Nebraska legislators want to propose a bill that would require drivers over the age of 80 to take a cognitive test to ensure that they are able to drive. Doctors who support the bill say that a seven minute test would be able to identify drivers who have cognitive impairments and should  not be able to drive. Many different elderly people have spoken out against the bill, claiming that it is prejudice against old people, and a clear example of agism in our society.

Both sides of this argument have major reasons as to why they could be right. Everyone has been behind a driver who is driving twenty miles under the speed limit, bouncing between the lane lines and practically stopping to make turns. Immediately, you think you’re behind either an elderly driver or a drunk driver. Not only is it aggrevating to be behind a driver like this, but it can also be dangerous. More than once I’ve had to slam on the breaks because I’ve come up behind a driver going far below the speed limit. This, in turn, forces the driver behind me to slam on their breaks, and continues down the chain of cars.

But, the elderly people want to fight back. They are saying that this bill would promote agism in our community. Their point is that there are drivers under the age of 80 who should not be driving due to cognitive impairments. And there are people over the age of 80 that drive just fine and are not a danger to other drivers on the road. In order to satisfy both parties, a bill could be passed that would require a cognitive test for all drivers. This way the concern for cognitive ability that the legislators express is addressed, and the fairness of all different ages is continued to please the older drivers.

Click here to read the original article.