Use simulator for driving test

After the recent tragedy involving pedestrians killed by an elderly driver, various solutions have been suggested to help prevent these kinds of tragedies, including allowing family members to anonymously report drivers who may have impaired abilities and yearly testing of drivers 85 or older, both of which I would support.

But let me throw a couple of other ideas into the mix. I understand that the veterans center has a simulator to test the abilities of older drivers who are veterans. If the Department of Motor Vehicles had a driving simulator, that would be less intimidating than a road test as a way to do at least a preliminary test of the skills of older drivers.

Also, a law could be passed allowing insurance companies to triple the insurance rates of older drivers who do not prove their competence. That would get many more drivers to have their competence checked. Older drivers who just pay the extra insurance for a couple of years in order to avoid the competence check could be threatened with the loss of their license if they continue to avoid taking a competency test.

Marketta Aguilar

Salt Lake City