Gov. Deval Patrick's idea of requiring road tests for older drivers will likely garner a mixed response if the opinions of two local Council on Aging directors are any indication.

Reacting to an accident last week involving an 86-year-old man who struck a second-grade student in Randolph, Patrick said on a call-in radio show Thursday he was looking into legislation that would require driving tests at a certain age.

Pam Hunt, executive director of the North Attleboro Council on Aging, said driving ability is not necessarily related to age, and a testing mandate based solely on age would be discriminatory.

The state, she said, should have random testing for all drivers.

"It's a good idea for everyone," she said. "It should not be age-related." Hunt said she knows people in their 90s who are still good drivers while some who are younger do not do as well.

She would prefer to promote more safe-driving education, such as the courses offered by AAA and AARP, that are periodically held at senior centers. One aspect of those courses, she said, is to offer tips to seniors on ways they can be safer drivers, such as checking more than once before pulling out.

Hunt would have no objection to a requirement that people take one of those courses before getting their license renewed. But she said, "I don't think anyone should be prevented from driving because they have reached a certain age."

James Dinsel, Norton's director of human resources which encompasses the Council on Aging, said he would have no problem with a testing requirement at a certain age.

"I definitely would support the legislation," Dinsel said. "It's long overdue."

Although people hate to lose their independence, Dinsel said their safety and the safety of others has to be the primary concern.

But while he supports mandatory testing, he would not be in favor of a law that would require people to give up driving based solely on their age.

Both Hunt and Dinsel said many seniors know when they should no longer be driving and voluntarily give it up, or decide to avoid driving at night or to avoid using the interstate highways.

But there are others who keep driving even when they shouldn't, and even when others, including family members, tell them they should not be behind the wheel.

"For the most part, seniors are responsible enough to realize when driving is difficult," Hunt said. "But there will always be people who do not know how bad they are." Dinsel remembers the day a few years ago when he heard a crash outside the senior center and saw a woman pull into the parking lot whose car bumper was hanging off. Her car had been hit from behind by another driver, an accident that was not her fault, but Dinsel said she seemed unaware that it had occurred.

"She did not even know she had been hit," he said.

As it turned out, the woman's daughter had expressed concern about her driving a few weeks earlier. Dinsel said family members often have a difficult time persuading someone to give up driving, and instead will call the senior center in the hopes that someone there can make the suggestion.

If he knows the person well, Dinsel said he may feel comfortable enough to bring up the issue, but if not, he can at least suggest that they take a safe-driving course.

Hunt said she would like to see doctors take a more active role in telling older patients with poor motor skills and reflexes that they should not be driving. She would even like to see doctors report those drivers to the Registry of Motor Vehicles if they would be a danger on the road.

"Doctors should be held more accountable," she said.

GLORIA LaBOUNTY can be reached at 508-236-0333 or at glabounty@thesunchronicle.com.