Elderly drivers may face vision testing
Texans react to proposed legislation requiring seniors be given driving, vision tests before license renewal
BY LELAND ACKER STAFF WRITER

Senior citizen drivers may soon face additional testing as the Texas legislature mulls ways to decrease car crashes involving seniors. The Texas House of Representatives is debating a bill which would require vision testing every two years for drivers over 90 years old, while the Texas Senate is working on a bill that would require vision testing for drivers over 79 and driving tests for drivers over 85.

State Representative Chuck Hopson (D-Jacksonville) said he supports the House bill.

"We worked with the AARP to come up with something we believed made sense and added a degree of safety," Rep. Hopson said.

A number of East Texas residents voiced their concern for the bill due to the natural regression of sight and reflexes which take place as an individual ages.

"I have no problem with the senate version of this bill. Age related macular degeneration is a fact of life and we have paid many insurance claims for elderly drivers that have turned right into the path of an oncoming vehicle," said Ken McCoy of Alto, who owns an insurance agency. "They swear up and down that there was no vehicle in sight."

"If the safety of others is at risk, based on sound statistics of degraded sight at certain ages, then imposing restrictions on elderly or others is no different than imposing mandatory liability insurance on drivers, which I believe is unconstitutional, even though it's a good thing," said Leroy Richardson.

Sandy Allen of Baytown said she would support the legislation due to the safety issues involved, however she noted the emotional effects the bill would have on older drivers.

"An elderly relative is facing a driving test after having a license for 50 years. We are seeing how traumatic this problem is for the elderly, while we acknowledge the safety issues involved as well. The vision test, however, is crucial to safe driving, so I would be a proponent of the legislation," Ms. Allen said.

Steve McCarty of Alto said he had no problem with the bill, as he has his vision checked every year. He discussed the financial impact on senior drivers.

"I can see some additional cost for our senior citizens, but if they can afford a car and the required insurance, then maybe they can afford an eye exam," he said. "I was hit by an elderly man several years back who admitted he did not see me."

Donna Bothwell Smith said the proposed legislation would provide a way to monitor drivers whose vision and reflexes are waning.

"Reaction time does become slower with agility becoming impaired and vision problems arise with age oftentimes," she said. "With screening, those things could be monitored and taken care of on an individual basis."

Ms. Smith noted that not all elderly related accidents are the fault of the elderly.

"Also while there are good and bad drivers from all age groups, the hazards that I witness most often seem to emanate from those younger drivers who consider themselves excellent drivers who zip in and out squeezing into any opening in order to hurry up and wait," she said. "Of course, being bulletproof encourages that attitude. It appears that some do not take into consideration varying conditions that might be occurring with those driving the other vehicles on the road."

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Phyllis Wilburn agreed with the Senate version of the bill for similar reasons.

"It's a reasonable request. According to studies, senior drivers have highest rates of fatal car accidents per mile except teenagers. Drivers over 80 are more than twice as likely to be at fault in a fatal collision than the average driver," she said. "They are simply trying to save lives by testing older drivers whose reflexes and abilities may not be as sharp as they once where."

Other residents just think it is a good idea.

"I think the mandatory vision tests at 79 are extremely generous, in comparison to waiting until someone is 90. Mandatory driving tests for someone, beginning at age 85 is still a little late but at least something is being proposed of this nature," said Lt. Brandon McElroy of Athens, now in Iraq. "I'm for the Senate bill."

"Well I am not one for any more rules than necessary, I believe vision testing after 90 would be a good idea," said William Blankenship of Arlington.

Some oppose the bills

Not all residents are happy with the proposed legislation. Eva Nance said it is unfair to senior citizens.

"The younger generation is just as unreliable, or maybe more so than us elderly," she said. "I'll be 78 next month and my husband is 82. We haven't had any mishaps to speak of ever!"

Mrs. Nance expressed concern for how the bill would affect her personally.

"My license is good for six more years. Does this mean I'll have to go through another exam (next year)? I hope not. This is a bunch of baloney!"

Still other residents voiced a desire for a better alternative.

Gay Hennage said she would like to see an alternate means of transportation be provided for those affected by the legislation.

"There are so many things our elderly population needs," Ms. Hennage said. "I do hope our government will begin to provide for and not take away from them."

Maxine Holder said while she would favor the legislation, the fact remains that there are bad drivers from all age groups.

"I think a questionnaire would be more advisable, one that asks questions about whether they have trouble driving at night, when they had their eyes checked last and if they've had one or more tickets within six months," she said. "This would then require that special re-testing."

So while the legislature debates the bills in Austin, senior drivers and local residents seek a perfect solution in an imperfect world.