Last summer, several constituents wrote to Senator Moore about the need to test elderly drivers, in the wake of a series of accidents caused by seniors.  As the debate on whether or not to test elderly drivers intensifies again on Beacon Hill, Senator Moore received the following correspondence from a Milford constituent who had some thoughts on the matter.  Read this conversation, and the previous entries on the subject below:

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From: A Milford Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Senator Moore,

As a resident in your district (Milford), I am again writing in opposition to the Bill presently being proposed that requires ONLY Eye Testing for renewal of Drivers License.

I am 74 years old and will be 75 soon. Having the opportunity to drive is wonderful and a blessing but not to the detriment of others. I want to be tested for all skills that a teenager, knowing that I will be much more proficient in every way. I have seen too many old people driving who should not be allowed behind the wheel and also have difficulty getting there. Feeling so confident, I would be willing to take a comparative test on driving skills with either of you.

I am so adamant in this regard, that I will, with assistance of many voters who helped Scott Brown win, do everything to have you DEFEATED in the next election, especially if YOU do not support more comprehensive legislation in this regard.

Lack of a response and affirmative action would not bode well in the upcoming election.

I have cc'd a few activists in Scott Brown's election and I feel that we can and will support me in this endeavor.

A Milford Constituent

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From: Senator Moore
To: Milford Constituent

Dear Milford Constituent:

Thank you for sharing your views on elderly driver legislation. I value the opinion of all of my constituents and will certainly keep your position in mind as I consider the legislation once it comes before the Senate. I am not a member of the Committee on Transportation and, therefore, did not have a vote in crafting the proposal discussed in the Boston Globe. I am certainly interested in supporting legislation that treats all drivers with fairness, and that will improve road safety. In fact, I don't think Massachusetts should wait until a driver reaches age 75 to require vision testing. I want real reform that brings real results!

Your comment that you will do everything to have me defeated in the next election, especially if I don't support a stronger elderly driver bill suggests that you plan to work to defeat me no matter how I might vote. Is that your position? Of course, you have every right to vote for the candidate of your choice, I just would like to clarify that how I vote on this particular bill will make no difference regarding your support since I have received similar ultimatums of opposition from older drivers if I vote in support of tougher driving standards for older drivers.

Senator Richard T. Moore 

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From: Milford Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Dear Senator Moore-

My reason for writing was to bring about my strong feelings which I advised to you previously without reply. I feel that safety of all citizens should overrule AARP and other seniors who will not accept the fact that their skills and acuity are diminished.

On a personal note, I saw a lady yesterday in a small grocery store who could barely read a food jar label, upon her checking out, she had trouble getting out money to pay her bill. She then 'shuffled' to her car and drove away. Fortunately she was not parked in a parking lot. My point is, I would not want to be her passenger. I went to Big Lots in Milford later to see a car parked diagonally in a 'handicap' parking spot. He , the driver, used the marked slot and the striped access area. He was either inept or lazy. Either way, I suspect that he would NOT pass a comprehensive driving test which is given to new drivers.

Regarding my voting position, I HAVE voted for you in the past, and my point was that I work and support the best candidate. I worked for Scott Brown, as he was the most qualified, and Martha Coakley did not work for herself, and was not qualified in my mind. In supporting any candidate, I want the person who represents me and my feelings about government, not how he/she feels, especially, when it is to the detriment of the majority of the constituents. As I said previously, although I will be 75 in April, I will gladly prove my driving capabilities with you or any new driver.

At such time when my skills are diminished, I will give up my license.

Thank you for your response 

Below is a previous exchange Senator Moore had with a Douglas constituent on the matter of testing elderly drivers in Massachusetts:

From: A Douglas Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Dear Senator Moore,

Please accept this e-mail as a formal request that you support the Senate Bill that requires drivers 85 years and older to be tested on a regular basis.  As a child of an aging parent, who had to take away a license, I understand the predicament families are in. It's not easy to be "the heavy" when it comes to limiting or taking away family members independence.

