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Highlights from past CARD News Letters |
CARD Expands To N. Y. and Arizona:Card's name has been incorporated in N9A York through the coordination of Dr. & Mrs. Laurence G. Roth, of Batavia, N.Y. They had the tragedy of losing their son, James, age 30, in 1992. His car was struck by a wrong?way driver on an interstate. The Roths are active statewide in pursuing the same goals as CARD. their address is 23 North Pointe Dr., Batavia, N.Y. 14020... In Arizona, CARD was incorporated through noted Phoenix opthalmologist, Dr. J. Bruce Stadwiser, 2327 East Carol Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85028... Our goals are national in scope, and we need others to carry forth our efforts in other states. We'd be happy to coordinate such efforts within other states. Let's hear from you, as this cannot be achieved by one individual ...it will take a united effort. New York:The dedication and hard work of Dr. Laurence G. and Catherine Roth prompted the introduction of Senate Bill 1257. The bill waives physician's liability in reporting high risk drivers to the State Motor Vehicle Department, which makes the final determination on whether to restrict or revoke a license. At last conversation, Dr. Roth noted that the New York legislature had not even passed a state budget, thus delaying most other bills. The bill has the support of the N. Y. State Medical Society. Dr. Roth can be contacted at 23 North Pointe Drive, Batavia, NY 14020 (716?344?5413). Focus Towards 1996:As a number of states are gearing up for their next legislative sessions, it is CARD's hope that the initial momentum of 1994 will continue to get high risk drivers off the road. The more the message gets out and educates, the more lives that can be saved. Nevertheless, nothing will be realized until the states adopt tougher laws to test and/or get high risk drivers off the road. lt is vitally important that more than a grass roots effort is needed. We also need the help and support of the business community and professional organizations within the safety, medical, law enforcement and insurance environment. Any person reading this, who is part of the above establishments and wants to help, we need you to contact us, or contact those to help who you know in these areas. AARP "Connections" Cable Appearance:In May, CARD founder Shel Suroff was featured on AARP's American Cablevision program, "Connections." His 15 minute appearance was devoted to CARD's objectives and its role in helping to achieve safe driving. The program was featured throughout the month on a rotational basis throughout Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey, and Florida cable channels CARD Receives IRS Tax Exempt Status:At the end of the year, and after a lengthy application period, CARD was granted tax exempt status under Section 501 C3 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grants tax deductibility status for all contributions. A special thanks for assisting us goes to CPA Roy Kramer with Brown Smith Wallace (BSW, LLC) in Creve Coeur, MO (St. Louis) for donating his time and efforts. As a follow up to the tax exempt status, CARD then applied for and received non-profit, special bulk, third class rates from the U.S. Postal Service. Special Letter from CARD Member"...As a Forensic Pathologist working with and for coroners and medical examiners over the last 47 years, I have been sickened by many of the dead and injured I have examined (and still examine). We are beginning to do some effective things about drivers impaired by alcohol, have just started to recognize the danger of drugged drivers, but do nothing significant yet, in this state, about the driver impaired permanently by undetected visual, neuromuscular, psychiatric or arteriosclerotic disorders! Who, among us, wants to drive on the same public highway as a 50-year-old victim of Alzheimer's Disease or rapidly progressing Multiple Sclerosis? "I have recently dealt professionally with a dead woman in this county killed by a driver still affected by a recent stroke, and in one month saw eight killed in four vehicles which pulled out into moving traffic from parking lots by impaired drivers unaware of the heavy vehicles which immediately crushed them!" Part of Letter to Editor Mailed to: Altoona (PA) Mirror, 1/4/96 By Harold R. Cottle, M.D. Hollidaysburg, P A Participation in International Symposium on Alzheimer's Disease and Driving:CARD co-founder Sheldon E. Suroff participated in a fascinating conference sponsored by the Washington University School of Medicine, May 17 to 19, in St. Louis. Suroff, participated as a faculty member in a 75 minute panel session on "Detecting the Demented Driver." Faculty members at the symposium included physicians from Canada, Ireland and Sweden including representatives from Johns Hopkins Univ., Yale and USC. Coordinating the event included CARD friends from the School of Medicine Drs. John C. Morris, David B. Carr and occupational therapist Linda A. Hunt. Task Force on National Criteria For Medical Evaluation:During the May conference weekend, a number of hours was spent by a task force assembled by the Assn. of the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Des Plaines, IL. AAAM was working on a grant supplied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to come up with medical guidelines for assessing driver fitness. The group, which