Older Drivers

We have built our world around the convenience of the motor vehicle. Without one, our focus suddenly becomes much more narrow. Are you prepared to cope with the decision to stop driving when the time comes?

The new year will bring changes to how drivers are re-examined to insure that they are safe to continue to drive. Current DriveABLE testing will be replaced by an Enhanced Road Assessment (ERA) that will be administered by ICBC at no cost. The ERA has been developed by RoadSafetyBC after surveying driver re-testing in other jurisdictions and is aimed at providing greater transparency for participants.

I have a tenant that is elderly and her vehicle is parked on the street and uninsured.

The mechanical soundness of the vehicle is seriously questionable. The vehicle owner said that the brakes are not working and she had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle in the past.

There have been times that she was so heavily medicated, people were surprised to see her get in her vehicle and drive away.

As we approach 80 we get a notification from ICBC to book an appointment with our GP to review our health issues and to see if we are still able to drive.

Here is my complaint.

This is a report from Britain that examines the needs of an aging population in the context of our current highway system.

When it comes to medical exams, it's worthy of note that every driver is asked about their health when they first apply for any class of license.  Doesn't mean that they're inflexible; even an epileptic can drive if they've been seizure free for long enough.

I am often asked about driver testing, particularly now that some older drivers are being given cognitive testing as part of the mandatory medical evaluation at and after age 80. This is called the SIMARD test and was developed at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

My father, who just turned 80, is undergoing a mandatory drivers' exam next month. He did not pass the previous one, largely due to his inability to shoulder check, according to the score sheet he was given.

A study by researchers at the University of Florida reports that "You may have only had one glass of wine with dinner, but if you’re 55 or older, that single serving may hit you hard enough to make you a dangerous driver." Groups of young drivers and older drivers were tested on a driving simulator sober and with blood alcohol levels of .04 and .065.

Delores Lewis was required to take the computer based version of the DriveABLE test and failed. The Superintendent of Motor Vehicles directed ICBC to cancel her driver's licence. Reconsideration of this decision was possible if she was able to provide a report from her doctor indicating that she was medically fit to drive. This was provided and Ms. Lewis took the test a second time. The result of the second test indicated that her abilities had declined. Her licence remained cancelled.