San Luis Obispo County has seen too many heartbreaking crashes involving older drivers—incidents that are rarely about recklessness and almost always about age-related changes that make driving harder than people realize. In recent years, we’ve had seniors drive through storefronts, collide with pedestrians in crosswalks, and, most recently, run over a pedestrian in a parking lot. These are good, responsible neighbors who simply didn’t recognize how much their reaction time, depth perception, or cognitive processing had changed.
California’s current DMV renewal system does little to prevent these tragedies. A vision test and a form cannot measure whether someone can safely merge onto Highway 101, judge closing speeds on Grand Avenue, or react quickly when a child darts into a crosswalk near our schools. Families often see the warning signs—getting lost on familiar routes, new dents on the car, delayed responses at stoplights—but they lack clear guidance on what to do.
A responsible, evidence-based approach would protect both seniors and the public while preserving dignity and independence. California should adopt four straightforward reforms:
• Periodic behind-the-wheel evaluations beginning at age 75, when crash severity rises
• Mandatory functional assessments when concerns arise, regardless of age
• Expanded transportation alternatives, so giving up the keys doesn’t mean giving up mobility
• Clear guidance for families on early signs of unsafe driving and how to intervene compassionately
These steps are not punitive. They are preventive. They honor older adults by keeping them—and everyone around them—safe.
Jill Stegman
Grover Beach
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2026.
These boomers are doing far more damage than traffic accidents. As they deplete Social Security funds and overwhelm the health care system, they block traffic trying to relive their pathetic protest culture. Best to round them up into Trump’s detention centers and free up housing for Gen Z.