Massachusetts Eyes Proposal for Elderly Drivers

02/03/2010

Nationwide, one particularly controversial issue when it comes to traffic safety and its effect on auto insurance rates is how states should proceed with licensing drivers after they reach a certain age.

The issue is particularly charged because drivers who lose their road privileges due to declining facilities can feel more isolated and lose a degree of independence. However, there have also been a number of high profile accidents, including some fatal ones, in recent months involving elderly drivers.

Now, a report in the Boston Globe notes that state lawmakers are considering a new proposal that would require vision tests for drivers over the age of 75 if they seek to renew their licenses. The bill would also grant legal immunity to doctors who report to the state that their patients are no longer safe to drive a vehicle.

The newspaper also notes that the legislation is a change from a related proposal last year that would have required road tests for drivers after they reach a certain age.

Traditionally, the difficult question of when a person should hang up their car keys has been left to family members. However, public safety concerns have begun to overtake this trend to varying degrees from state to state.