I worked in TV news for nearly 15 years and would roll my eyes whenever my photographer and I squeezed our way through a crowd to cover a major event and heard people shout: “I don’t watch the news!”
C’mon, who doesn’t watch the news?
Then, I gave birth and I figured out there really are people who avoid turning on the evening news.
Parents.
I now see why some parents don’t watch the news.
They’re trying to preserve their sanity.
With so much to worry about on a daily basis in their own little worlds, why fan the flames of concern by subjecting themselves to the billion of other uncontrollable variables that could jeopardize the lives of their innocent children?
I thought about this while watching MSNBC this morning.
According to the cable network, New York is doing away with its requirement for vision tests, so drivers can renew their licenses online or by mail.
Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Barbara Fiala made the announcement yesterday saying the change stems from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call for “streamlining by state agencies.”
Basically, it comes down to money… or lack thereof.
In an effort to save cash, beginning tomorrow, New York is going allow drivers to “self-certify” that they meet the vision requirement when they renew. From now on, only those people applying for new licenses and commercial licenses will have to take an eye test at the DMV office.
So, because of tightening budgets, parents have to worry about driving their kid-filled minivan next to someone who may be visually impaired but chose to “self certify” online. And what of kids who regularly cross several New York streets on their way to school? Are they in more danger now than ever before?
Hopefully, those with vision issues won’t lie about their conditions just so they can self certify online. Otherwise, they join the fraternity of other irresponsible drivers out there who drink, take drugs, and text while behind the wheel. Just what paranoid parents need to keep the blood pressure medication industry in business.
For the record, Fiala noted that vision testing wasn’t required in New York from 1993-2000, and six other states don’t require eye tests for renewals.
Is that supposed to make parents feel better?