A DRIVING FORCE

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

If you’re a licensed driver in Massachusetts you should be aware that Massachusetts is very close to enacting a law that would make texting while driving illegal. From the Associated Press (June 23, 2010):

“The Massachusetts House has overwhelmingly approved a ban on texting while driving. The bill now heads to the Senate.
The legislation, approved on a 150-1 vote, would bar all Massachusetts motorists, including police, from texting behind the wheel.
The bill would also prohibit drivers under 18 from using cell phones and require drivers 75 or older to undergo vision tests every five years.”

I guess I’m fitting the profile of a 55-year-old here because I don’t text and in fact I’ve NEVER texted! I am aware that there are a fair number of people over 50 who DO text, but I think we’d all agree that the people who most actively send and receive text messages are under the age of 35- particularly teenagers. There have been a number of serious auto accidents AND FATALITIES due to text messaging. I fully support the proposed ban on text messaging while driving.

Some states have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving (New York, for instance). They DO allow “hands free” cell phones to be used while driving. I’m not sure if I also agree that all cell phone use while driving should be illegal, but I actually DON’T think I’d have much of a problem with that. You may know that Oprah Winfrey is encouraging people to pledge to not use their cell phones while driving. I can see using a cell phone while driving to report an emergency- something like that. But I think people use cell phones WAY too much while driving. Have I ever used my cell phone while driving? Honestly, yes. Even so, I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.

Roughly ten years ago, our daughter Amy was hit by a car. The driver was on a cell phone and not paying attention. Fortunately, the speed was low and the injuries were not too serious. Even so, that certainly “brought things home” for us! Tests have indicated that ALL drivers who talk on cell phones while driving are distracted and have the potential to cause great harm (whether the cell phones are “hand held” or “hands free”!). Research also indicates that the people who are MOST distracted while talking on the phone and most likely to get into a dangerous situation as a result are teenagers, so Massachusetts is right on target with banning all cell phone use for drivers under 18.

Interestingly enough, the MOST controversial part of this legislation is the mandatory eye tests in person at the Registry of Motor Vehicles for all drivers age 75 and over. Currently, Massachusetts has NO special license renewal requirements for elderly drivers. It’s been loosely reported that we’re the only such state that has no elderly driver requirements and I’m not sure if that’s true or not. Several legislators have proposed mandatory road tests for all elderly drivers. One proposed road tests for age 85 and up, and that’s been “shot down” by those who fear repercussions at the ballot box from elderly drivers. SOME elderly drivers are very good drivers and would pass a test with no problems, but quite a few WOULD NOT. I think road testing all drivers age 75 and older would be a very good idea.

Several years ago, Massachusetts got into this thinking of “just renew your license on-line”. That meant a digital photo which can be used over again when you renew. It also meant changing the vision test requirement to ever OTHER renewal. I think that’s INSANE ...whether you’re 75 or 45, for that matter! I think for every license renewal you should have to, at the very least, go to the Registry and pass an eye test.

Anyway, the laws regarding what you are and are not allowed to do while driving will likely be changing soon in Massachusetts. I’m glad the state legislature is a driving force, moving in the right direction on this one.