al alertness is a must to be able to operate a car safely. Almost any driver could give testimony to being in a situation that could have been a collision, only to be avoided by the quick speed with which they were able to recognize and avoid danger. If a senior citizen's reaction time is drastically slowed, what might have been a near miss could result in a fatal accident. However, if he proves his proficiency in this area his driving privileges should remain intact. With recent medical advancements, admittedly a large number of senior citizens have not shown any considerable decrease in ability to operate a car safely. It is also understandable that someone with a safe driving record will probably feel that he should not have to prove himself competent to drive just because of his age. However, the lives that could be saved far outweigh the inconvenience to some citizens caused by re-testing for a driver's license only once a year. A great-uncle of mine lived in a retirement center. He was legally blind and had no night vision at all, yet he still attempted to drive himself. Luckily, my great-uncle was never involved in a serious accident, though he did cause quite a few fender benders. He should not have been licensed to operate a motor vehicle. He should not have been allowed to endanger every other driver on the street. We all hopefully will one day become senior citizens. Some will be faced with dimming eyesight, some with arthritis, some with the sudden onset of illness. Though our elderly do at times need compassion, we must not let compassion cloud our view of what is clearly best for our young and old. Let us not depend on the same luck my great-uncle depended on. It is imperative, because of the depreciation of mental and physical abilities associated with aging, that senior citizens must be forced to annually show competency in the safe, and correct operation of a motor vehicle to retain their driving privileges....
