Every once in a while, politicians will float the question of whether drivers should have to retake their tests as a requirement for license renewal after a certain age. With age comes the possibility of reduced vision, perhaps hearing loss, reduced reflexes and other changes we all laugh about as a fact of life until someone mentions them in the context of affecting a person’s ability to drive safely.

Then pride kicks in. Well, pride and a little stubbornness as most of us bristle at the idea of the government telling us it’s possible we are less able to do something we’ve done quite capably for the majority of our lives.

To that, a reasonable person could reply “Well, if you are so certain you are capable, there should be no fear in taking a test.” But it’s just the principle of the thing.

To be clear, no one is proposing implementing such a test in Ohio at the moment. But a recent news item should make us think.

WTVG in Toledo reported a person they described as “elderly” — an 81-year-old man — was driving the wrong way on the Ohio Turnpike when he collided with a motorcyclist last week. The 37-year-old motorcyclist was killed in the accident. The older driver had been traveling west in the eastbound lanes.

While further details of the investigation into this incident have not yet been reported, how often do we hear of incidents — too many of them ending in tragedy — in which an older driver became confused or disoriented and made a mistake such as driving up an exit ramp to begin traveling the wrong way on a busy highway? Age is certainly not the only reason people make mistakes or poor decisions while driving, but it is a factor worth considering.

Those opposed to a law requiring re-testing must at least hold themselves accountable enough to do self-assessments. Family members must also be willing to have difficult conversations — perhaps with the help of doctors. Organizations such as AARP have plenty of resources for older drivers and even a free online seminar to help family members determine how to assess loved one’s driving skills.

Again, age is not an automatic do-not-drive sentence. Plenty of drivers do so safely for their entire lives. But we’ve got to be honest with ourselves and each other when age does become a factor limiting our ability to do so.

Getting behind the wheel while not in top driving condition is simply not worth the risk.