included Shel Suroff, from CARD, was asked by the NHTSA and state motor vehicle driving departments to develop a uniform grading system by physicians on patients with those diseases or limitations which would impede safe driving. Once the scale is determined, then physicians can more easily assess patients, report the findings to the respective state agencies, which then could address the individual involved directly. Insurance Industry Representatives Offers to Join CARD Coalition:The international symposium in St. Louis began just one day after the Missouri legislative session ended without bringing Sen. Treppler's bill to the House floor. This was a great emotional letdown to many who realized we had to amass our forces for a third year in a row before the next session convenes in January. After meeting many, new friends at the symposium, it was refreshing to know that there are many others out there with the same hope and determination. One of the most fulfilling times of the session was speaking with two, key individuals from the national insurance industry, who offered their direct help in getting laws passed to get unsafe drivers off the road. These individuals are Edna R. Ray, Assistant VP, S0+ Motorist Program, GEICO Insurance Co., Washington, DC; and Dr. Dan L. Scott, Corporate Vice President and Medical Director, State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, IL. CARD looks forward to working together with them and the many more interested persons we met and enjoyed being with over the three day session. After several calls & letters, with no reponses, to the Geico & State Farm Insurance Representatives noted above, it was decided their intrest was patronizing at best. Senator Treppler Announces Retirement:Just prior to the end of the Missouri legislature, Sen. Irene Treppler, surprised many, by announcing her retirement from politics after a sterling career spanning almost a quarter century. It was Sen. Treppler, who upon learning about Jason Suroff's death, took the initiative and relentlessly worked in CARD's behalf for the past two years to get a law passed. Sen. Treppler assured me that she has already filled the void by getting us a sponsor for next year to carry on our fight. We feel confident that we now have the right bill with new support, which should lead to a successful end in 1996. CARD offers all our thanks and best wishes for a wonderful retirement to Sen. Treppler. Others wanting to reach her can contact her through the end of the year at the State Capitol, Room 433, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Must Read Article in June Issue of Good Housekeeping:The article, entitled, "20LD2 DRIV," by Jeff Blyskal, is probably the most direct, better written and documented pieces on the unsafe driver. The difference is the twist behind the story and that is that even with all the evidence and the means available, lawmakers are afraid to enact legislation. As testified before numerous Missouri committees, lawmakers don't understand that usually those protesting legislation to get bad drivers off the road, are people who shouldn't be driving anyway. The good driver, whatever age, will back such legislation. A copy of the Good Housekeeping article is enclosed. Remember, that while the article tilts more to the elderly driver, in all fairness, age should not be the issue, only the driver's ability to drive. What Other States Are Doing:Three states - Illinois, Indiana and New Hampshire - have laws where after a certain age, a driver has to have a driving test. An attempt to pass such a bill today would be most discriminating, and not have one iota of a chance. I would not be in favor of such a bill due to its bias, but also that some impairments begin at much earlier ages than the ages when these states initiate retesting. California has had a law in place for some five years mandating that physicians MUST report all patients who have "lapses of consciousness." The Federal Government requires all private pilots - no matter the age - to take both a flight test and a physical every TWO YEARS before getting their licenses renewed. I doubt if 40,000 private pilots are killed a year as are motorists. I know issues such as carrying concealed weapons, or whether auto inspections should be eliminated, are important issues to many. But what about saving lives on our roads and legislators finally listening to whose who are exhorting these changes so we finally can accomplish the obvious. Appearance on Leeza Gibbons Show, May 22 :After a mad 24 hour dash to Los Angeles in February for a taping of the Leeza Gibbons Show, it was finally aired nationally on May 22. I felt the show, "Driving Can Kill," was strongly and tastefully done with much preparation on the writers and producers' parts. CARD received a number of inquiries following the airing. Landmark Driving Bill Passes Missouri Legislature:After four years of effort, and with just three hours left in the 1998 session of the Missouri Legislature, House Bill 1536, the Impaired Driver Bill, was passed. This precedent-setting bill becomes law on January 1. The bill was passed by a majority of just over 90 percent of the Senate, and 83 percent of the House. It is being called one of the cleanest and fairest driving bills passed. It received broad-based backing from major groups will no opposition. The bill is unique in several ways, which no other states has on its books.
