When is it time to stop driving?

After all, driving is the last symbol of independence for the elderly.  And generally the older drivers drive  too slowly to cause major accidents. But when they do kill, it always makes headlines.

Here are 11  huge obstacles  elderly drivers face.

1. Peripheral vision

2. Distance Judgment

3. Speed and gap perception

4. Neck and shoulder stiffness

5. Slower response times

6. Individual medical problems

7. Cars with complicated gadgetry

8. Weather conditions

9. Adapting to glare from oncoming traffic

10. Too many distractions such as signs and billboards

11. Not being able to hear sirens and horns

Here are some of the solutions:

Australia: Mandatory testing by a doctor every year

Japan: Incentives to stop driving such as  discounted chiropractic appointments  and free delivery from department stores

Canada: Possible limited driver's licenses- one size does not fit all

Germany: Voluntary health checks, but mainly more driving help such as available driving schools for older drivers

U.S. More user-friendly cars for the elderly.  (The Ford Focus is the top selling car for elderly drivers in the UK who are over 65 because it is easy to manage and has seats that are the right height.)

Here are more questions:

1. What if we take the car away too early? Older people would be forced to go into nursing homes and assisted living.  That means more expenses and busy families would have to take over running errands.

2. Aren't accidents caused by people of all ages?

For example, for 44 years my Dad used to keep the phone number of a commercial glass company beside his typewriter because so many customers  of all ages used to drive  through the side plate glass window at his drugstore.

3. What about cell phones? How many elderly drivers are causing accidents while on the phone?

4. Who's really watching 16-year-olds? What about their driving record as a group?  Is that  something to brag about?

5. What about the areas where traffic laws are not enforced?  Is it really the aggressive older drivers who are speeding, running red lights, and tailgating on a regular basis?

Driving is still  a major  necessity for people of all ages.  Taking the keys away from an elderly driver should be done only as a last resort.

Popularity: 23% [?]

• Cars That Can Park Themselves Cars that can park themselves are not new. I think Lexus has already developed this. What's new is that cheaper cars will be available that can park themselves. The young people over at Buzz Feed think this is a stupid idea from Ford. I beg to differ with them. I......
• Are Elderly Drivers Really That Dangerous? Are elderly drivers really that dangerous? We all worry about our parents driving but senior driving statistics are showing a surprising trend. Accidents are down in the senior driving age group. Here's a post on that which is both interesting and reassuring. Read Elderly Drivers Causing Accidents? But I thought......
• n
  nnn

  Protecting our elderly is " title="womanspying height=132 alt="" src="http://agingparentsauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/womanspying.jpg" width=200/>n

  nnn

  Protecting our elderly is " border=0>Why We Protect Our Elderly Protecting our elderly is becoming a passion for many of us.  Maybe it's too late for some seniors who have already become victims of scams or eldercare predators, but we can do a tremendous amount of good as we work together to stop future elder abuse. I was heartened to read......

• Is Your Aging Parent in Danger of Hidden Hypothermia?  Elderly adults can quickly succumb to hypothermia even when they think they are warm and safe.  There are many hidden dangers most older people are not aware of that can cause the classic symptoms of hypothermia which are confusion, weak pulse, stiffness in arms and legs, slowed speech and shallow breathing. ......
• When It's Time to Take the Car Away from An Aging Parent Losing the car is viewed as  the final end of independence to an aging senior.It is the end of being able to get out and interact socially as well as being able to take care of one's own needs.Taking your parent's car keys away is listed as one of the most traumatic......

• I Changed My Mind - Go Ahead And Walk Away From Your Mortgage. Back in February of 2008, I wrote a post titled Do You Think It Is OK To Walk Away From A Mortgage You Cannot Afford? that got a lot of attention and comments. In it, I said "I gotta say that I think it is kind of crappy "“ I......
• Chinese goodies in-return for your wealth and health You guys might have heard of about the recent recall of jewelry made from china because of higher levels of cadmium were present. The most recent recall was for MacDonald`s “Shrek” cups. About 13.4 million “Shrek” themed cups have been recalled in the U.S. alone. Apparantly, MacDonald`s will give......
• How to Program a Car Remote [/caption]If you get a car remote for your vehicle, you will instantly see the many benefits to having one.  You can change the temperature to the optimum level of comfort for your personal taste as well can do other simple tasks that can be a challenge when you have both......
• Why Online Services Can Do You Work at home is the best solution for people who are short of time – students, retired people or women who have to treat and take care about babies. I want to show you that work at home and home work could be mixed very nice and easy. Just now......
• Top Screw-Ups # 2 Google Maps - sends people 3 hours in the wrong direction Man caught  - after delivering The Express-Times, which he stole, to at least a dozen customers for three years Woman - gets away with exchanging Monopoly money for the real thing Top 16 Funny Police Comments - taken......