Editor's note: This article was updated from an article that was originally posted on August 29, 2017.
Prince Philip, the 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, was involved in a car accident on January 17. The SUV he was driving crashed and overturned.
While there may not be many among his family or entourage who would tell him that he should no longer be in the driver's seat, the incident recalls an issue that many physicians face: Should doctors decide when a patient is too old to drive?
When Seniors' Ability to Drive Becomes Questionable
Changes in vision. Forgetting directions, routes, and locations. Physical problems that are associated with arthritis and Parkinson's. These are just a few of the changes that can affect many seniors' ability to drive. Combine these factors with the growing number of Americans who are living longer and it's no wonder that the issue of whether they should be behind the wheel is fast becoming a problem for many seniors' families and loved ones. Is this an issue that physicians are willing and able to address?
The topic of driving, particularly for the elderly, has entered the most unusual phase of history since laws were passed in Vermont in 1894 requiring that all motor carriages have a man walk in front waving a red light for the safety of others.
