Long story, but I've had to go down this road with grand parents and parents and made the commitment to my family not to put them through it. I am still a good driver on highways and my tractors, but know at 66, I am not as good as I was younger and if possible turn the driving in cities to one of my kids. There are things I will no longer do on our tractors and have one of my sons do it, I "can", but not as well or safely as them.
Last year I gave my Harley to one of my sons and spend more time on my Rhino than Grizzly. I have told everyone to tell me when it is time to quit driving and I will. If I don't I expect them to step in no matter how unpleasant it may be.
It's wrong for any group of people to gather and collectively tell everyone what they may or may not do due to a particular age. Everyone is different, and everyone ages differently. Just like there are kids large enough and mature enough to do some driving before the age of 16, there are some that remain too weak in mind and maturity to drive at the age of 30.
My Great Aunt, in her mid 70s, had no business driving; she was legally blind but would drive anyway the few blocks to the store for things she needed as she always refused all help her whole life. When confronted about it, she said "I have days my vision is much better than others and I use those opportunities to do what limited running I must do." Made sense so everyone left her alone. She passed safe and sound in her sleep in her own bed.
My Great Uncle (on another line of the family) is in his 80s and drives a Lincoln Town Car from Florida, to Virginia, to West Virginia, and on to Pennsylvania with a 14' bumper pull flatbed with a couple ATVs on it and makes the trip twice a year. His ability to drive defensively I'd pit against anyone. He is a very skilled driver with reaction times better than some men less than half his age. He gave up flying a few years back for safety concerns, we imagine he'll do the same for driving...
I'm a HUGE "personal responsibility" advocate. If they think they're able, and they're paid up on all the insurance and stuff to cover things if something goes wrong, nobody should be able to tell them otherwise. If they should have some problems in making safe decisions, then it would be time for immediate family to step in and take responsibility for that individual and make whatever changes are needed. You don't need to be old to have an operator error, just like you don't need to be young to be safe. When I go I'd rather be doing something I love rather than being told I can't do anything anymore simply because of age. If I am to be told, it will be by those I love and who love me; not some group of feel-good nib-nosers... I'm with you 100%, if I'm too old I'll say so. Otherwise you can have my tractor when you pry the controls from my cold dead hands...
