METHUEN — By a show of hands, most of the 35 senior citizens who met with state Sen. Steven Baddour yesterday have never received a citation for a driving violation.
"The last accident I had, I think I was 17 years old," 84-year-old Sam DiNoto said during the gathering with Baddour at the Methuen Senior Activity Center.
Baddour, a Methuen Democrat and chairman of the Legislature's Transportation Committee, said the purpose of the event was to receive input from people who would be affected by changes to driving laws. There have been numerous, recent news stories about accidents involving elderly drivers killing and injuring people, and lawmakers are considering new regulations for senior citizens who get behind the wheel.
"We're not trying to take your licenses away," Baddour promised.
Lawmakers are debating whether elderly drivers should be required to have a doctor determine their fitness to drive, or pass a test administered by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Baddour said.
"At a certain age, I think examination is good," the senator said. "We're not going to put you through an obstacle course. We just need to make sure that everyone on the road is safe."
Baddour said obtaining a doctor's approval might be "the better approach."
DiNoto asked if the RMV would charge seniors to take the test, and Baddour said he didn't know.
"Maybe you're looking for money," DiNoto said.
"There's a spending problem on Beacon Hill. We're not talking about doing this because we want the money," Baddour said.
DiNoto also noted that some RMV locations have closed, leading to longer waiting lines at the open ones.
"I don't want to be hanging around six or eight hours and dying on my feet," DiNoto said.
Diana Hatem, 78, said she gave up her license at the urging of her husband and children.
Legislators have to strike a balance between public safety and quality of life for seniors, Baddour said. Having a license is a convenience that gives seniors the independence to do things like go out for a cup of coffee and head to the senior center, he said.
Corinne LaCharite, executive director of the Methuen Senior Activity Center, said this area lacks public transportation that's affordable and accessible, and Baddour agreed that regional transit authorities need to provide better services.
"I wouldn't be here today if you took my license away," DiNoto said.
Lawmakers are considering requiring any driver who is 19 or older to take a test to get their license back after a certain number of crashes or citations. The law would pertain to drivers who are 19 and older because those between the ages of 16 and 18 fall under the state's tough junior operator law, Baddour said.
Seniors in attendance signed a petition urging Baddour and other lawmakers to be "fair and compassionate in developing a sweeping policy that could potentially affect the quality of life for many elders."
A representative from the RMV is scheduled to speak at the senior center on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The center is at 77 Lowell St.
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