Editorial: More rules needed for elderly drivers

Issue of Jan. 16, 2009 / 20 Teves 5769

They're called accidents for a reason. No one plans to cause one and even when a catastrophe occurs as a result of an unintentional act that lack of intent is rightly taken into account. But, by the same token, accidents with serious consequences should not necessarily pass without comment.

This requires no keen power of observation on our part: it's a lesson straight from the Torah, which informs us that an accidental murderer is given the opportunity to escape to an Ir Miklat — a city of refuge — but that he'd best move quickly because members of the dead man's family also have the right to exact their revenge.

Thank G-d no one died in the terrible accident in Woodmere last month. But some of the 14 victims are still hurting — and at least one faces a particularly difficult road to recovery. In addition, some parents of small children who saw that SUV plow into a crowded room are still dealing with the consequences.

The driver, a 76-year-old man, was not charged. That is fortunate for him but does not preclude a discussion about older drivers and a call for New York State to more carefully regulate them.

In a story last week The Jewish Star cited statistics that demonstrate that older drivers are more prone to accidents than other drivers.

“They generally have worsening vision and diminishing hearing, slower reflexes and less muscle tone,” said a physician with many elderly patients who was quoted in the report. They might also have medications in their system that dull reflexes, and failing health overall.

Despite this, New York State has no established age limit on drivers (no other state does either) nor does it require that elderly drivers pass any sort of screening beyond the basic vision exam, which typically cannot uncover diminished physical or mental capacity. “Only Illinois and New Hampshire require drivers over age 75 to pass a road test at the time of license renewal,” our report found.

New York should follow Illinois and New Hampshire's very sensible example.

We are well aware that a car means freedom and that giving up the keys for good must be a horribly difficult thing to do. But the greater good demands it, and at a time when government is looking for ways to put large numbers of people to work we suggest hiring a slew of new driving testers and begin the difficult task of weeding out unfit drivers.