Elderly, families struggle with when to stop driving - Asheville Citizen-Times
With spongy swim noodles attached to his front and rear bumpers for an extra cushion, 83-year-old Bill Thurman considers himself ready for the local roadways. In his straight shift 2001 Toyota Tacoma, he handles the traffic of Interstate 240 and Merrimon Avenue with equal aplomb — in part thanks to the noodles. He's quick to add that he's never been found at fault in an accident, and although he drives fast and makes quick moves, Thurman maintains he has equally quick reflexes. "He has those noodles on his truck so he can drive it like a bumper car. The somewhat tense situation in the Thurman household highlights a contentious debate many local families have or will experience: When should an older driver give up his or her license. A spate of recent wrecks involving older drivers, including two fatalities in Transylvania County, underscores the seriousness of the issue, with some critics asserting the elderly should be tested more often or face more stringent standards than... They accounted for nearly 43,400 of Buncombe's 248,000 residents in 2013. By 2033, projections put the number of residents age 65 and older at 73,400, a 69 percent increase, and comprising. Source: www.citizen-times.com
