by Ann Palmieri

Created on: September 18, 2008   Last Updated: March 27, 2009

It would be difficult to legalize a maximum age for driving in the US. Our world is constantly changing. Soon the medium longevity age will be in the 90's. I know people right now who are over 85 who drive successfully. Why set up a maximum age when all of us age differently. We all matured differently, didn't we? Let's not take driving away from someone because of age; instead, take that privilege away if the person cannot perform or see well enough to drive.

There are enough negative consequences to getting to be a senior without adding another one. It hurts to walk, so we need to drive to the store, at least as long as we can remember where the store is and how to get back home. Our memories get short, but our skill to drive has been honed well for about 50 years. We drive a little slower to allow for slower responses, but at least we won't get speeding tickets! We follow the rules; young people in today's world think they are beyond the rules, so they run red-lights and stop signs.

Seniors who have good eyesight and stamina still drive long distances. Friends of mine drive to Wisconsin every year. I, for one, would not because I fall asleep too easily. I know this, so I don't drive long distances! Most of my friends know when to quit driving. Once a person racks up a few tickets, he/she evaluates the need to drive. I remember when my mother quit. She couldn't see well anyway, but this one time she knew she shouldn't be driving because she could hurt herself or someone else. She gave her keys to my father and said, "Don't ever let me drive again."

Most seniors are responsible drivers. Long-term memory helps alot. Many of us only drive to the store, church, or a neighborhood close by. Younger people need to think about the time when they will be a senior citizen. Making a person give up driving is like taking away a person's freedom...freedom to go from place to place whenever he/she wants. Without a car, the senior has to rely on someone else to get them to the store, the doctor, etc. Many cannot ride the bus because of having to walk a long way to the bus stop. Some cities do have home pickup, but that is rare.

I feel that senior members of our society still have the right to drive if they can pass the driver's test and the eye test. If they fail, then they need to be re-evaluated; perhaps they just need their glasses updated. Perhaps they didn't have a new copy of the latest rules of driving. Give them a chance to try again before yanking away their transportation.

Driving is not a right; it is a responsibility that we must earn and maintain. It is a regulated activity that could be very dangerous to others. We must use common sense when we drive. If we run over curbs, can't read the signs anymore, or forget how to merge into traffic on the freeway, then we need to be considerate and practice safety by not driving anymore. It is the responsibility of the driver to decide when to stop driving even if he/she can pass the driving and sight test. Be safe, not sorry.

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