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Today’s Boston Globe features a tragic story about a four-year old girl killed by an 89-year-old driver, again bringing to the forefront the whole debate regarding driver competency and the elderly. Is it unfair to begin periodic testing for drivers after a certain age, and if so, what age is appropriate and how often should their driving skills be reviewed? My perspective may be somewhat skewed as I recently registered my teenager for a $699 driver’s education class. The course includes 30 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of on-the-road driving with an instructor, as well as a two-hour parent class. This is all in preparation, of course, for taking the road test to become licensed to drive. If safety is to remain paramount, and if we consider driving a privilege rather than a right, there must be some mechanism for regular review of driving skills—starting at whatever age gains consensus with lawmakers.  (Perhaps every two years beginning at age 70?) The reality is that folks age differently—some, as well as their cars, take the wear and tear of life very well—as this interesting video demonstrates. That doesn’t preclude our need for a system that makes sure those behind the wheel are still competent to be there.