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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Frequent License Renewals Proposed For Older Drivers


While a December Motor Vehicle Administration report found older drivers have fewer crashes, a group of experts and witnesses told a House committee Tuesday that older drivers should be required to renew their licenses on a more frequent basis and in-person.

“Last year Maryland changed the [license] renewal period to eight years, and they did it just for financial reasons,” said Cohen, now the founder of Americans for Older Driver Safety. “And you only have to renew in person every other time, so 16 years can go by without someone having to go into the MVA. That may be fine for somebody who’s 35, but if you’re 70…”

Two years ago, Cohen’s 20-year-old son, Johns Hopkins student Nathan Krasnopoler, was killed in Baltimore by an 83-year-old driver, not seeing him on his bike. The driver ran Krasnopoler over, parked the car on his body, then sat down, failing to call for help.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! Instead of waiving driver fees (again), make the public pay the fees twice as often. Whee! Double the revenue. Even better, instead of relying on overtaxed, under employed (or unemployed) for more revenue, sock it to the senior citizens' pension plans and social security. Let them cut their medications in half. In fact, by cutting their medications back, they may die and the estate tax will kick in to grab their assets. Those folks in Annapolis can make it rain tax revenue when they put their minds to it.

Anonymous said...

Good! My mother was 84 years old, certified mentally incompetent and could not move without a walker and she continued to drive until she wrecked her car. Imagine what would happen if she had hit and injured or killed someone!

Anonymous said...

"continued to drive until she wrecked her car."

Well, it's YOUR mother. Why didn't you do something about it instead of waiting around for some half cocked law to take responsibility for what you should? If she was 84 and did not exhibit the traits you describe, do you still think she should not drive?

It's called "stereotyping".

Anonymous said...

I have know at least two men who were 99 and 102 right here is Salisbury who were still driving and doing a great job..It is not age it is the shape you are in. Some people who are 40 should not drive..so dont just look at age and take away their right to drive.

Anonymous said...

Imagine what would happen if she had hit and injured or killed someone!

February 20, 2013 at 3:39 PM

She would have hit and injured or killed someone?

Anonymous said...

The first thing that came to my mind when I read this was:

Maryland-- more fees.

It has little to do with driving skills and EVERYTHING to do with $$$.

Anonymous said...

It has little to do with driving skills and EVERYTHING to do with $$$.

February 20, 2013 at 5:02 PM

Well, sure.

Marylanders have way more money than driving skills.