Get Ready Senior's, Your Driver Licenses will Change.
 

I wish there would be more focus on what really makes the roads unsafe, cell phones.

Are cellphones what really make the roads unsafe or is it speeding? Or drinking? Or driving too slow? Or poorly marked roads? Or not obeying stop signs and stop lights? Or Full Self-Driving that really isn’t? Or whatever becomes the next outrage of the week?

Maybe the problem is we are too quick to lock on to generalizations.

It broke my heart to sell my motorcycle because of cell phones. After riding a bike for over 45 years (and never dropping a bike), I lost the enjoyment of riding about the last 10 years after almost getting into several accidents by complete idiots that thought whatever was on their phone was more important than the lives of the other people on the road. It just wasn’t fun anymore having to assume everyone else on the road was looking at their phone instead of paying attention to driving. Where is the outrage? There is mothers against drinking and driving to protect their kids, how about mothers against using a phone and driving to protect their parents?

On another forum this same topic came up and it was later determined to be fake news. So, nothing to worry about.

I have always been a defensive driver with a little offense built in.

In 2009 I was living in CA and they made it illegal to text, hold a phone and talk while driving. They pulled people over all the time and I’ve never used my phone while driving since. I was shocked when I moved back to FL in 2021 and you were allowed to use your phone here while driving. I assumed every state had that law. I mean 2009 that went into effect. At least finally, in 2025 Florida decided made a law.

Its a third world country down here

I hear ya.

I had my bike shipped here from Minnesota a couple of months after we moved here. After about a month of riding here, I sold it. I had more close calls in that month riding here than I had in the previous ten years of riding back home.

Cell phones were one of the reasons, though I had an anti-cell phone device on the bike: an aftermarket horn that that sounded like a locomotive horn, and at 117 dB it was guaranteed to get anyone's attention. The few times I used it back home I think a couple of texters got whiplash when I sounded it--once, with a younger woman who was coasting through a red light with her head buried in her phone. I used it sparingly (not sure of it's legality), but it surely did work.

That was just one of the problems though: a biggie was that in TV particularly I was just not being seen, even by people not using their cell phones. Handle-able on a straight road at speed, but in a crowded roundabout--no, thank you. I had people run stop signs on me, try to pass w/an oncoming car far too close for comfort, etc. It is dangerous enough around here in a car. On a motorcycle, it is far too risky.

Sold my Harley last year.
I jus knew "the other guy" was going to kill me some day.
Too many clueless drivers around here.

This may seem a little silly as I never owned a motor cycle and would never allow my kids to own one either. However I used to ride my bike around the interior streets daily and more days than not I had to either stop or get off of the road because of drivers coming out of their driveways while talking or texting. I came within inches of being hit when a woman turned left on the wrong side of the road onto the street I was on, I dropped my bike while trying to get out of the way and she never even stopped. I have since sold the bike and now walk.

Some years ago, I read where cell phones by-law would never officially be illegal while driving, here's why.

There's to many other distractions already added to information screens that, apparently, are legal like adjusting radios, heaters, controlling any on/off buttons, you get the idea.

I drive a 2015 with minimal safety features.
Honestly, if I had to rent any 2015 vehicle with all the up dated features,
God help me. :pray:

I was watching an erratic small truck driver ahead of me recently.
I was next to him at the stop light, but couldn't see into the truck to see what he was doing.
After the light turned green, I was watching him in the rear view mirror, and watched him drive off the road, go through a building driveway, run over a small tree, and then jerk his wheel back to the now dual lane road from a four lane road, and almost overcorrect into a head one collision.

Had there been a car trying to exit the driveway, he would have seriously injured the driver, or even kill the driver. .

I'm keeping my Harley......for now. We love to ride and have fun getting outside the bubble to explore new places.

But you're both correct, it's a bit sketchy out there. I ride very defensively and assume everyone is going to pull out in front of me. Not fun, but you have to ride that way.

Since we moved here I've never seen so many bad/distracted drivers, especially in TV. But we pretty much knew that would be the case when we made the move.

Uaaa, that would be everywhere….:thumbup:

Misleading headline. Nothing will change for many.
"While the federal government has strongly recommended these changes, each state has the autonomy to implement these rules in their own way."
Florida currently implements these rules at age 80.

