The Springfield News-Leader had an interesting letter to the editor from Paul Phariss. Judging from the comments, I don't think this would be politically very popular. The main thing that many people fail to remember is that driving is not a right, but rather a privilege. I have written previously about Missouri's voluntary reporting law .
An open letter to the lawmakers of this state, and the federal government.
A few days ago, my stepdaughter and her 20-month-old baby were sitting at a red light, when they were suddenly hit from behind by a car going full speed. Miraculously, and due to her buckling herself and the baby in, they weren't seriously injured. The man driving the other car didn't see her or the red light. She drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a car equal in size to what Dave Barry used to refer to as a "subdivision." His car, a small pickup truck, was demolished. I asked her if he was drunk. She said no, just "very, very old" (her words.)
Before I go on, I'd like to point out that in spite of how youthful I look in the picture (!), I will be 65 when I next renew my driver's license. It's high time that a law was enacted requiring anyone over 65 to take a short behind-the-wheel competency driving test in traffic. It wouldn't take more than 10 minutes, and it could save a life. I don't mean to say this in a demeaning way, and I will be first in line to do it. The circle of life moves on, we all age, and our comprehension and ability to react in stressful situations slows. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just the way things are. My stepdaughter's gas tank was severely smashed in the crash. Supposing it had erupted and blown up, burning up the baby? How could the man and his family live with that? Not to mention us.
People will say there is no money to finance such a program. Fine. Charge each person an extra $10 to get a renewal. If each test averages 20 minutes, including the walk to the car, that's $30 an hour, certainly enough to pay the wages of the person administering the test, and their benefits. Considering the cost of gas, car insurance, a meal or two out a week, anyone should be able to afford $10 every four years. If not, the person couldn't afford gas and wouldn't be driving anyway. Again, I will be first in line, with my $10, next time I renew.
This is such a no-brainer, I'm amazed it hasn't already been done. I moved here from California in 1983, and was flabbergasted at how easy it was to get a license in this state; even more amazed at how easy to renew. Just an eye exam, which I can easily pass without my glasses, even though I would never consider driving without them. No written test, nothing. Trust me, there are people out there driving who have no idea what the state laws are. Not that they didn't have a rudimentary knowledge of them once, they've just forgotten them. In California, you pass a 60-question test every time you renew, or you don't renew! And no one complains, it's just common sense.
Come on, lawmakers. Let's set a precedent for the rest of the country, and maybe Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond and all the other congressmen could get together and create the first sensible national driving law.
Already much is being done to stop reckless teenage driving; time to work on the other end of the cycle.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a car crash accident involving an elderly driver or driver charged with reckless driving in the Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Southwest Missouri Northwest Arkansas area, contact The Krebs Law Firm LLC for a free consultation to answer your questions regarding your injury claims.
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