Fox News' Vogel falsely suggested AARP opposed California's new driver-assessment program
SUMMARY: In a report on Fox News Live, correspondent Anita Vogel falsely suggested that the AARP opposes California's new driver-assessment program. In fact, while the AARP does oppose legislation that would require additional driving tests based solely on age, AARP supports legislation requiring driver assessments for all, such as California's program.
While reporting on California's new three-tiered driver-assessment pilot program on the November 22 edition of Fox News Live, Fox News correspondent Anita Vogel twice falsely suggested that the AARP opposed the program. Before noting that the California Department of Motor Vehicles "is starting a new pilot program" in which "[f]ailing an eye exam could lead to a road test of drivers of any age, including seniors," Vogel reported that "[w]hile some believe older drivers ought to go through special testing, AARP says that would be discriminatory." In a subsequent report on California's three-tiered pilot program, Vogel noted that "some lawmakers have tried many times to pass legislation calling for stricter rules for older folks. But each time, the powerful AARP manages to squash those bills before they see the light of day." In fact, while the AARP does oppose legislation that would require additional driving tests based solely on age, AARP supports legislation requiring driver assessments for all, such as California's new program. At no point during either report did Vogel note AARP's support of California's pilot program.
As The Orange County Register reported on October 22, "In 2007, selected [California] DMV offices will begin assessing a three-tier driving-wellness process that affects everyone applying for a driver's license, regardless of age." "Tier One" of the test consists of a cognitive and a "contrast-sensitivity exam," which tests for vision impairment. People who fail any portion of this exam would then be required to take the "Tier Two" "standard driving knowledge test" -- a computer test that "assess[es] perceptual response time." Those who fail the "Tier Two" exam must pass a standard road driving test, "Tier Three," in order to renew or obtain their driver's license. The state will analyze the effectiveness and cost efficiency of the program to determine whether to make the new regulations mandatory statewide.
While noting that California's driver-assessment pilot program would apply to "drivers of any age," Vogel repeatedly suggested that AARP opposes the program, asserting that the organization opposes "seniors be[ing] required to take additional road tests to maintain their license[s]." In fact, according to a November AARP Bulletin article, titled "When Is It Time to Quit Driving?" the "AARP favors all types of periodic retesting of all drivers to assure that they remain capable," and argues that assessing drivers' capabilities is "important no matter the age." The Los Angeles Times reported on October 2 that AARP "favors more road testing for all drivers, not just seniors," and quoted Elinor Ginzler, a national AARP director, as saying: "What we want is for there to be an effective testing process that can assess everyone's ability to drive throughout an entire driving lifespan." At no point did Vogel make clear the AARP's full position on driver testing.
Support for such testing would include California's driver-assessment program, as an August 2, 2003, Sacramento Bee report noted: "The process has initial support of the AARP and others who oppose attempts to single out older drivers." Additionally, the Ventura County Star reported on October 3, 2005, that while the AARP opposed legislation containing "a blanket assumption that older drivers are unsafe," the organization "has changed its attitude toward older drivers since 2000." The Star article also noted that "[i]n Florida, the AARP supported 2003 legislation requiring drivers 80 and older to have their eyes tested after it was shown eyesight degenerates with age." The AARP also sponsors a nationwide Driver Safety Program for drivers aged 50 and over, which, according to the "history and facts" of the program, aims to provide seniors "information on age-related cognitive and physical changes that affect driving, and how to adjust driving in response to those changes."
From the 10 a.m. ET hour of the November 22 edition of Fox News Live:
HILL: Traffic accidents involving senior drivers, like the deadly farmers' market crash in Santa Monica, sparking calls for mandatory retesting of drivers after they reach a certain age. Anita Vogel, taking the wheel in Los Angeles.
VOGEL: Well, hi, E.D. In light of the farmers' market crash, the big question now is, should seniors be required to take additional road tests to maintain their license? The AARP says no, but some lawmakers aren't so sure. Flash back to three years ago, when then-86-year-old George Weller drove through the Santa Monica farmers' market, killing 10 people and injuring more than 60 others. He said he thought he was putting his foot on the brake. Instead, he kept pumping the gas pedal. While some believe older drivers ought to go through special testing, the AARP says that would be discriminatory.
