The death of a Murray man and his 5-year-old daughter has reopened the debate on what -- if anything -- to do about older drivers who may have lost their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Don Ostler, 29, was walking his daughter, Gwyndalyn, to school when they were struck in the crosswalk by a car driven by an 86-year-old man. The man's identity has not been released, and prosecutors are still deciding what charges, if any, to file.

The accident raises the question of how to get the car keys away from an elderly driver who should not be on the road.

It's a battle that rages in many families. The older driver insists he is still capable of driving and refuses to relinquish one of the last vestiges of independent living. But families, fearing the worst as their loved one's faculties decline, try various ways to get him or her off the road.

In some cases, the family wins, though hard feelings afterwards may linger. In other cases, they decide the fight isn't worth the headache, and they just pray.

Legally, anyone can report a bad driver and request the state to perform a review examination, but the target of the request can find out who turned him in. This can make the more timid family members avoid doing the right thing. Sen. Allan Christensen, R-North Ogden, attempted to amend the law earlier this year to allow for anonymous complaints, but the measure was defeated because of its potential for abuse.

Older drivers, whether they like it or not, are part of a high-risk group. The Insurance Institute of America analyzed car accident statistics and found that drivers age 85 and older are just as likely to get into accidents as 16-year-olds. While the older driver has more experience, he may not have the required reflexes, visual acuity or hearing. Some seniors also may have memory problems or varying stages of dementia, which make them even more unsafe than a kid.

AARP helps by offering training for older drivers. The class teaches defensive driving techniques, but more importantly discusses when a senior should think about handing over the car keys. It's a positive experience, but inadequate. The ones who take the class are the responsible ones who are most likely to hand over their keys when they should. A great many others do not.

A possible solution is to require regular additional testing for older drivers. Right now, an older driver, like anyone else, only has to make a personal appearance at the license office once every 10 years. That's too long.

If older drivers had to renew their licenses in person every five years -- or even more frequently -- it would be easier for state examiners to identify those who lack the physical or mental abilities to safely drive and order appropriate testing at that point.

Such an option would take the burden off family members. The state would be the bad guy, and nobody would be cut out of the will.

Some seniors may claim increased exam frequency would constitute age discrimination. Yes, it is. And it is probably just as valid as the age discrimination that allows special driving restrictions on teenagers.

We don't know if such a rule would have saved Don and Gwyndalyn Ostler's lives, but it could save someone else's.

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What do you think?

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The Daily Herald will publish comments on June 10.