It is a safety issue as well as a social issue, elderly people behind the driver's wheel. There is growing concern among state legislators after several fatal car crashes involving senior citizens.

As we age, driving can become a bumpy road. "Because we all age differently, you have the physical impairments and vision issues," said David Melton of the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety.

Slow reaction time, problems seeing road blocks, and running red lights or stop signs, just a few of the challenges seniors face behind the wheel.

"In 2007 there were 30 million drivers age 65 and over. Of those, about 200,000 of them had accidents in 2007," said Greg Gordon, senior vice president of Consumer Marketing at Liberty Mutual.

There has been at least half a dozen accidents in recent weeks involving older drivers. One close to home, when a 33 year old woman was killed by an 75 year old driver on the UMass campus. While Liberty Mutual is not advocating legislation, they are offering tools to people who have aging parents. So they can identify their driving difficulties.

"Tools give us a way to talk with parents, most of us are reluctant to have that conversation," said Gordon.

It is an issue Liberty Mutual is facing head-on with a video game that allows people to see the physical and cognitive limitations older drivers experience.

Safety experts also simulated the effects of aging on driving ability in a closed course in East Hartford with a senior simulator suit.

From weights, to knee and neck braces, the suit literally puts you inside a body with ailments like arthritis and osteoporosis. They even have glasses to mimic vision loss. The suit instantly makes the person feel like they are 70 years old, hunched over, weighted down, with no flexibility. The actions most people take for granted, like being able to turn your head to back up and see what is behind you or stepping on the brake instantly, are diminished.

"Typically we see they lose flexibility in the upper body, and are much more reluctant to turn their head and look behind them. They are not used to using mirrors. Reaction time can be an issue, not with everyone, but it can be an issue," said Melton.

It is an issue many families find hard to talk about.

"If you have to accept your parents are getting older, then we have to accept we are getting older. It is a tough pill to swallow," said Vicki Rosewood, Executive Director of the Macklin Intergenerational Institute.

The transition from the driver's seat to the passenger's seat can be seen as a loss of independence.

"It is a social issue as well. Seniors can become isolated, families can become guilty about the burden," said Gordon.

But experts say opening up the dialog is key to keeping senior citizens and the roadways safe. "

There are two ways to enter the conversation. Through an empowerment process, where you empower them to look for alternatives and public transportation. What would happen if you had to restrict? Talk to parents about restricting gradually," said Rosebrook.

As mandatory road tests are debated on Beacon Hill, organizers hope these tools will make it a little easier to decide when to leave the driving to someone else.