EDITORIAL
Extra oversight on older drivers sensible

The outrage of clear-sighted, active seniors was more than understandable:

Why should they, those over 75, be arbitrarily subjected to a road test when they renew their driver's license when that requirement is not applied to others?

They were reacting to a proposal from state Rep. Jerry Chang to require drivers 75 or older to pass a road test before their license is renewed.

There are some equity issues here that need to be resolved, but there is also a fair amount of good sense in Chang's proposal.

In fact, older drivers are already subject to closer monitoring; they must renew their license every two years after age 72. But there is no road test.

Insurance organizations routinely report that senior citizens are second only to teenagers in their rate of fatal accidents.

With teens, it is a matter of inexperience or irresponsibility that leads to higher accident statistics. With older people, it is declining reflexes and vision that are the major contributors.

Seniors who complain about Chang's proposal say it is unfair to single them out when other categories of drivers — including young people or those with serious or serial traffic records — do not receive the same treatment.

And that may be where the proper compromise can be found. Lawmakers are talking about a graduated licensing system for young drivers, making it more difficult for them to get unrestricted licenses.

If additional road tests make sense for one group of potentially troublesome drivers, why not for others? And older drivers who struggle with road tests might be offered some kind of graduated license of their own — restricted, say, to daytime driving or only within defined neighborhoods.

The fundamental argument for some extra review by government is that this is a terrifically difficult issue for families to deal with on their own. When elderly relatives get to the point where they should not be driving, it is awkward — indeed almost impossible in some cases — for the family to take away the keys.

By involving licensing authorities, the matter becomes more technical and less emotional.