What rules?
I'm 84, and there's no rules I'm aware of.

In NM a person 79+ must renew every single year, in person, and take a vision test. Those requirements used to start at age 75.

Then maybe educate yourself?


An Overview of Florida Driving Laws for Seniors
License Renewals
License renewal is an important issue for older people. If you’re under 80, your license is good for eight years, just like everyone else. However, the state requires drivers over 80 to renew their licenses every six years. Another point is that individuals over 80 are no longer eligible for license renewal by mail or online renewal. People over 80 need to visit the nearest FLHSMV location for renewals.
Drivers over 80 must also submit to a mature driver vision test when renewing their licenses. You can take the test for free at the license renewal office. Alternatively, you can have a licensed doctor perform the vision test. The vision test form is here.

Thanks

There is some truth in what you say.

Ubfortunately, they don't enforce it at all anywhere in the state.

Your licenses are not changing, the frequency and testing requirements are to eliminate automatic renewals, require more vision, cognitive and driving tests.
I for one have been in favor of mandatory driving skills tests when seniors reach a certain age. I realize a community like ours where so many of our residents and seniors are licensed in other states it may be impossible to monitor.
I'm also in favor of stiffer penalties for talking on cell phones or having pets in the driver's lap while operating an auto. We are driving cars, not in a phone booth or sitting in our favorite chair so fluffy can snuggle up.

Ever notice that so many intersections in the Villages are obstructed by landscape of hedges or trees or whatever? It’s like it was designed this way to speed up attrition!

Maybe self-driving cars will not be so bad.
It is hard to blame the driver when the driver is a computer, not using a cell phone.

I agree the main issue is people on cell phones, back when I was in NJ one Easter I was heading over to my Mom's and on the way on a 2 lane road a woman in the opposite direction was looking at her phone and crossed directly in front of me a 40mph! I was able to quickly turn off the road onto a lawn to avoid a head on collusion but still took a big hit to the drivers side back door and panel. I can still remember looking into her front windshield and seeing she was staring downward and not onto the road in front of her!

Maybe but most newer cars have hands free cellphone connection. Touch Screens are a huge problem. Let’s not forget all the Drinking and Driving. Older people not paying attention~ Cellphone’s s are probably the least of our problems.

Those screens can be turned off.

So many is a loose term…………

You can contact the District office with the locations you are concerned about.
Call or send an email.
District Offices - The Villages Community Development Districts

It takes 3rd world people to make it so and you do live here, right? I think that slap at Florida is way off base. Is it perfect no, but considering all the states in the US, it's probably one of the best. :eclipsee_gold_cup:

Sold my Harley earlier this year. Too many close calls both on and near campus with both distracted residents and contractors. Maybe someday soon I'll get another.

Agree, bring them on!

They are lots of fun (motorcycles) but in no way safe. I sold mine several moons ago. I had all the fun that I could stand.

You will never regret selling your donorcycle. Donorcycle is the term used by the trauma center in our northern home. They have seen so many tragedies for cycle operators and passengers. The truth is, people hurry and don't inspect the road or parking lots for motorcycle activity. Heck, so many people can't even hear their vehicle warning beep or turn their necks to see behind them not to mention oncoming traffic.

It doesn't matter how careful one is, the opportunity is rich for early death or traumatic, unrepairable injuries. We sold our cycle years ago when we realized the odds were against us after some close calls even though we were ever vigilant.

Get Ready Senior's, Your Driver Licenses will Change.
 

This will be a good thing. Too many doctors will not take the initiative and report those with dementia or physical limitations which make them a danger to others when driving. Taking a test every few years will not inconvenience anyone. Most of us remember this was the norm years ago before mail-in and on-line renewals were offered.

I brought my Goldwing trike down to Florida from Wisconsin in 2015 and sold it 3 years later.
I figure older people don't heal will in their 60's and 70's years of age.
I also never seen so many cars/trucks pass me on 2 lane roads on a double yellow line. ☠️

Little known fact - it's extremely difficult to rent a car in Europe if you are over 70.

Given the driving skills of all age groups, I would be in favor of requiring driving tests when renewing a driver license for everyone.

Nope...
 

cell phones are number one and age is number 2

I know that it is customary to not read any replies before posting (this is a post only board) but if you had, you'd know that nothing is changing at all.