Many senior citizens in the District say they are appalled that the city has begun enforcing a regulation requiring drivers 75 and older to take computerized written and road tests to renew their driver's licenses.

Take Benjamin Thomas, who is 84 and drives a limousine for a funeral home. He's in perfect health and doesn't even wear glasses.

The District has begun enforcing a 1973 law that calls for additional driving tests for seniors. Benjamin Thomas, who is 84 and drives a limousine for a funeral company, says the two written and road tests put "unnecessary stress" on seniors and don't "prove a thing." (By Mark Gail -- The Washington Post)

Thomas, who has driven cabs for 28 years, said he was insulted to learn of the enforcement of a little-known 1973 law that calls for two additional tests. Vision and medical tests already are required after a driver's 70th birthday.

"It's unnecessary stress put on seniors, and it doesn't prove a thing," Thomas said. "It's very unfair."

Then there's Paul Wallace, 77, a retired tractor-trailer driver who trained commercial drivers on the 18-wheelers.

"I'm disgusted with the system until they change that law," Wallace said. "Everybody seems to say senior citizens shouldn't do this because we're old. But being experienced, we're better than these young jitterbugs out here doing anything. You name it, I'm better. Don't tell me I'm a risk."

Like Thomas, Wallace said he has a perfect driving record. Both men say they think the safest population of drivers is facing age discrimination.

Wallace took his concerns to the D.C. Council on Monday, testifying at a hearing before the committee that oversees the city's Department of Motor Vehicles. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), head of the committee, said he wants motor vehicle officials to justify the need for additional written and road tests.

The law states that the city "may" require the tests, but it gives the city the discretion to decide, he said. The District's law is among the strictest in the country. Only two states, New Hampshire and Illinois, require road tests for seniors.

In Maryland, the law requires only a vision test. For the past two years, Virginia law has required drivers 80 and older to take a vision test and appear in person at the DMV to renew their licenses.

During the council hearing, Graham asked the interim director of the DMV, Lucinda M. Babers, to provide him with studies and statistics that prove the testing is necessary.

"I'm open to being convinced that she has a basis," Graham said. But he added, "It's a burden on people."

Janis Hazel, a spokeswoman for Babers, said the department has heard the concerns of seniors but plans to continue enforcing the regulation.

"If the council decides something needs to be done, that's within their rights," she said.

The Insurance Information Institute reported recently that, when compared with drivers in other age groups, older drivers have low crash rates per capita. A recent AARP Bulletin likewise noted that older drivers generally have fewer accidents per driver compared with the national average, but they have more accidents per mile of driving.

The AARP cited experts, who said the driving ability of seniors often is affected by health factors, such as the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, eye disease, arthritis and side effects from medication.

Some D.C. seniors say they also are concerned they are being used by people trying to make easy money. When taking the test, D.C. seniors must drive a vehicle with a center, hand-controlled emergency brake that the examiner can use, if necessary. The seniors say many of the larger American cars, popular with their peers, do not come equipped with the center brake, so they are forced to rent a car.

Wallace said a representative from a driver-training school approached him at the DMV office as he got out of his 2005 Mercury Mountaineer.

"Sir, where is your emergency brake located in your car," Wallace said the man asked.

Wallace said he ultimately paid more than $40 to rent a car from the representative. "Those guys are making cash money on people like me," Wallace said.

Complaints from elderly drivers have drawn the attention of Julie Rones, a Ward 7 candidate for the City Council, who led a debate on the retesting issue at the council hearing and at a forum sponsored by the Benning Ridge Civic Association and the Neighbors of Burns Street.

"D.C. seniors want to maintain independence by being able to drive," Rones said.