When she was a state Senator, before she became Wisconsin’s first female lieutenant governor, my dear friend and colleague Margaret Farrow proposed legislation that would have required drivers in Wisconsin that became a certain age to take an annual driver’s test to get/keep their licenses.

The proposal went nowhere.

That’s a lead-in to recent news. On March 15, the famed actor Dick Van Dyke crashed his silver Lexus into a gate in Malibu while driving in wet conditions, apparently losing control of the wheel. Photos from the accident show Van Dyke with blood on his mouth and nose, and paramedics treated him at the scene for his injuries and a possible concussion.

Officers don’t believe alcohol or drugs were involved in the slippery crash, but they reportedly requested that the actor retake his driving exam with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Today’s read is from Charles Passy in MarketWatch. Here’s an excerpt:

How old is too old when it comes to driving? Or should no age limit apply?

Those are the questions many are likely asking in light of the news that the legendary 97-year-old actor Dick Van Dyke was in a driving accident last week in Malibu, Calif. According to reports, Van Dyke’s silver Lexus collided with a gate, but the actor suffered only minor injuries. He appeared to be the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.

Like many states, California makes certain requirements of older drivers as a safeguard — specifically, it requires that those 70 and over renew their license in person and provide proof of adequate vision. Some states also require that older drivers renew their licenses more frequently.

Still, all this hasn’t stopped seniors from driving.

Read the entire column here.