Senior Driver Testing: An Issue for the Masses in Massachusetts

Elderly Driving continues to be an issue.  In Massachusetts, a quick search can find no less than 10 notable incidents in the last year where people over the age of 60 have crashed their vehicles into people and property, both homes and businesses, causing loss of life and massive property damage.

This issue was brought into the national spotlight when in 2007 a 76 year old crashed their car into Brockton Hospital, injuring 6 and killing a doctor.  It became a national issue again in June, 2009 when a 4 year old girl was struck and killed by an 88 year old driver.  Since then it may have left the front page, but it continues to be an issue.  The links below highlight only some of the instances, and they only highlight the recent issues in Massachusetts.  It is likely that a national search would turn up even more results.

In other states, there are restrictions on drivers over a certain age, and re-testing for drivers over a certain age.  This issue is one that can not be avoided, as our populations is slowly getting older, and if nothing is done, the property damage and loss of life is likely to increase.

A bill that went through the Massachusetts legislature in late 2009 proposed mental and physical exams for elderly drivers, but the bill that was finally approved and signed in July 2010 didn't even closely resemble that.  Gov. Deval Patrick said that vision testing required every 5 years after drivers turn 75 was the best he could get.  Even so, Patrick supports cognitive testing for elderly drivers and says the issue is likely to be revisited.

This issue needs to be revisited.  The stakes are too high, between the loss of life and property damage.  It is only logical that as you get older, vision and hearing gets worse, you forget things more easily, become more easily disoriented, and your reaction time decreases.  These should be red flags for all of us.  When i am elderly, I do not want to be responsible for someone else's death or injury or even property damage.  I can't imagine the guilt they must feel.

Opponents of elderly testing paint this as an issue of ageism against senior citizens, but this is not ageism.  These laws, restrictions, and testing guidelines are for the safety of all of our citizens, seniors included.This is a public safety issue. 



July 24: Car Crashes into Grocery Store in Yarmouthport.  Driver was 89.
July 23: Car Crashes into Newburyport Medical Building.  Driver was 78.
July 1: Car Crashes into Haverhill House. Driver was elderly.
June 22: Car Crashes into Elderly Woman in Chelmsford Parking Lot.  Driver was 89.
June 2: Car Crashes into Danvers WalMart. Driver was 93.
May 28: Car Crashes into Arlington Home.  Driver was 66.
March 17: Car Crashes into Peabody Medical Building. Driver was 69.
October 20, 2009: Car Crashes into Boston Market in Malden. Driver was in their 60s.
September 16, 2009: Car Crashes into Department Store in Westboro.  Driver was 74.
September 20, 2009: Car Crashes into Transformer and Hudson deck.  Driver was 65.
May 21, 2009:  Car Crashes into Orleans Salon. Driver was 80.