Rash of accidents prompts legislators to reconsider restriction...

Concern over a string of recent accidents involving older drivers has fueled debate on Beacon Hill over whether the state should force older drivers to prove they still have what it takes to sit behind the wheel.

[RMT]

85 is too late. This needs to start at 80 and happen every year, not every 5.

[FutureMrs]

RMT wrote:

85 is too late. This needs to start at 80 and happen every year, not every 5.

80? How about 65?

[dugie22]

It's about time ! They do 5 miles under the speed limti on the highway , won't move from the passing lane while traveling 5 miles below the posted speed limit and refuse to be courtous on the road because their "elderly" . Sorry MEME, but the time has finally come ! What they fail to relize and i've seen it time and time again on RT 2 , someone elderly retiree going 5-10 miles below the speed limit to get the the mall before it opens, gets tailgated by someone trying to get to work on time and some kind of distraction happens , maybe a rabbit , deer or someone in front braking and the next thing you know the elderly person is locking up their brakes. The person tailgating hits the elderly person and whoever behind them without any luck gets involved by ramming them if they don't avoid the collision. Law wise , the tailgator is at fault , common sense wise , the person going 10 miles below the speed limit in the passing lane should be responsible as well and they are not ! In my opinion , if the person wasn't on the road or could drive , the accident would not have happend. This happens at least once a week on RT 2 going towards Concord ! THIS FOR A CHANGE AND IF YOUR NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THEN GET OFF THE ROAD ! I DON"T CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE !

[Mike from Leominster]

Jenny Flanagan would never vote for anything like this.

[Rob]

It is about time! I know that everyone has their time frame that they feel a older driver should be tested. I am going with 70 years old with a vision and road test every two years. I hope that something is done because doing nothing is costing young lives.

[I agree]

FutureMrs wrote:

<quoted text>
80? How about 65?

all for it 80is too late

[MIKE]

Im a full time transit driver who has to put up with these elder drivers more than most people,beleve me they are the worst drivers on the road.Some would argue that its teens that drive reckless,but giving some time there driving habits do improve as they get older.But with elder drivers once there driving habits begain to detariate it just gets worse untill they go out and hurt somebody or them selfs.

[MIKE]

Im a full time transit driver for 20 years and one of our drivers got hit head on stoped at a stop sign by an elder driver not to long ago.When the fichburg police showed up they said the old man was useing his cane to operate the gas and brake peddles,and didnt have a licens.That same day another elder driver drove her car right thru a CVS store just up the street.One week later another one drove her car thru the front door of a hair dresser.How many more mister speeker !!!!!

[MIKE]

The problem is that nobody in the state houes is willing to pull the switch on elderly drivers becaes there the ones who do most of the voting in this state.Its always about politics.So to cover them selfs they would just have everybody pay by saying ten year testing for everybody insted of targeting any one gruop.Thats how they operate in this state and the SHEAPLE just let them get away with it. What a shame !!!!!!!!

[Grandma]

I have been saying this for years. I think they should be tested every year. It is not discrimination. It is just another part of getting older, and I am joining that category,( getting old, that is.)

[Retha Frankline]

dugie22 wrote:

It's about time ! They do 5 miles under the speed limti on the highway , won't move from the passing lane while traveling 5 miles below the posted speed limit and refuse to be courtous on the road because their "elderly" . Sorry MEME, but the time has finally come ! What they fail to relize and i've seen it time and time again on RT 2 , someone elderly retiree going 5-10 miles below the speed limit to get the the mall before it opens, gets tailgated by someone trying to get to work on time and some kind of distraction happens , maybe a rabbit , deer or someone in front braking and the next thing you know the elderly person is locking up their brakes. The person tailgating hits the elderly person and whoever behind them without any luck gets involved by ramming them if they don't avoid the collision. Law wise , the tailgator is at fault , common sense wise , the person going 10 miles below the speed limit in the passing lane should be responsible as well and they are not ! In my opinion , if the person wasn't on the road or could drive , the accident would not have happend. This happens at least once a week on RT 2 going towards Concord ! THIS FOR A CHANGE AND IF YOUR NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THEN GET OFF THE ROAD ! I DON"T CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE !

You are so right about the older people being rude, I work as a cashier and deal with all age groups, and oh, can I tell you some story's. If I didn't need my job they would be the first ones I'd tell off, sorry I'm being disrespectfull, but they need to learn, If you want respect, you also need to give It. I hope when I get their age I won't be so rude, I do not have patience for that.

[Lunenburg Larry]

Simple answer, disregarding who's "rude" and "loss of independance", etc. MANDATORY ROAD TESTING for EVERYONE who gets a MA license. For ages 65 and under, testing every 5 years. 65 and older, every two years. Benefits? Besides keeping our roads safer by removing ANYONE who can't pass the road test, additional revenues brought in by all the testing. I know, RMV fees are high enough already, but this is one additional fee I'd gladly pay to feel safe walking into a store and knowing someone (of any age) isn't going to drive through the front door after mistaking the gas for the brake.

[Jester]

I don't really think that we need to retest younger people. Even these days 65 is pretty young and most 65 year olds are out at the gym every day.

Over 70 or so it becomes a different story. Some sort of testing definately makes sense. My grandmother still has her licence and should not be driving at all. She has more dents on that thing than paint.

Now do you think that cops who abuse the rights of others should retire on fat pensions? Do you think that police should be permitted to go above the law and do what they want to people or do you think that their job should be limited to preventing crime and pursuing criminals?

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[Answer is Kafka Galvin]

Question: Name A Fatty and a Dummy.