Despite law change, testing still unfair
Illinois seniors, we’ve been had. Our lawmakers had the opportunity to do the only right thing and repeal the mandatory road tests for seniors and they failed. Instead, all they did was raise the age of testing. They couldn’t join the rest of the world that never tests seniors.
Alexi Giannoulias is head of the DMV. Here are some of his quotes: “Motorists 75 and older have the lowest crash rate and it’s the safest category of drivers in the state. If you are really serious about keeping folks who should not be on the road off the road, you can’t just throw out an arbitrary age number. There are so many issues out there regardless of age. Make no mistakes, distracted driving is an epidemic in America. Drivers 15-34 are the most likely to be distracted at the time of fatal crashes.”
He recently said, “We are now aligned with all other states.”
That’s simply not true. If I am fortunate to reach 95 like my mother and still know I can drive, I will have had to take 11 road tests. Is that aligned with all other states that don’t road test at all?
This new law is ageism. It’s as ridiculous as having a law that all brown-eyed people have to take road tests yearly. Everyone would scream that this is outrageous and discriminating. So is requiring the safest drivers to take yearly road tests.
I commend everyone who contacted our lawmakers and put pressure on them. They were shocked at our overwhelming outcry of being targeted for no factual reasons. If you are as disgusted as I am, please continue contacting our lawmakers and Alexi Giannoulias. Let them know they have failed us.
It’s time to hold them accountable for their misguided and unacceptable actions.
Barbara Bodnarchuk
Arlington Heights