Safe Driving Bill Passes Senate

The following is an announcement from State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford):

Senate Approves Safe Driving Legislation

Bans Texting; Establishes Safe Guidelines for Seniors

The Senate last week passed safe driving legislation that:

– bans texting while driving,

– gives immunity to health care providers and public safety officers who report potentially unsafe drivers,

– requires drivers with three surchargeable accidents within two years to take a driver safety course or have their license suspended,

– and requires drivers over 75 to have a form filled out by their doctor, once before the age of 80, and every three years afterward, in order to renew their licenses.

Senator Pat Jehlen, chair of the Elder Affairs Committee, represents Medford. She said that those provisions would make the roads safer for everyone.

“Immunity for reporting is important,” she said. “When Missouri adopted this provision, there was a steep decline in fatal crashes, and almost all of those who were reported stopped driving. Reporting is very important because no registry test will ever recognize all disabilities, and because drivers may become dangerous between renewals, no matter how frequent.”

Jehlen met with several groups of seniors in her district, including at the Medford Council on Aging, to discuss safe driving legislation. She found that most did not object to reasonable changes, such as in-person renewal over age 75, but they argued that banning texting was at least as important, and they favored consequences for those who had frequent accidents.

A 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to be involved in a crash because of texting, and truck drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to have an accident than someone who isn’t distracted. The legislation makes texting a primary offense, which means someone can be pulled over specifically for the act of texting while driving.

The bill also prohibits “junior operators,” those under the age of 18, from both texting and talking on a cell phone while driving; and operators of public transit are prohibited from any use of cell phones, except in the case of an emergency.

The bill requires a person between the ages of 75 and 80 to submit once during those five years an assessment form filled out by the person’s physician or health care provider. Based on that assessment, the registrar would determine if the person can safely operate the vehicle. After a person turns 80, the form would have to be filed on renewal every three years. Those who are denied their license can request a road test in an effort to demonstrate they have the skills necessary to continue driving.

Jehlen said that studies show road tests for seniors don’t reduce accidents, but in-person renewal reduces accidents and fatalities.

The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for further action.

Editor’s Note: According to Sen. Jehlen, the Senate bill bans texting for everyone and all cell phone use for junior operators. This differs from House bill, and it would have to be discussed in a conference committee unless the House agrees to the provision.