What Turned Frustration to Success?:From the beginning in 1994, it was CARD's intention to come up with a safe driving bill, free of age bias. The first year prompted a fast write on a bill centered on testing of individuals every six years after age 45: The bill was -met with immediate opposition the fact that an age floor was part of the bill brought an outcry of age bias. The bill also would have added to state expenses with the luring of more examiners, record keeping, etc. The past three years CARD was expertly led into its present focus of basically targeting impaired drivers. Also apparent was a stronger educational and learning process spreading across the country by the number of stories being written on the topic, many asking CARD for input. We also wanted to make sure that key organizations understood where we were going and why. The backing of AARP and Missouri Highway Patrol was paramount. We even started to see more articles written within AARP publications on safer driving laws as long as age bias was not part of it. When CARD started on this road in 1994, we were alone. The shining knight that crone along one year later, stuck with us, and aggressively fought for this law relentlessly, was Alzheimer's Assn. and its key five Missouri chapters. What prompted such an overwhelming response to the bill being passed this year were several factors. The addition to our team of Legislative Consultant David Winton, and the new support of AAA (Automobile Club of Missouri/Kansas) led by the very capable Mike Right, and the Missouri Medical Society, were all a major plus. Equally important was the fact, that as good as we thought our bill was last year, the revisions placed on the final bill promoted many legislators calling the bill the cleanest and fairest by far. One key factor in the change, which was crucial, was allowing only those closest to the situation (as noted above in the first paragraph) to report impaired drivers. The previous bill allowed anyone over 18 to report, which could have caused some problems. We Couldn't Have Done It Without These Individuals: I couldn't start any tributes without first mentioning retired Sen. Irene Treppler, who from the beginning said she would be there to begin and lead our efforts. Equally important to our cause was recently retired Repr. Sue Shear, who we pray will overcome a health problem. Again, many thanks to the expertly-run Alzheimer's Assn., and especially to Carroll Rodriquez, who was always at my side at meetings and driving to Jefferson City many times to testify. Also, one more reference to David Winton, one of the most capable persons I ever met in problem solving especially in slate government affairs. Working with him was so reassuring. He was positive from day one, that we always had a good chance this year. There were two, almost identical versions, of the bill offered for passage. They were sponsored by Sen. Betty Sims (Senate Bill 522), and House Bill 1536 by Repr. Scott Lakins of Kansas City. Through different committee approvals, amendment revisions and the basic intertwining of getting a bill passed, it so happened that Lakin's bill was the final bill passed. This is not to say that Betty Suns didn't do her fair share. At the end she worked jointly with Repr. Lakins, when time was of the essence. To Betty Sims and Scott Lakins, I can't say enough for the job they both did, and knowing how much the bill's passage met to each. I remember Lakins telling me after the bill was passed, that even though he didn't know our son, he often thought about him when working on the bill. There's others that I don't want to forget...to AARP's representatives who testified in behalf of the bill along With the other groups. To key State Highway Patrol personnel such as Dale Shikles, Senior Chief Examiner, and Major Steve Johnson, Head of Support Services, who both came to St. Louis several times for planning meetings and who testified in Jefferson City .A special thanks to Mike Hoeferkamp, attorney on the Senate Research Staff, who tirelessly over the years worked with us in the actual drafting of the bills. To key individuals within the medical community, Dr. David B. Carr, and Dr. John C. Morris along With Occupational Therapist Linda Hunt, it was great working with you. There were also several individuals across the country, who have always taken a special interest in CARD ' s endeavors. They all have personal reasons why they fought behind us, and are still fighting in their respective states. Hopefully, With the passage of the Missouri law, their task may be a lot easier. Thanks to Katherine Freund, of Portland, ME, and her Independent Transportation Network; to Dr. Kathy Lamed in St. James City, FL; Dr. Laurence Roth in Batavia, NY, and