Just wondering.

Not a MH but my uncle was 95 and still towing his trailer to the mountains in Sept and would stay until the snow forced him out. BTW he passed at 103.

We camped with a group where most of the members were 75 and older. Several were past 80 and traveled in 35 ft MH or 35 ft 5th wheels. My Dad used to drive his 35 ft MH from California to Indiana and back every year when he was 80 through 83. He would tow a 16ft cargo trailer behind his MH.

We did ask my Dad to stop driving around 85 due to dementia. The Colorado Highway Patrol called me at 1:30 in the morning they had stopped Dad in his Jeep Liberty going the wrong way on 1-70 near Vail. I went and picked him up and he never drove after that.

One of the signs we missed regarding his ability to drive were new dents and scratches in his Jeep and MH and cargo trailer. Each time we would visit him I noticed new scratches or dents...he would claim they happened when he was re-positioning a vehicle or clearing brush. I now know it was due to his dementia.

Driving or aiming? The dealer where I work we drive motorhomes to and from our other dealers in other states. I'm one of the kids at 63, most are in their 70's. We have a mandatory stop driving age at 81. We all have CDL's and all are given a driving test every year by a company check driver. DOT physicals are given every year or two. Still, we have drivers in minor crashes that ends their driving with us.

So my added question would be how many over 80 are competent to be driving a motorhome? How many struggle to drive but don't let on to any one about it? When was their last driving test? Physical exam? Eye exam? Should there be a cut-off age like 65 for airline pilots? How does anyone know when someone is past the cut-off point to drive a motorhome if there is no yearly testing? Do we wait for them to crash?

azdryheat wrote:
Driving or aiming? The dealer where I work we drive motorhomes to and from our other dealers in other states. I'm one of the kids at 63, most are in their 70's. We have a mandatory stop driving age at 81. We all have CDL's and all are given a driving test every year by a company check driver. DOT physicals are given every year or two. Still, we have drivers in minor crashes that ends their driving with us.

So my added question would be how many over 80 are competent to be driving a motorhome? How many struggle to drive but don't let on to any one about it? When was their last driving test? Physical exam? Eye exam? Should there be a cut-off age like 65 for airline pilots? How does anyone know when someone is past the cut-off point to drive a motorhome if there is no yearly testing? Do we wait for them to crash?

My neighbor is 93 and still drives his Class A and flies. A lot of people wish he would stop flying and once a year he flies 10+ young kids.

azdryheat wrote:
Driving or aiming? The dealer where I work we drive motorhomes to and from our other dealers in other states. I'm one of the kids at 63, most are in their 70's. We have a mandatory stop driving age at 81. We all have CDL's and all are given a driving test every year by a company check driver. DOT physicals are given every year or two. Still, we have drivers in minor crashes that ends their driving with us.

So my added question would be how many over 80 are competent to be driving a motorhome? How many struggle to drive but don't let on to any one about it? When was their last driving test? Physical exam? Eye exam? Should there be a cut-off age like 65 for airline pilots? How does anyone know when someone is past the cut-off point to drive a motorhome if there is no yearly testing? Do we wait for them to crash?

How many of any age are competent to drive period?

I was almost 80 when I quit teaching driver education and driver training to teen agers and adults. ( I own a driving school) I stopped teaching then only because of my hearing, I was still licensed by the California DMV as a certified instructor until about 3 years ago. Times have changed and people are active much longer than they were a few years ago.

MountainAir05 wrote:
...

My neighbor is 93 and still drives his Class A and flies. A lot of people wish he would stop flying and once a year he flies 10+ young kids.

If you've never seen the movie "Second Hand Lions" you should really watch this movie. The end is priceless, talking about 90 year old's.

azdryheat wrote:
How does anyone know when someone is past the cut-off point to drive a motorhome if there is no yearly testing? Do we wait for them to crash?

It's not just motorhomes. There are many, of all ages, that shouldn't be driving anything on a public highway.
In Pennsylvania a special driving test to determine competency will not be ordered by PennDot unless there is a crash and/or a traffic citation issued. So yes, we wait for them to crash. :S

And then you could ask yourself, "would I rather be driving on a road with a bunch of 80 year old motorhome drivers, or a bunch of teens driving while texting their friends"???

Not sure I have an answer myself.

I'll be 80 in October and still drive my rig without issue. Sure, it takes a little longer to setup and tear down but I get'er done. Still hit the gym every other day to stay reasonably fit enough to operate motor vehicles. I also own and operate a 1000 cc ATV that I take on extremely rough trails, but it has a few dings in it. I feel most folks will know when it's time to hang up the keys.

One size does not fit all. My role model is a couple from SC that bought a new 45' Beaver DP and drove it to OR in 3.5 days to a Beaver rally. She was limping from breaking a leg snow skiing...they were both 84. At 73 I'm fortunate in that I can still out work most 30 year old...not saying much as most do not have much of a work ethic. I have no problem putting in 12 hour days behind the wheel of my DP...much easier than 12 hours operating heavy equipment. I still water ski and fly with no intention of stopping as long as I'm healthy.