Perhaps that’s the question on everyone’s mind after reading about the recent car crash involving an elderly lady in Oakville, Ontario last week.  http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Dangerous+drivers+Aging+boomers+face+tough+road+ahead/3160745/story.html

With incidences such as this, we are again reminded of the safety concerns surrounding elder driving. But, it’s important to remember that there are always two sides to every story.  What measures are needed to ensure the safety of elderly drivers and others on the road remains a much heated debate. 

Keeping elderly drivers off the road: Accidents involving elderly drivers are likely to arise due to do a decrease in responsive reflexes, diminished physical capabilities like poor vision and hearing as well as cognitive impairments. 

There are warning signs that indicate compromised driving abilities:

• road signs are blurry
• fear of being on busy streets
• forgetting directions that used to be easy to remember
• stopping at lights last minute
• mistaking the gas pedal for the brake pedal

Accident rates increase steadily after the age of 65 and with warning signs like these, it is no wonder that some provinces have imposed age cut-offs for elderly drivers to renew their licenses.  In Quebec, elderly citizens are obligated to renew their license pending medical examination at the ages of 75 and 80 and then every 2 years thereafter.

The SAAQ has come out with a 16-page information brochure for elders called Health in the Driver’s seat.  For family members or elderly drivers concerned about possible and potential driving impairments, this brochure highlights the warning signs and offers valuable resources if you think you or someone you know may present a hazard on the road. http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/publications/prevention/health_driver.pdf

Keeping elderly drivers on the road: Being able to drive represents independence and a sense of pride. By taking seniors off the road, we are taking away more than just their car.  Not all seniors over 65 are dangerous drivers and denying them their ability to be mobile within their community is not something that should be taken lightly.

In Montreal, the automobile remains as the most preferred method of transportation.  Fear of being mugged or falling on ice rank high as reasons why elders don’t want to take public transportation.  While the general public may be willing to cut out elderly driving altogether, more needs to be done to continue to encourage senior independence on the road and/or to promote alternative and safer ways of getting around.

The International Driving School of Montreal specializes in elderly driving.  By focusing on the needs of elderly drivers, we can continue to promote their independence by sharpening skills or identifying any adjustments that may need to be made while on the road.

If driving is no longer viable, various volunteer organizations around Montreal provide driving services for elderly citizens.  The CLSC Rene-Cassin has a driving program to take seniors to their medical appointments.

Whether or not someone is capable of driving is not an easy topic to broach.  Many people take pride in their ability to drive but the fact is that some people should not be on the road. 

Reader feedback: What do you think? Do you agree with the age restriction for re-testing at the age of 75?  Should it be higher or lower? Send us your comments by clicking on the comment link below.