Mike Sharp, in Louisburg, KS. Someone else who needs a few extra words is Dr. Harold Cottle, a pathologist and coroner in Hollidaysburg, PA. I've never met Dr. Cottle, but he has been inspirational to me in his words of wisdom, and I know he played an important role in getting a revised driving statute passed in his state. From day one, thanks to attorneys, Mark Kodller and Albert Watkins in St. Louis, for helping CARD get started on its legal foundation. At the same time to CPA's Harvey Wallace and Roy Kramer, with BSW, LLC in St. Louis, who graciously got us on the road to Federal tax-exempt status, among other things. Warmly, Sheldon E. & Karen R. Suroff How We Learned The Bill Had Passed:The day the bill was passed, my wife and I traveled to Binghamton, NY for the graduation of our daughter, Jill, from the State University of New York. Before we left, we knew that passage was down to the wire and it was an anxious day to say the least. We arrived at the St. Louis airport to begin our first flight to Pittsburgh only to learn the plane would be delayed an hour due to fog. I called my office at Merrill Lynch only to hear that no word had come out of the State Capitol on the bill. We flew to Pittsburgh, and With only 15 minutes until the next flight, we ran to our gate not being able to call home. When we arrived at the Binghamton airport at 2:30 pm, I learned from my office that the bill had just passed the Senate, and the legislature would adjourn for the year in less than four hours. When we arrived at my daughter's apartment at 3:30, we learned then that it had just passed the House to become law. The fact that our family was together when this important event happened was very coincidental and emotional. Equally coincidental is that this newsletter is being written on June 13, our son's birthday. (SES) Where Do We Go From Here:I have been asked by a number of people since the bill's passage, what now for the Suroffs and CARD? I personally feel that the four-year struggle in getting major legislation passed was quite a learning experience. I feel the knowledge we have gained and the people we have met along the way, was most valuable. I recently became acquainted with a mother in Pennsylvania, who lost a daughter last Thanksgiving in Alabama, the same way we lost our son. She asked for advice in getting legislation started in both states with the possible further direction of a national law. Her Congressman' s aide has already called me if I would be willing to work in this area as well as testify in Washington. Although our job is completed in Missouri, there is a crying need by other states for such legislation. We intend to help others fulfill their goals. The resources of CARD and the Suroffs will be available to any and all who seek it. Comments on "20/20" Segment on Elderly Drivers:On September 30, 1998. ABC TV aired a segment, which featured Sheldon and Karen Suroff's successful endeavor to get the Missouri Impaired Drivers bill passed into law effective January 1, 1999. Reporter Chris Wallace spent several days in St. Louis interviewing several people including the Suroffs. The main thrust of the abbreviated 12 minute piece was centered on the problems of elderly drivers, and featured one 81 year old St. Louisan, who was shown before, during and after failing a driver evaluation test. Wallace also interviewed a high official at national AARP headquarters, questioning the organization's lack of effort in backing driver testing of the elderly. Regarding the Suroffs, Wallace interviewed them at their home about their son's death at the hands of an elderly impaired driver. The segment described their son's fatal accident, and noted that the Suroffs were active in getting a law passed in Missouri allowing for confidential reporting of family members who shouldn't be driving. The segment would have been more effective to highlight the fact that the Missouri law was also endorsed by the AARP, as age was not part of the law. That this law is the cleanest, strongest, and fairest to date was not brought up, nor the Suroff s desire that the law be copied by other states. The emphasis on the elderly and the AARP official overshadowed the fact that what was passed in Missouri could answer a national need to get unsafe drivers off the road. Amendment to Missouri Law Introduced:Missouri Rep. Scott Lakin of Kansas City, who successfully sponsored the Missouri Impaired Drivers Law, has introduced an amendment to the present law. At the urging of an association of optometrists, Missouri House Bill 185 will allow optometrists 1o report impaired drivers as well CALIFORNIA PASSES SAFE DRIVING ACT MODELED AFTER MISSOURI'S LAW: Click here.
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