Massachusetts Elderly Driver Bill Stalls on Beacon Hill

By | November 23, 2009

  • November 23, 2009 at 11:29 am
    Matt Gurwell says:
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    Keeping Us Safe is a national company that has developed the “Enhanced Self-Assessment Program” for senior drivers.

    This individualized program has been designed to serve as a valuable tool in helping older drivers (and their families) make appropriate decisions regarding the future of ones safe driving career.

    If the individual is a safe driver, we provide him or her with strategies on how to remain a safe driver as they progress through the aging process.

    If driving retirement is the appropriate decision, then we provide the individual (and their family) with acceptable alternatives, resources and a very specific plan to ensure a smooth and successful transition from the drivers seat to the passenger seat.

    We also offer two separate presentations for your group or organization:

    – A Safe Drive Through the Aging Process,
    – Adults with Aging Parent Drivers

    Please visit our website http://www.keepingussafe.org or call toll-free 877-907-8841 to learn more about our exciting and unique programs for senior drivers AND their respective families.

    Matt Gurwell
    Founder & CEO
    Keeping Us Safe

  • November 23, 2009 at 12:54 pm
    Jake says:
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    At the end of the day, the idea is to keep the most dangerous drivers off of the road. So if the elderly are going to cry discrimination why doesn’t society as a whole demand that re-testing of safe driving habits for ALL drivers be mandated?

  • November 23, 2009 at 12:59 pm
    Expert says:
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    The Bill is a political “feel good” thing but has no substantiation in fact, or accident statistics. Studies for decades have shown that elderly drivers are involved in far fewer accidents than they represent as a percentage of driving population, both as respects accidents overall, and accidents involving deaths. No question that some older drivers lose some of their abilities, but their accidents are more the parking lot fender bender than highway crashes.

  • November 23, 2009 at 1:05 am
    CJ says:
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    Most of that is correct, but as an occurance per mile driven, the elderly operators have a more adverse result.

    As for the parking lot accidents – I just hope that they are backing into another parked vehicle and not a child walking in the parking lot.

  • November 23, 2009 at 1:18 am
    Agent Man says:
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    Why does the government go crazy about someone driving after two beers (.08 bac) and do nothing about the elderly driver problem. There are millions of incompetent elderly drivers that are reekling havock on our highways and no one will address the problem because one day they will be old or they don’t want to take their parents license because they they will have to drive them around. Makes not sense.

  • November 23, 2009 at 1:24 am
    CJ says:
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    Also keep in mind that the same elderly operator that you and I are afraid of votes. I am sure this is another reason for the delay!!

  • November 23, 2009 at 1:33 am
    Bill says:
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    I rather resent this article. It makes it sound as if I deliberately stalled on Beacon Hill. In fact, I ran out of gas trying to get back to Dorchester.

    Well, I didn’t even run out of gas. I had just enjoyed my lunch and had plenty to go round.

    Now, I suggest you talk to my brother, Fire Marshal Bill. He could tell you a thing or two about gas and matches.

  • November 23, 2009 at 1:33 am
    CSP says:
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    And no one has even mentioned the 16 to 25 year olds taking out 4 cars while he street racing. They kill and mame 10 times the “elderly problem”.

    Better yet, make it a law that when you turn 70, you must go to a home away from the public, never to be seen again. After all they are an embarassment, and dangerous by just being……

  • November 23, 2009 at 1:34 am
    Marissa says:
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    CJ’s on point. It’s all about fear of losing the vote. Some who have commented have lost focus on the issue: compromised driving ability DUE TO ADVANCED AGE. Being old carries with it issues being young doesn’t. Constant medication, poor eyesight, decreased reaction time, arrogance, defiance, stagnation of driving experience in the last 20 years. Some “seniors” think they’re entitled to everything just because they’re old. WRONG. Driving on a public thoroughfare requires the ability not to kill or injure others. Not to mention that people over the age of 75 have nowhere to go.

