What, Me Not Drive?

For some, that awful, depressing, imposing, disgusting senior moment is when we're told not to drive any more. Not driving is an imposition, an intrusion, an abrupt ending of our independence. From now on, we walk, ride a bike (ha ha), take the bus (ugh), bum rides or stay home.

Really, it isn't all that bad. Yet for some it is the end of the world (or at least the end of an era). We have become slaves to our autos, depending upon them for nearly everything. A block to the grocery store demands a set of wheels (to carry the groceries home of course). A trip to the bank (four blocks) would be a nice walk but . . . A quick jaunt to the grandkids is only sixty miles on the frenetic freeway, slow lane of course (or slow in the fast lane), or, oops, fast in the slow lane if in a hurry.

But who has the audacity or authority to deprive us of this pleasurable necessity? Our children? Our neighbors (never mind that we have taken out their hedge four or five times)? Our best friends who won't ride with us any longer? The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)? Uncle Sam? Or worse, our spouse? Or even worse, our conscience?

So, when do we put a scissors to our license? When we plow through our garage because we forgot to put that dang contraption into reverse? When we see four cars coming at us when there is only one? Do we quit in stages like driving only in daylight? Some supposedly experts laid out some criteria for senior driving. See what you think of these considerations for thinking about giving up driving:

• When you notice you are are feeling more nervous about driving
• When you have difficulty staying in your lane
• When you are experiencing more 'close calls'
• When you get lost more often
• When people or cars seem to come out of nowhere
• When you have difficulty looking over your shoulder
• When you have a medical condition causing drowsiness
• When you have friends who prefer not or refuse to ride with you
• When you have trouble paying attention to signals and road signs
• When you notice other drivers honking at you more than before
• When you get too upset at those other stupid drivers
• When your reactions are slowing down

There are more considerations which you can add to this list. When you get too cocky about your prowess, or too nervous about facing traffic, it's probably time to consider the inevitable: take the bus and leave the driving to us. Remember when you chuckled at that adage (or its equivalent)? Are you finding it more and more difficult to chuckle at this  now? If so, you're probably getting closer to giving up those keys.

But that doesn't mean you have to give up your freedom. Driving is a wonderful occupation, yes. Even a preoccupation. But not driving may be even more wonderful, for you and for others. It might even save your life.