DriveSmartBC

It is fortunate that this type of collision is relatively rare because the consequences are severe. I am speaking of driving the wrong way on a divided highway or freeway. We received about one complaint a month when I was working on Central Island Traffic Services in Parksville.

I received an e-mail last week from an older woman whose husband had been tested with a computer and then had his license revoked by the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. The husband had not even been allowed to do a road test before he was told that he could no longer drive. Was this action allowed and had I heard about DriveABLE?

Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for a positive topic to write about! I heard from both a driving school instructor and a senior on this one, which is the idea that many older drivers take their driving responsibilities very seriously. So seriously in fact, that some choose to stop driving through their own choice rather than because they are forced to.

This study, commissioned by the Institute of Advanced Motorists in the United Kingdom, examines the increasing population of senior drivers in our society and their serious incident crash rates on UK highways. The analysis compares the crash circumstances of car drivers aged 60 and over with those aged 50–59 (the safest age group).

Do you have about 30 minutes to spare and a little bit of curiosity about measuring your physical and mental abilities with regard to driving? If so, the AAA Traffic Safety Foundation has an on line test for you that may help identify physical and mental skills that need improvement.

I've had a couple of regular correspondents ask me recently about night driving glasses. These glasses have yellow lenses and are supposed to cut glare and increase contrast allowing you to see better in the darkness. After a bit of research, it appears that using these glasses is not a good idea.

Studies have shown that older drivers have high death rates and lower rates of involvement in crashes that kill others; but most studies have not considered drivers’ responsibility for their crashes, and many have considered only one particular measure of risk. Relative to other age groups, drivers aged 85 and older face the highest risk of their own death, whereas teens pose the greatest risk to passengers, occupants of other vehicles, and non-motorists.

My family has tried several tactics to have my mothers driver's license pulled, however, the authorities we have dealt with don't seem to want to deal with her. She is 75 years old, has health issues which cause her to pass out sometimes, and has had several incidents in her car. She also has a heart condition that her heart only works at 30%.

How can a driver mistake the gas for the brake? I could not rationalize this explanation after reading another news story where a senior in a parking lot had driven into a building with significant force. Surely the driver must have known that this was going to happen and could have prevented it.

A dear senior friend who was called for a re-examination failed the consequent road test. Our friend has now been issued a learner's permit which requires accompaniment of a fully licensed driver. Question: what is the legal responsibility of said licensed driver?