"Older drivers" were common words in media reports this week and they will be until ageism is permanently removed from discussions of who may drive and who may not. This time it was the Aging Driver Mobility Forum, sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, that refreshed ageist concerns with its call for driving restrictions on aging drivers. Other times, it has been a one-in-a-hundred accident caused by a driver described and condemned principally by chronological age.

Anything that encourages ageism, or prejudice against age, makes it more difficult for older, or younger, individuals to gain acceptance based on their personal skills, experience, commitment, and abilities.

Driving is a privilege, not a right, we are told, but thanks to sprawling housing developments and car-friendly urban design, driving is often a necessity or at least a significant convenience. Too many people take their personal transportation for granted. Many move to idyllic country settings and then have to relocate if driving is compromised. Others stay on in the family home without giving a second thought to its distance from essential services. Losing the right to drive can be particularly devastating for those in rural areas, but it can be stressful for anyone.

Current, and long-overdue, research acknowledges that much of the physical deterioration linked to aging can be counterbalanced by exercise, mental and physical, as well as by nutrition and a range of wellness strategies. Aging does not automatically result in dependency, frailty, and senility, except on The Simpsons. Why is the only reaction to advance-age drivers a terminal one -- "take away the car keys" -- that may have significant impact on housing, wellbeing, self-respect, quality of life, contributions to the community, and the list goes on?

Yes, health issues can emerge over time, but wellness strategies are helping people continue active lives even with chronic conditions. Individuals with disabilities have taught those who care to listen a lot about mobility solutions. When vision or health problems do impair ability, then medical restrictions may be required, but declining health is not restricted to, or inevitable with, advanced age. Medical restrictions should emphasize medical conditions and leave age out of it to stop the spread of ageism.

The frustrating thing is that too often nineteenth- and twentieth-century thinking is applied to twenty-first-century problems, while ignoring this century's opportunities. The ageist emphasis gives a false impression that the rest of the licensing and driver training system is perfect -- it's just the "pesky seniors who won't stay home" that cause problems.

However, road rage and road racing have been in the headlines so often that many incidents are no longer considered news. New drivers are a recognized hazzard by insurers and the police. Even a short drive through a neighbourhood may result in a few near misses from preoccupied drivers. Instead of zeroing in on one end of the age spectrum, why not concentrate on improvements that raise the standard of driving across the driver population and make the roads safer for everyone?

Some solutions lie in design improvements for cars and road systems. Why can't cars do more to supplement human skill and knowledge? How far can design go beyond cars that assist with parallel parking? GPS and similar in-car supports mean a driver is no longer alone behind the wheel. Can't we expect these advances to morph with online and wireless innovations to further heighten in-car monitoring and coaching for all drivers? There's not enough space here to explore all the options, but I hope your mind has raced ahead as mine has to the infinite, practical possibilities.

Ongoing driver training and evaluation must parallel the movement to lifelong learning that is now an integral part of the business world and a crucial element in individual growth.

Social networks are natural incubators for innovation. The creative, collaborative force of online communities can solve many challenges when collective thinking is directed and encouraged. Entrepreneurial zest will save individuals and communities from many of the problems that plague them. Canadians are so used to government stepping in and big business leading the way that we forget they have not done much of either in this century. The new leaders are us, together online and off -- and unleashed.

Driving You 'Round the Bend

• How would your life change if you were not allowed to drive a car anymore, but could not manage a bike or walk great distances?

• Would you consider your neighbourhood as convenient as you do now if you didn't have wheels when you wanted them? [bullet] Would public transit or taxis be satisfactory solutions, or would you be waiting on friends and family for a ride?

• Would you feel your self-reliance had been undermine no matter which alternatives you found?

Published: May 20, 2008

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Strategist and Futurist is The Catalyst -- intent on "Helping The Best Get Better." An internationally-recognized "new retirement" authority, PJ's research, writing and speaking programs focus on decisions Baby Boomers face to achieve a successful future. Author of 6 books, PJ knows that, since home is headquarters for the "new retirement," professionals and consumers need relevant knowledge and insights, along with solid decision-making skills, to protect and enhance this private oasis. As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors -- and the clients they serve. A frequently quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking -- a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more, visit TheCatalyst.com.