  • November 23, 2009 at 2:11 am
    wudchuck says:
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    i don’t think you are truly looking at the correct point. first of all, most of the ederly are slower drivers because of their reaction time. if you look at accidents, you’d probably find that most of them have parking accidents either at the store or at home while backing out of the garage. yes, it would be nice to ensure they can see and sit above the steering wheel.

    i think we truly need to think about other solutions to safe driving. like no cellphone usage! harder drunk driving laws!

    now, thinking about votes? how many are in the legislature that are old timers? or going to be one and wants to drive, but knows they might not pass the requirements? surely, there are not enough votes of the ederly to keep them in office, but votes w/in the congressional that are thinking ahead. (LOL!)

  • November 23, 2009 at 2:22 am
    Miss Daisy says:
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    I don’t know what it means to be “reekling havock” and I’m not sure I’d single out the elderly for arrogance or defiance. (Have you driven with a teen-ager lately, Marissa?) I’d support periodic re-testing to maintain a driver’s license if we have better public transport. For many elderly, the ability to drive is the difference between participating in society and becoming a shut-in. If mom can’t drive to the grocery store, how will she eat? If she can’t drive to church, how will she worship? If she can’t drive to her sister’s house, how will she stay engaged in her family’s life?

  • November 23, 2009 at 3:10 am
    Warren says:
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    Miss Daisy: If you’re so concerned about your Mom, I suggest you and your family members have a pow wow and decide who is going to interrupt their busy lives to drive her around so she won’t be a hazard to younger people who’d like to live to be her age. Caring for the elderly is primarily a family issue, not the government’s.

  • November 24, 2009 at 9:41 am
    emumbert1 says:
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    Older drivers indignantly point to the fact that young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 have the highest collision rates , not seniors. They can also cite “driver inattention, inexperience/confusion, distraction, drinking and impairment were the most frequently identified human conditions” contributing to casualty collisions in recent studies.

    I would like to see this explored, but I have doubts about passage.

    Thanks,

    Emumbert1

  • November 24, 2009 at 12:48 pm
    Bob says:
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    I think we should have an honesty test for minorities who have the higher disproportionate number of people in prison – stick em in jail if they don’t pass. Also pull over people who look like dopers for random drug tests and stick those that fail in rehab. This is America, guilty until proven innocent (or is it the other way around). “if you don’t like my driving stay off the sidewalk” “America love it or leave it” but don’t try to take away more of my rights

  • November 24, 2009 at 2:09 am
    dt says:
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    You sound like a doper to me, “Bob,” so I assume you have no problem being pulled over a couple time a day for a needle stick, right?

    My brother, who’s English, was stunned to come to the states and find no age-related driving requirements. At age 70, they begin testing every three years

  • November 24, 2009 at 2:22 am
    dt says:
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    I just found the text of the bill–it’s age 85 or older, not 75.

  • November 25, 2009 at 8:29 am
    Bill says:
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    This has to be the most ignorant state in the Country. They elect the most liberal out of touch with reality politicians and complain about their taxes and cant figure out that old people cause accidents.

    They deserve more politicians like the Kennedy’s and Kerry’s – Those for the working class but have never worked a day in their lives.

  • December 2, 2009 at 2:05 am
    Donna says:
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    The elderly don’t cause ALL the accidents. I’ve worked in claims a long time. In one week accidents involving ‘young’ people speeding; texting, drinking killed 3 pedestrians, caused major PD damage to poles, cars and houses. Yes – right off the road across the sidewalk, straight through the living room and out the other side collapsing part of the house and narrowly missed killing the ‘elderly’ person living in the house and his granddaughter. The elderly don’t have a lock on driving problems and not everyone over 70 is senile, medicated, slow, arrogant or inattentive. I have personally found that arrogance and owning the road seems to be a young persons disease Marissa. Also remember Marissa (and everyone) we will not be ‘young’ forever – yes – even YOU will become a 70 year old ‘menance’ – will you submit to being age tested for compentancy and give up your license willingly and with good grace if you fail? Oh and how many of you take time out of your busy day to drice your elderly parents here and there – graciously and with good humor? You’ll be in their shoes all too soon – so be careful what you wish for.



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