We’ve all seen it — moments where a senior driver seems to have great difficulty in completing an easy driving manoeuvre. Sometimes, we see it in a parking lot or when we’re driving by. Other times, we’re actually in the car with a senior driver during one of those cringeworthy, perhaps terrifying, near-miss events.
What’s to be done when we see or know someone who simply should no longer be behind the wheel?
Like any issue dealing with human behaviour — it’s challenging.
We have built up vehicle and transportation infrastructure to the extent that it’s our easiest and best form of mobility. Our lives are built around streets, highways and the ability to get “there” and get things done.
Mobility is not just about being mobile in a physical sense. It’s about being able to have control of your life, move at a time of your choosing, go where you want to go when you want. Vehicle mobility is personal empowerment and independence. In short — it’s freedom.
Taking that away is life altering.
But we don’t allow people to retain those freedoms of road mobility at any cost. We all share our roads and the rest of us have the right to expect safe passage.
Every year there are plenty of senior driving incidents reported in the media: the one who goes the wrong way on a freeway on ramp; the one who has a medical event, loses control, then strikes a bus shelter or; the one who has pedal confusion leading to a vehicle crashing through a storefront.
I recall one incident where a senior pulled up to a pay-parking meter mounted on a concrete island. She hadn’t pulled up close enough to reach the ticket dispenser, so opened her door and put one leg out to reach the coin slot. She left the car in drive and while stretching out, she moved her right foot onto the gas pedal. The car lurched into the concrete island, ramming the door shut on her extended leg, nearly severing her foot. The car then careened into the parking lot, damaging four or five other vehicles.
I mention this to show that seniors are often the greatest victims of their own bad driving and the stats bear that out. Advanced age renders the body much more susceptible to injury, and death, from the traumatic impacts of a vehicle crash.
When we witness dangerous incidents caused by the apparent age or infirmity of another driver we have a duty to act. It is not you, the witness, friend or family member who will take the licence away, that’s up to the authorities. Your role is to provide information so that proper decisions can be made.
If the incident is serious enough, a report to the police is warranted. Most driving complaints are made after the fact and now can be reported online. It’s important to make a note of the time, date and place of the incident along with vehicle plate number and a description of the driver. Don’t assume that your observations are not necessary. Your report may just be one of a series of reports that help clarify things.
Family members have the option to speak to the elder driver’s doctor to report physical or cognitive problems, which interfere with driving. I don’t like that option so much as doctors have enough on their plates these days. However, sometimes factors around awareness, cognition and physical inability are so bad that they must be reported through medical channels.
Another option is to report through Road Safety BC. This branch of government has a driver fitness unit and can initiate steps such as medical and vision testing as well as requiring seniors to undergo functional driving assessments.
Many driving schools also offer re-evaluation and retraining sessions. This is often one of the best ways to proceed as it allows a highly trained outsider to make an unbiased assessment of a senior’s ability to drive — relieving families or friends from having difficult conversations or actions.
Many seniors will benefit from a “brush up” session and be able to keep on driving safely.
This is not about minor problems, like leaving a turn signal on a little too long, driving five or six km/h under (or over) the speed limit, or pulling in a little too close to the car in the next parking space — everyone fails at those once and a while. Being fair is essential.
It’s important not to be afraid to take action when you see something or to have hard conversations when it becomes necessary. Ultimately, it’s a matter of preventing tragedy and keeping everyone using our roads safe.
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