I also felt that if my father had hurt or killed someone I would never have forgiven myself, or would he have. Doctors who treated my father didn't limit or stop his driving, even when he was going blind!

Again, please support the law that would test older drivers.

A Douglas Constituent

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From: Senator Moore
To: Douglas Constituent

Dear Douglas Constituent:

Rather than limiting the proposal to elderly drivers, I think there could be merit in re-testing any driver who has more than one minor accident in five years or one major accident regardless of their age. However, whether we re-test elderly drivers or all accident-prone drivers, we need to consider the cost and who pays. The state certainly doesn't have the money these days to buy advanced testing machines to test reflexes or hire the staff to run them. The state is going to be closing some Registry offices around the state so there will be cutbacks in staffing as well. The Registry could probably bond the equipment and training costs and repay the bonds with assessments on insurance companies (who would benefit from lower accidents) and assessments on drivers who need to take the re-tests. 

Another issue that needs to be considered as well is the transportation options for elderly drivers who might lose their licenses. Senior centers are suffering from cuts as well and most already put their vans to heavy use. There is very little public transportation outside of the metropolitan areas and those programs are also suffering from major budget cuts and cost increases. So the problem is not that simple and deserves some thoughtful analysis and more public discussion.

Regards,

Senator Richard T. Moore

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From: A Douglas Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Dear Senator Moore,

Thank you for your response to my e-mail.

I understand snap decisions can't be done on any issue and all things need to be and deserve thoughtful analysis and more public discussion; given their "day in court", so to speak. But, when is it going to be enough?

We (The Commonwealth) have no problem legislating driving times and passenger in cars of teenagers. We understand that not all teenagers are bad drivers, but we limit all of them, we test all of them, even though not all fall into the same category. It is the same with older drivers. Not all are bad, not all should lose their licenses. In fact, most would not. That doesn't mean we shouldn't do something.

I realize (as I am a local government worker) that monies need to come from somewhere and everything costs money, from the tests being designed to the people giving them and tons of other "red tape" issues. People don't want to pay more fees and have taxes raised and insurance companies would pass those "assessments" onto customers.

I also appreciate that the News sensationalizes these issues. They show us "another elderly driver stories" and don't show the normal Joe Q Public accidents that happen all the time.

But, I had to write you again. I just booted up my computer and saw:

“Elderly Driver Crashes Into Natick Liquor Store” and “Passenger In Woburn Elderly Driver Crash Dies” - I'm not trying to be curt, and I do respect yours and other Senator's positions, but when is enough, enough?

How many little 4 year olds and others will it take to get people’s attention? (rhetorical) I know this isn't the only issue. I watch people talk on their cell phones and texting while driving, and it's all dangerous. It all needs to be legislated; which takes time.

Please take a moment to reconsider this important issue. Thank you for your time.

A Douglas Constituent

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From: Senator Moore
To: Douglas Constituent

Dear Douglas Constituent:

Thank you for your response, and for all the reasons that you itemized. It is not a matter of reports of one more accident which has yet to be investigated to determine whether age of the driver was the cause or a major contributor. The primary rationale behind the junior operator law is the lack of experience of young drivers. That is not the case with older drivers, although other factors need to be - and are being - considered. 

The issue of safety is a serious matter and deserves thoughtful attention. The accident reported in the media will be investigated and citations - if warranted - issued under current law. A comprehensive response to changes in the law is high on the agenda for action. We also need to focus on improving public transportation for those - of any age - who are not eligible to drive. To that end, I have joined with other senators in seeking to overturn cuts in funding for the regional transit authorities. Those funds won't provide the expanded public transportation options that are needed for those who can't or won't be able to continue driving in areas like Douglas and area towns, but they might avert further cutbacks.

Senator Richard T. Moore

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From: A Douglas Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Dear Senator Moore:

Thank you for your speedy and thorough response. I hope someday we can “solve” this issue in a way that benefits everyone. 

Again, thank you for your time and service,

A Douglas Constituent