The Vegas Voice 9-20

When Are You Too Old To Drive?
By: Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker /
Out & About
Do you remember hearing Dinah Shore sing
“See The USA In Your Chevrolet” on her
television show?
If you do, you may be shocked to
discover that was almost 60 years ago!
This means you must be – oh my gosh –
older than that!
So, sometime in the not-too-distant
future, you may find yourself wondering if
you are too old to drive. Have you reached
an age which means you should turn the
car keys over to someone else? And if you
have, what happens next?
I know first-hand there are few hot
bed issues that are more inflammatory
or more personal than deciding how long an aging family member
should be able to drive safely. In my own family, my Dad – who was a
very gifted and productive artist to his dying day - refused to voluntarily
stop driving the family car.
When he was in his late 80’s, he went out to run an errand and forgot
not only where he lived but also that he was to call me for help in any
emergency. Instead, he checked into a sleazy hotel that he happened to
drive by, so he wouldn’t have to admit he was lost and couldn’t find his
way home.
Of course, we had everyone from friends and family members to the
police out looking for him. But was he appreciative? Of course not! He
was defiant and declared his night out had been an adventure.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, one
morning he rear-ended a school bus
filled with children. Fortunately, no one
was injured. Out of complete frustration,
my brother and I finally had to take the
car away from him, which made him so
angry he threatened to have my brother
arrested for stealing his car!
Actually, neither Nevada, nor any other
state for that matter, has a maximum age
limit for driving a car. Instead the driving
ability of an individual is generally
determined on a case-by- case basis with only a little assistance from
the DMV.
How much more manageable it would be if there was a maximum
age limit for driving, and we could properly plan and provide for our
senior years.
Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker is a travel agent and the owner of
Vegas Vacationers Inc. She can be reached at:
Merryman2@aol.com
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October 2020
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