My Oma lives independently and is 77. She has a cottage 2 hours away from her house. She'll probably sell it in a couple of years, but in the meantime she drives back and forth every week in the summer, drives to all her appointments, church, and shopping. She's moving closer to me in a couple of years, but until then she needs her car to get around. Even once she moves, she is understandably reluctant to let go of her car.

She's 77 so she won't have to take any tests for another 3 years, and in Ontario all that's required in most cases for 80 year olds is a visual test. If she were to take a driving test, my Mother and I know she would fail.

So here's where I need advice:

1) The Canadian Safety Council offers a "55 Alive Driver Refresher Course" for senior drivers. Have any of you taken or sent loved ones to such a course? Were they helpful? Were they difficult? What was the experience like?

2) How do I convince Oma that taking such a course is a good idea? I know her... as soon as I suggest taking a course like this, she'll say "oh, a course is too stressful!" Really, more stressful than being in an accident?

this is always a timely subject but as about as confusing as which came first, the chicken or the egg? my in laws were talking about my H's uncle in the nethersands, they thought he should give up his license but he was being a stubborn old fool what was so ironic was we don't think H's dad should be on the road anymore but he didn't recognize himself in the story. he just couldn't understand how someone would not give up the keys when it's time i don't have the answer on this one since the state has given him 5 years again.

The best way I know of to convince her is if there is an insurance premium discount. Perhaps her agent could advise you.

My Mom's macular degeneration got so bad that I was able to get her to stop driving by getting her to visualize a small child in her blind spot. SPLAT. That did it. I also had to promise her she would be able to get anywhere she needed or wanted to go.

I had no idea she still wanted to go so many places.