Mass. gov. wants to impose restrictive tests on senior drivers

Gov. Deval Patrick, whose mother, Emily, used Milton’s senior citizenvans to get around in her later years, says older drivers should betested to prove they can still handle a car safely.  Patrick, however, says he isn’t sure at what age drivers need to be tested and what they should to be tested for.  Hiscomments come in the wake of a terrible accident in Randolph on Tuesdayin which an SUV driven by 86-year-old William Geisler struck an8-year-old girl in front of the Lyons Elementary School, where she is astudent. The girl was listed in fair condition today at Boston MedicalCenter with a fractured skull, a broken leg and internal injuries.  Currently,Massachusetts drivers of all ages are required to pass a vision testevery 10 years as part of the license-renewal process. But there are nospecial requirements for older drivers, as there are in most otherstates.  State Sen. Brian A. Joyce, whose district includesRandolph, this week renewed this week to impose requirements on olderdrivers. His proposal – to require drivers 85 and older to pass avision and road test every five years to keep their licenses – hasremained in committee in the two years since he first filed it.

Source:  http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2008/02/08/news/news03.txt

Ed:  FACT:   Teenage drivers are far more likely to cause fatal accidents than elderly drivers.   62% of all teens killed in auto accidents are killed in accidents caused by other teens.  If the goal of driving restrictions is to save lives, why not prohibit teen driving altogether?? Or impose greater restriction on teens, as well as elders?  See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123100654.htm