Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 20, 1995 TAG: 9510200006
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The importance of paying attention to older adults' driving is magnified by examining the population. By 2030, the baby-boomer cohort, with an average birth year of 1960, will be 70. Looking at these numbers, it's safe to assume that a large portion of drivers will be older adults.
Research supports the point that chronological age is a poor indicator of driving ability. A two-year study by the American Association of Retired Persons reveals that drivers between the ages of 25 and 75 are the best drivers. Drivers between the ages of 65 and 74 have a safety record that's better than that of drivers between the ages of 25 and 54.
Why do people assume all older drivers are incompetent? Some might question reaction time, and others might be concerned with their visual acuity. The study demonstrates vast differences among older adults. Some drivers in their 60s score better than drivers in their 20s. Visual changes associated with aging appear to have no effect on daytime driving.
For the individual still concerned about his or her safety on the highway driving beside ``all those bad drivers,'' here's one solution to boost your confidence. As a society, we need everybody - regardless of age - to take a refresher driving course. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will provide a driving-reinforcement program, including classroom instruction, on-road instruction (where available) and defensive-driving techniques.
Several driver-education programs across Virginia offer computer-simulated driving instruction, which has proved very effective. This type of program will be offered on a demand and/or required basis. Any driver who accumulates a defined number of violations on his or her record will be required to participate in the program or face license-renewal limitations. But use of this type of program, even if one has a good record, will provide the opportunity for maintaining good driving skills across all age groups. Focusing on all drivers prevents the singling out of one group, thus preventing the stereotype that ``all seniors are bad drivers.''
MARTY GLOSS
BLACKSBURG
The verdict spoke for system's reform
WEALTH, race and the jury system are all condemned as causes for O.J. Simpson's acquittal. Although I'm not delusional enough to form an opinion as to his guilt (or nonguilt) based on the National Enquirer or CNN's coverage of the trial, I remain somewhat amazed how Americans lap up the conventional view served them by prosecutors and the media. As much as some would like to believe it, it wasn't race or wealth that saved Simpson.
Blaming race is a knee-jerk reaction that demeans African-Americans by insinuating that they aren't intelligent enough to evaluate evidence. African-Americans do convict African-Americans, rich people do go to jail and sports heroes are convicted of crimes.
Likewise, we cannot assume Simpson ``bought his way out.'' Prosecutors almost always spend more in criminal proceedings than defendants because they have extraordinary amounts of resources - money, experts, investigators and the ability to coerce, threaten or cut deals with witnesses.
Individuals believing in ``the system'' when Simpson was arrested, incarcerated and forced to suffer through nine months of humiliation should respect the jury's decision and take comfort that there's a correlation in criminal-justice reform and the verdict. It shows there's no longer tolerance for racist cops who commit perjury, forensic labs that mishandle critical evidence and the prosecutors who assist them.
KEVIN M. MEREDITH
ROANOKE
Churches' duty to the poor is clear
IN RESPONSE to E. Wayne Brooks' Oct. 1 letter to the editor, ``Church's main role isn't charity'':
If the people of the church do not obey Jesus' commandment to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit those who are sick and in prison, and to heal them, then who?
PHILLIPS L. CARR
BUENA VISTA
Oh, how soon Garland forgets
RAY GARLAND'S Oct. 5 column (``Don't look to better funding to create better schools'') played fast and loose with the facts of recent history, despite his alleged credentials as a historian. He blatantly accused the Virginia Education Association of being "an appendage of the Democratic Party." Nothing could be further from the truth, and he certainly ought to know. A brief recitation of the facts should suffice:
In 1975 and 1977, then-Del. Garland (Republican) actively sought and received the VEA political-action committee's endorsement.
In 1979, he was again endorsed when he ran for the Virginia Senate against the 20-year Democratic incumbent William Hopkins.
In 1983, he was endorsed for re-election to the Senate against Democrat Granger Macfarlane.
After the 1982 victory of Jim Olin for the 6th District congressional seat and Garland's own defeat in 1983 by Macfarlane, he came to my office to seek the VEA's endorsement for his run for Congress against Olin in 1984.
I indicated to him that while the VEA and its members considered him a true "friend of education,'' Democrat Olin's strong pro-education voting record in Congress since 1982 most likely precluded Garland from getting that endorsement.
Only after Republican Garland had been VEA-endorsed at least four times, to his apparent satisfaction, did he turn on the VEA when once it failed to reanoint him - instead, recommending Olin in 1984.
Many other Republicans in our area and other areas of the state have been and are being endorsed or recommended by VEA-PAC. They include "Bo" Trumbo, Morgan Griffith, Bob Tata, Vince Callahan, Jim Dillard, Clinton Miller, Randy Forbes, Gino Williams, Ken Rush, Beth Brooks and Elizabeth Bowles.
Garland ought to be ashamed of his distortions and selective amnesia. How ungentlemanly!
GARY WALDO
Executive Director, Virginia
Education Association, District 5
ROANOKE
Cranwell is known to be responsible
I HAVE been following closely the race between House Majority Leader Dick Cranwell and Trixie Averill. I have tremendous concern about Averill's ability to manage our state finances.
After being appointed to the Explore Park board, she announced that her husband wouldn't even let her have the checkbook! Do we really want someone this inept managing our state budget, making financial decisions that you and I as taxpayers must be responsible for, and decisions that will affect our daily lives and the future of our children?
We need someone who will consider this responsibility a little more seriously - someone like Cranwell with tried and proven dedication to improving our district.
JENNIFER WHITE
ROANOKE
A referendum on society's morals
THE DEMOCRATIC Party has been accused of using scare tactics when it is only been informing the public truthfully about the Contract With America. In my opinion, all the poor should take heed.
The authors of the contract are the same ones who proposed all the cuts in social programs without any tax breaks for the poor. If we allow Newt Gingrich's contract to go into effect, it will be worse than the Depression. During that time, hobos came to the back doors of America to ask for food, and went to soup kitchens. But due to the deterioration of our society's morals, there will not be that kind of order when the contract comes into full effect. The hungry will kick in our doors and take food.
People who still have morals should vote this November. If you don't, you have nothing to say when hard times come.
GLORIA DORMA
ROANOKE
by CNB