June 26, 2017
Odds are, at around 16 years of age, your parents handed you the keys to your very first car. It is a day most of us never forget. Even if it was just a cheap car, it was ugly, and it didn’t run all that great, it still meant you had your freedom. Now many years later, you are faced with the decision to have a talk with your parents about their ability to drive. As cruel as it seems, you are in the unenviable position to take away freedom from the very people who gave you yours.
With the average age of the population rising every year, this issue is going to continue to get worse. Children do not want to have to deal with this, and the parents often resist losing their ability to get out of the house.
BY THE NUMBERS
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- In 2016, there were over 40 million drivers on the road age 65 and older.
- Last year, 6150 senior citizens 65 years of age and older were killed in car crashes. Another 240,000 in that same age group were injured in car wrecks.
- Of those seniors who were killed last year, the fatality rate rose sharply after the age of 70.
- Here is an alarming stat: 8% of those seniors killed last year had a blood-alcohol content exceeding the legal limits.
WARNING SIGNS
- There are a number of signs your Mom or Dad should not be driving. Sometimes it is a good idea to have them drive somewhere while you visit them and monitor their motoring skills. There are other signs to look for as well:
- Do a visual inspection of your parent’s vehicle(s), looking for dents and dings, and wheel damage from hitting curbs.
- Also, inspect the area where vehicles…