hard to give it up. But there is no excuse for allowing folks to drive when their physical capabilities have clearly deteriorated. Just like with drunk driving....if you can't drive safely you shouldn't be driving at all.

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 50 weeks

the elderly drivers here in my town of Gainesville Florida should all go take another test, JUST this morning mister shrunk and grumpy tried to pull in front of me while i was going 45, didn't even LOOK my way, when i beeped at him he gave me the "eat Sh*t and die look" IF he could even see me at all. And why do they all drive ENORMOUS vehicles? why?

Jillness 4 years 50 weeks

70% of all "left turn" driving fatalities are caused by people over 70 years old.While I think if a person has the skills, they should be allowed to drive, but ultimately, driving is a <b> priviledge </b>, not a right. You have to have certain physical skills to control a moving deadly weapon that weighs tons. I think that after a certain age, they should be tested every 2-3 years. It isn't an insult, it is a responsibility.I have seen Arizona drivers licenses that last for decades. That is just unreasonable, IMO.

Jillness 4 years 50 weeks

70% of all "left turn" driving fatalities are caused by people over 70 years old. While I think if a person has the skills, they should be allowed to drive, but ultimately, driving is a priviledge , not a right. You have to have certain physical skills to control a moving deadly weapon that weighs tons. I think that after a certain age, they should be tested every 2-3 years. It isn't an insult, it is a responsibility. I have seen Arizona drivers licenses that last for decades. That is just unreasonable, IMO.

Silverlining10 4 years 50 weeks

I think she should be tested more frequently (Like, yearly license renewal requirements)...After all, older people have slower instincts, so a split second of her forgetting to take her foot off the gas or mistaking the two pedals could result in a serious incident. Also, from my experience, they hold up traffic by going 20 mph under the limit. That's frustrating for the other drivers.

UnDave35 4 years 50 weeks

A member of our congregation was driving until he was 105 (he lived to be 115. He could always pass the driver's test, but he told my wife once that he can't really see. He just avoids the shadows...He never had an accident.

UnDave35 4 years 50 weeks

brittanyk 4 years 50 weeks

Good for her! I think that there should be some sort of test which is given for people over a certain age to determine whether they are able to continue driving. The only problem with this method is figuring out what age is appropriate, since people age differently.Last year we had to take my grandfather's (he's 75) license away after he backed into 3 cars and a light pole. We felt terrible, but it was obviously time.

brittanyk 4 years 50 weeks

Good for her! I think that there should be some sort of test which is given for people over a certain age to determine whether they are able to continue driving. The only problem with this method is figuring out what age is appropriate, since people age differently. Last year we had to take my grandfather's (he's 75) license away after he backed into 3 cars and a light pole. We felt terrible, but it was obviously time.

freegracefrom 4 years 50 weeks

I KNEW it was Florida. There really needs to be an annual test. I know a few older drivers that are great drivers, very alert and responsive. Unfortunately, I know quite a bit more than a few that should've had their license revoked years ago, but are too stubborn to stop. This woman looks very good for her age. I would've guessed 80's. She sounds sharp, so I'm sure she would've easily passed an annual test.

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