GINZLER: This is about the ability to drive competently and safely, and there is no magic age. It would be so much easier if there were a specific age that we know is the trigger age. In fact, everyone goes through their own aging process differently, so there is no magic age.
VOGEL: The California driver-testing agency, also known as the DMV, is starting a new pilot program. Failing an eye exam could lead to a road test for drivers of any age, including seniors. If the program is successful, it could go statewide in California and eventually set a national trend. In recent years, legislators have tried to pass legislation requiring seniors be re-road-tested. But their bills have failed.
TOM HAYDEN (former Democratic California state senator): There's really no evidence that somebody who's 42 or 38 needs to be road-tested. There's plenty of evidence that people who are 88 should be carefully watched in terms of their ability to drive a 3,000-pound vehicle 70 miles an hour on the freeway.
VOGEL: As for the now-89-year-old George Weller, well, he was convicted of manslaughter for killing 10 people. And just this past Monday, he was sentenced to probation, the judge said because of his age and his poor health. E.D., back to you.
From the 11 a.m. ET hour of the November 22 edition of Fox News Live:
HILL: Car accidents and the elderly, sparking quite the debate in California on the same week an 89-year-old is sentenced for a deadly crash at a Santa Monica market. There are now calls for mandatory retesting of drivers after they reach a certain age. Anita Vogel has this story live in Los Angeles.
VOGEL: E.D., how old is too old to drive? That's at least one of the questions being asked in the wake of the tragic farmers' market crash three years ago, where 10 people died. Now, the driver was 86-year-old George Weller. He says he got confused and thought he was hitting the brake when instead he kept pumping the gas pedal. Shortly after that, the California DMV created a pilot program that calls for re-road-testing of drivers of any age who fail the first two portions of a test that focus on vision, cognitive skills, and memory issues.
MIKE MILLER (California Department of Motor Vehicles): If they failed that portion of the test, then they would go on to the third test, which would actually be a behind-the-wheel driving test. So it's really a new testing procedure to make sure that drivers are safe, as opposed to testing drivers based on their age.
VOGEL: But some lawmakers insist seniors ought to be treated with different standards when it comes to driving. They believe the older you get, the harder it is to handle the roads. And some lawmakers have tried many times to pass legislation calling for stricter rules for older folks. But each time, the powerful AARP manages to squash those bills before they see the light of day.
HAYDEN: These roads are dangerous, and you've got 90-year-olds and 85-year-olds out there. And I understand the hardship of giving up the keys. But if they don't, somebody's going to die, again.
VOGEL: The new DMV pilot program begins in January. It could eventually go statewide and possibly even nationally. E.D., back to you.
E.D.: Anita, thank you very much.
...happy to hear about this program. I live in California and believe me it is needed just like the law that was passed in which you can't drive and talk on a cell phone unless you are wearing an earpiece in your ear. It won't go into effect until later in 2007 but I couldn't be happier.
I have to drive by this retirement city, Leisure World, south of me (I think they renamed it Laguna Woods, but it's still Seizure World to everyone who lives around here), and that can be a real white knuckler sometimes.Being surrounded by several 70s Lincoln Town Cars with no visible operators save for a tuft of blue hair near the steering wheel,pretty exciting.
If you think of the field sobriety test for drunk driving (walking a line heel-to-toe, leaning back with your eyes closed and touching your nose, etc.) and try to imagine your oldest driving relaative trying to pass it, it's not really discriminatory.
The only thing that irks me about this item is that MMFA is citing the Orange County Register as a source.That's our local rag here that tries to call itself Libertarian, and tries to give me free subscriptions on a regular basis.Between that paper and being in Dana Rorabachers district, it's a wonder I haven't been on America's MOst Wanted.Yet.
You have to be from Michigan to get on regularly. ;p
Anita Vogel never stated that the AARP opposed the new California driver assessment program. In fact, her report specifically states that the AARP successfully stopped any legislation specifically targeting seniors.