GROUP WANTS BAD DRIVERS OFF ROAD

The Concerned Americans for Responsible Driving, a recently founded organization in the St. Louis area, isn't trying to take away driving privileges of senior citizens.

"We just want to get incompetent drivers off the road," said Sheldon Suroff, a founder of CARD. "That includes drivers who are 16, 30, 50 or 90."

The CARD group was founded by the parents of Jason Suroff, a college student from Chesterfield who was killed in an accident on Interstate 70 more than a year ago.

The accident, according to authorities, was caused by 90-year-old Guy A. Lange, who was driving the wrong way on the interstate, forcing young Suroff off the road.

The Suroff car overturned, killing its driver. Lange continued on his way, never realizing there was an accident. Only an alert witness' report led authorities to Lange's vehicle.

Lange's family tried unsuccessfully to get him to stop driving. Lange, who suffered from memory lapses, promised to limit his driving to his neighborhood at Rolla.

In an Associated Press story, Lange's family said the accident could have been prevented if Missouri required periodic driver's test.

Only three states, one of them Illinois, require road tests beyond the initial one to get a license. Thirteen states allow drivers to renew their licenses by mail for up to 15 years at a time.

Just seven states require doctors to report conditions that impair a person's ability to drive.

And in Missouri the only test required after the first issuance of a license is an eye test.

The American Association of Retired Persons says requiring elderly drivers to be retested could run afoul of federal discrimination laws.

But Illinois requires testing of its older drivers.

The Illinois Secretary of State's office says some type of testing is required every four years for persons 69 to 80.

From 81 to 86, drivers are required to take driver's tests every two years, and for drivers 87 and older, testing is required annually.

In Missouri, after the initial test when a driver first obtains a license, only an eye examination is required to get the license renewed every four years.

There is an exception to the Missouri law. Drivers who have been involved in an accident or received a traffic ticket may be required to take additional testing every four years.

"There's no rhyme or reason for any state to give a one-time driver's license examination and let that person drive for life," said Suroff. "I'd like to see Missouri spearhead something nationally."

Suroff emphasized that the group isn't looking exclusively at senior citizens.

"The 16-to-30 crowd of drivers have as many accidents as those over 70," said Suroff. "We'd like to see some type of periodic mandatory driving tests for everyone."

Not all elderly drivers are dangerous, Suroff said. On average, drivers older than 65 still are involved in fewer accidents per mile than those under 30.

And some senior citizens retain excellent driving skills well beyond their 80s, said the AARP during a recent "55 Alive Mature Driving"course.

Other drivers compensate for failing health by changing their own driving habits -- limiting themselves to daylight hours, or in-town driving.

"Another concern of CARD is that many physicians won't report to authorities some persons should not drive," said Suroff. The new law basically says physicians can make a report to authorities that would require additional testing.

Suroff, who founded CARD in June this year, said response has been great.

"Two other states -- New York and Arizona -- have joined us in the effort to get some across-the-board legislation in the respective states."