Legislators mull more testing for elderly drivers

By Abe Winter

Monday, March 8, 2004 12:00 AM CST

RACINE COUNTY - Dave Yanny understands firsthand the rigors facing elderly drivers.

Yanny, a former county supervisor who serves on board for Burlington Senior Center, admits to being worried about his own driving abilities today - and in the future.

"I'm 76 and worried sick about it," he said. "I try to avoid driving at night and in congested areas in the daytime. I have to go into Milwaukee for a doctor's appointment later this month and I'm frightened about it.

"My wife (Florence, 75) said she'd drive me, but not everybody has a wife who's capable of doing that."

As for being able to drive in later years, Yanny isn't very confident.

"I don't think my ability to drive will last long," he said. "I just am fearful of my future ability to drive, and if it's happening at 76, what will it be like at 80? My ability is react is way down and, frankly, looking at the future, it's

going downhill."

With Yanny's comments in mind, it should come as no surprise that as the life span continues to grow, the subject - or problem, as some may perceive it - of elderly drivers is getting more

attention.

State Rep. Bonnie Ladwig, 64, R-Mount Pleasant, points to the number of drivers age 90-plus almost doubling since 1998 when Wisconsin issued licenses to 7,203 residents 90 or older. In 2003, she said, there were 13,517 licenses held by those 90-plus.

"With the mature generation's population on the rise, a new crop of issues is popping up for these people," Ladwig said. "These days more elderly people are keeping their homes, staying active and regularly driving themselves to do errands or go to church."

The numbers, she said, speak volumes.

"You can do the math," she said. "That means that Wisconsin drivers aged 90 and above have nearly doubled in just the past six years, and that statistic has some people worried."

Legislation is being introduced by state Rep. Sheldon Wasserman, D-Milwaukee, that might make it harder for elderly people to stay on the road. It would force elderly people to pass more frequent vision tests and written exams to keep their driver's licenses.

"Although it is unlikely that this bill will be signed into law in the remaining weeks of this legislative session (which ends March 11), it is a wake-up call for a lot of state residents who may not have considered themselves hazards on the road," Ladwig said.

She reflected on the recent 99-year-old woman who was killed just north of Portage when her car crashed head-on with a truck. The woman was driving the wrong way on the freeway. She had no known medical problems, and her driver's license was not set to expire until 2006.

"Though this incident was tragic, it isn't necessarily a good representation of the average older driver," Ladwig said. "In some respects, older drivers are among the safest drivers on the road in that they have more experience driving and are less likely than other age groups to speed and or drive drunk."

On the other hand, a Rochester man died last year at the age of 100. Although his death was by natural causes, he recently had his driver's license renewed and was using his car for short trips in the village and to neighboring Waterford and Burlington for card games with other seniors.

His driver's license was validated through 2008.

Michael Mehring, Chief of Police for the Town of Burlington, offered his opinion.

"I don't know if age is necessarily the main factor," he said. "It should be abilities. But after a certain age, maybe they should be examined every two or three years - at least for their eyes and hearing, to see if they're physically sound and fit "I've seen people 80 years old who drive better than people than people half that age," he said.

Ladwig said there is concern because "aging does not affect everyone the same way at the same age."

"While many drivers are able to compensate for some of the changes that come with aging, others will no longer be able to drive safely. For drivers suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other cognitive and memory defects, continuing to drive at all simply will not be safe and family or friends need to recognize this and intervene to assure that the person will not attempt to drive."

Ladwig's advice to the elderly: "There is no shame in asking younger friends or family members to lend a hand in running errands. It is important to be able to get out and about, and don't be afraid to explore ways to keep your independence as you grow older."

Mehring also believes licenses shouldn't be renewed for an eight-year period.

"Eight years, I think, is too long, especially when you get older," he said. "I'm 50 and I have to go in every year for an eye exam because my eyes are changing."

Yanny agrees with Mehring on the eight-year license for the aged.

"I think that's dangerous," Yanny said.

He also believes older drivers might be affected by legislation for other reasons.

"I don't know if people would resist, but people would be affected because we don't (have) public transportation out here," Yanny said. "These are things that really affect us."

The Racine Police Department doesn't want to take a position on who should be driving, said Sgt. Bill Macemon, public information officer.

"Our concern is that all drivers are not impaired, so that we can keep the roadways safe," Macemon said. "That includes all factors, whether it be alcohol, controlled substances, physical limitations or even age if that would a person from driving safely."

Don Desch, 71, of Burlington said he wouldn't be opposed to legislation that would require written and vision testing for age 80-plus every two years.

"I wouldn't have an objection with that," said Desch, president of the Racine County Committee on Aging. "The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging groups feel that's a satisfactory approach to the

problem."

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