Comments about ‘Taking the keys: When seniors need to stop driving’

Some people want to take driving away from all elderly. I would rather have a required test every 5 years once 65 or something. I wouldn't mind taking the test myself when I get to that age. At the same token, a lot of elderly drivers follow driving laws very accurately and it's the rest of the people "owning the road" who cause the problems.

When you talk about public transporation, you are leaving out most of the State of Utah because there just isn't any!

In some cases I look at money spent on upgrading roads etc. and wonder if it couldn't be used more effectively to help provide something like a taxi service. Regulations for providing such a service are a major problem. I checked into providing such but the insurance, licensing etc, was just too much to even make it break even based on projected use.

For the individual faced with not driving, expesecially if they do not have family nearby, is often followed by moving them out of their home to an assisted living facilit, then shortly thereafter when their savings is exausted, moved to public welfare.

Might it not have been better, money wise, to work on senior (not only seniors) transportation program and see if we can delay some of those things where not otherwise needed.

Walking was mentioned, but if you are old and you have had a broken leg, or if your town was not designed for walking, that is not a good solution. Electric carts can be a real danger on the roads!

The elderly desperately hold on to their licences for the same reason our teenagers are so eager to get them. It's because we have spent the last century rebuilding our country into one where you must drive a car to be a functioning independent person. To be carless is to be an invalid in this country. I hope that when I retire I will have the means to relocate to one of the few places left where you can live a pleasant independent life whithout having to get behind the wheel every day.

I was certain this article was going to discuss HIGH SCHOOL seniors--many, of whom, are not ready to drive on our roads.

I just went thru' this with my dad about 2 years ago. He passed out in a doctor's office, and state law required that the doctor immediately suspend dad's driving privileges. Six month's later, he got back his license, and since I was living out of town at the time, he started driving again, and was promptly involved in several minor fender benders. His Alzheimer's had gotten the best of him, and I simply removed the keys from his house. Mother is unable to drive, so I became the chauffeur of choice. Dad would ask for the keys every day, forgetting every day what I explained to him the day before. One day a year ago, dad went into a violent rage when mom told him for the umpteenth time that he could not drive any more, and beat up mom pretty bad. I had to have him taken out of the house and confined to a Veteran's Home dementia ward, where he died three months later. Truly, it's sad to watch someone who was once a tower of strength decline to this point - but dad is at peace with the Lord now.

Age does not cause accidents. Poor driving causes accidents. Every time I see one of these extremely biased articles on taking away licenses for the elderly, they always come up with grisley accidents caused by the elderly. They never mention the ones caused by teenagers, drinkers, people with anger management problems. Let's be fair. Require regular tests based upon DRIVING RECORDS, not age.

This is one of the most difficult things to face with a parent. You are their child, therefore to them not in authority to take their licence. Driving records should be used of course, as well as a driving course and a written test. Just like when we are young and get our licence for the first time. The test should be the same and taken every 5 years. That way as the child you have the backing of the state when they are nolonger safe.

When someone approaches the point of not being able to drive safely as a result of age impaired abilities, it's time to stop driving. It's as simple as that. Lack of independence, age discrimination, our country is built on driving, etc... those arguments get thrown out the window when someone elderly becomes deadly behind the wheel. I do agree with "Voice of Reason's" comment of requiring cyclical testing after a certain age. It most certainly wouldn't be fair to arbitrarly prevent the elderly from driving after a certain age.
I've been driving for almost 40 years, and not above having to be retested in the not too distant future to make sure I wouldn't be a threat behind the wheel.

I remember my grandma commenting, "I can see to drive just fine....its those cars that are the same color as the asphalt that I can't see." She wasn't able to drive much longer due to macular degeneration but until then it was scary. There is no easy solution. I don't see well at night so I've already given that up and I'm only in my 50's. It makes it harder when there isn't dependable mass transit readily available. Good old suburbs.