While backing my car I looked through my passenger mirror and today’s writing came to me. On the passenger mirror a message is written, objects may be closer than it seem. What is primary in my mind is what most seniors go through, eye sight. What make eye sight so disconcerting is the driving habit of the seniors. This is not only dangerous to them but it is very dangerous to others as well.

Many times I have been driving on the interstate and suddenly come upon a slow vehicle or another vehicle almost side swipe me or any number of things that is dangerous. Most of the time a senior is behind the wheel (I’m not speaking about people using their phone). I have asked a few why they drive so slow and the answer I usually receive is they are going the speed limit or nothing is beside them when they first look. Both answers are wrong.

With age most seniors eye sight get weaker, even with eye care from a doctor. Most seniors don’t realize this nor realize the corrective actions; these actions continue as if everything is the same as it was years ago. Corrective glasses are fine but that does not solve the many other senior problems, such as reaction time to a situation. These reaction times are much slower than it was back when. The senior, at times, forget they can not do what they used to do. The mind tell them they have done something before and think they can still do it. Not so, the body will quickly (hopefully before it is too late to pull out) let you know something can not be done. The only options are, leave whatever you are trying to do to someone else to finish, grit your teeth and slowly continue on or get hurt which will cause you to call for emergency help.

The senior is reluctant to give up their independence, opting to remain on their own, do things themselves, drive although their sight is failing and swear they can still make do. The most important thing, other than physical health, is eye sight. That not only effects driving but also effect almost everything else. If the eye sight is not right, preparing food for cooking is difficult because it can not be cleaned the way it should, cut the way it should without cutting yourself, nor cook without burning. The last is because either you can not see the correct temperature or, because the mind is slowly fading, the cooking food is left to cook too long.

All in all, among many things, the eyes play an important role in the senior’s life. I worry about their driving habits, my habits, and the dangers that are caused because of these habits or because eye sight is fading. Don’t be afraid to stop driving. Give up that permit if the need is there. Don’t become outraged because you are tested to find out whether you have the capability to get behind the steering wheel. Don’t be offended because it is for your life and the lives of others. Not only because of the mirror but the eyes may make things seem closer or farther than it really is. Be careful and, if you have to give in, do it.