Grandparents are one of the greatest blessings in life. When they help raise their grandchildren, they're able to provide an added level of wisdom and maturity. Many seniors are happy to spend the weekend watching their grandkids, and most enjoy being able to watch the kids play in recitals and compete in sporting events.

Unfortunately, many adults in Baton Rouge realize that there comes a time when they'll be responsible for taking care of their kids as well as their parents. As seniors age, their eyesight starts to diminish and their reaction times get slower.

In many situations, the decreased eyesight and reaction time can be a fatal combination behind the wheel. But should someone be responsible for taking the car keys from seniors to help reduce the risks of car accidents?

Each day, roughly 10,000 Americans turn 65, and nearly one in six people will be in their golden years by 2020. Moreover, most of those people will still be licensed to drive. But is that safe?

Lawmakers and family members alike are torn between keeping motorists safe, while also respecting seniors' need for independence and mobility. The balance is hard to find, but it's a topic we can't ignore forever.

Ideally, the family members of a senior citizen would help find transportation alternatives before the senior can no longer drive safely. But in some situations, it takes a serious car accident or a series of fender benders to realize the senior is no longer safe on the road.

Some states have implemented an increasing number of driving checks for seniors. Other states leave it up to seniors and their loved ones to determine when it is time to turn in the keys. Whose responsibility should it be?

Read more in our next posts to learn more about the debate, as well as the specific things some states have tried.

Source: Fox News, "Diminished motor skills: 'Silver tsunami' of elderly drivers prompts tough decisions," Joshua Rhett Miller, April 16, 2012