It’s a proposal that’s sure to meet fierce resistance in California – a state with over 2.2 million drivers over the age of 65. But an Oxnard lawyer, Mark Heipler is going ahead with it anyway.

Spurred by the death of Thousand Oaks, California dentist Glenn Garvin who was killed when his bicycle was knocked down by 82-year-old Norma Seigel in her Lexus, Heipler proposes mandatory behind the wheel tests every 10 years for senior citizens over the age of 65. His arguments that compulsory driving tests for people above a certain age would pressure family members to pay more attention to the potential risks these older citizens and their dementia and arthritis can pose while they’re on the road.

Seigel had cataracts at the time of the accident that killed Garvin, and said he didn’t see the bicyclist. But hers is far from the only case. In 2003, 82-year-old George Russell Weller crashed his car into a market in Santa Monica, California killing 10 people. But notwithstanding cases like this, any proposed legislation for such geriatric profiling has always met with staunch resistance. A previous similar proposal was abandoned after hectic lobbying by senior groups. According to current laws, a person over the age of 70 needs to apply personally for renewal of his driving license and requires a written test and an eye exam, but not a driving test. Heipler’s proposal would mandate a driving test too.

Opponents of the proposal claim the costs of conducting mandatory tests on all seniors would be terribly expensive. Other claim that family members should step in when they see that their parent’s driving habits may be getting risky. Looking out for bent fenders and a tendency to collect tickets are warning signs that could mean that family members should step in.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call the experienced California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a free initial consultation.