Bongani: Elderly people should not be allowed to drive on the roads

My mother is old, and she still has her driver’s license. For her, it’s a point of pride that she can still drive. However, she doesn’t realise that her ability to react has completely slowed down, yet she still drives over the speed limit or close to it. When in the car with her, I grit my teeth and push my feet firmly to the floor of the passenger seat as if there are actual brakes which will somehow make the car magically slow down! 

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It seems that it's not just my mother who is like this. I took a call from Ian, who runs a retirement home in KZN. He agreed with me and has seen first hand how elderly people drive. He believes that they don't deserve to be behind the wheel. He recalled two stories of old people getting themselves hurt in a car accident. 'Anonymous' also called and told her story of how an old person smashed into the back of her car and now, as a result, she suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

I think when people read these headlines, they have an emotional reaction rather than thinking about it sensibly. If you’re too proud to take the keys away from an old person then don’t be upset when I get the chance to say "I told you so".

So there, I made my point, but not everyone is going to agree with me. Here's what some of you had to say: