How old is too old when it comes to driving? Or should no age limit apply?
Those are the questions many are likely asking in light of the news that the legendary 97-year-old actor Dick Van Dyke was in a car crash last month in Malibu, Calif. According to reports, Van Dyke’s silver Lexus collided with a gate, and the actor suffered minor injuries. He appeared to be the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.
Like many states, California imposes certain requirements on older drivers as a safeguard — specifically, it requires that those 70 and over renew their licenses in person and provide proof of adequate vision. Some states also require that older drivers renew their licenses more frequently.
Still, all this hasn’t stopped seniors from driving. In fact, according to AAA, by 2030, there will be more than 70 million people age 65 or older in this country — and 85 to 90% of them will have a driver’s license. At the same time, AAA warns that we must face a reckoning when it comes to our ability to hit the road as we age, noting that “seniors are outliving their ability to drive safely by an average of 7-10 years.”
In effect, AAA says, “we must plan for our ‘driving retirement’ just as we plan for our financial retirement.”
Read more at Marketwatch.com
What Are Your Thoughts?
