Workshop on Driving for Seniors

If you are in going to be in Richmond, BC on January 9th or 23rd 2018, I am giving the following two workshops for the Richmond Library. The Library need help in promoting these, so if you are in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver, BC area) will you please help by sharing this information on your social networks. Thank you 

These are important workshops for those approaching their 80th birthday and those who have friends who are near 80 and those of us who believe we will live past 80.  First, all jurisdictions are concerned about road safety and one of the issues is that many jurisdictions see seniors who are over 80 as a safety risk. This is a myth, as our society lumps all seniors over 80 into the same category and one that governments act on based on that myth to protect others as part of our safety needs. 

Contrary to widely held opinion seniors under 80 are generally safe drivers (More likely to wear seatbelts; less likely to drink and drive, drive less). However, while they have fewer accidents than other age groups, the number of accidents per kilometre is higher for seniors over 80.  It is true that ageing tends to result in a reduction of strength, coordination, and flexibility, which can have a major impact on our ability to safely control a car.

Many chronic diseases of seniors have symptoms that if not managed properly, can pose significant safety risks while driving, for example, diabetes. The complications of Diabetes can cause visual impairment, disorientation, decreased cognitive functioning. Diabetes is also commonly associated with sensory loss, weakness and damage to limbs due to ulcers (amputation)

Because road safety is a big issue, ensuring drivers are medically safe to drive is a high priority among provincial and territorial governments in Canada. Accordingly, certain policies and programs are currently in place in order to achieve this goal. Decisions about licensing people with age-related disorders are based on functional measures rather than on diagnostic labels. 

In the workshop, we point out that older drivers are not a homogeneous group, and there does not appear to be a predictable pattern of risk.  We emphasize that a decision to remove a driver from the road should be based on individual not group characteristics. A person may have diabetes but they also manage it very well, the fact they have this chronic disease should not preclude them from driving.

The purpose of the workshop is to help older adults understand the driver medical fitness evaluation process we have in BC so we can help them prepare for upcoming assessments and their driving future. In BC and I suspect other jurisdictions, there are guiding principles that are used to determine a individuals fitness to drive. We go over the principles with the people in the workshop to make sure they understand the principles. We then go through the process that happens when we turn 80, to ensure they understand the process and finally we go over the medical fitness exam and explain what the doctor will be looking for and how they can prepare for this eventuality.

The second workshop has a different focus. Some senior make the decision to give up on driving, not because of medical issues but just because they don't need to or want to drive anymore. The second workshop focuses on how to prepare for the time when they make a decision (or someone else makes the decision) that they should no longer drive.
In the workshop we explore some of the common circumstances to consider when evaluating driving abilities and decisions. We point out that if a person is having more than three of the following issues they should consider whether it is safe for them to drive:

• Difficulty pulling in and out of parking spaces

• Misjudging distances or intersections 

• Difficulty driving at night

• Decline in health status

• Almost crashing, with frequent "close calls"

• Finding dents and scrapes on the car, on fences, etc.

• Getting lost

• Having trouble seeing or following traffic signals, road signs, and pavement markings

• Responding more slowly to unexpected situations

• Misjudging gaps in traffic at intersections on highway entrance and exit ramps

• Experiencing road rage

• Easily becoming distracted or having difficulty concentrating while driving

• Having a hard time turning around to check over your shoulder

• Receiving traffic tickets or "warnings in the last year

We encourage participants to Know what they want when they stop driving and the options available to them to help them make this transition. We examine how they can make a plan, research alternative forms of transportation, and explore other possible solutions