Beware, prepare and don’t despair
G oward House will be hosting a presentation by Steve Wallace: “Beware, Prepare and Don’t Despair,” which addresses the proactive steps you can take to retain your driver’s licence.
Steve Wallace owns Wallace Driving School, which has operated in B.C. since 1976. He coordinated and taught the driver education program for School District 28 for eight years using the first driving simulator technology. To date, Steve has personally taught over 20,000 students how to drive, and is presently teaching some grandchildren of the first students he taught. He also writes a column on driving featured in the Times Colonist each Friday.
Driving is our key to independence. It helps us to get from place to place quickly and conveniently at any time. Our cars make it easy for us to socialize with friends and family, run errands, and get ourselves and others to important appointments. No wonder most of us want to keep driving for as long as possible.
As mature drivers, they bring a wealth of experience to the driver’s seat. That is why, on average, drivers in their 50s and 60s have just about the lowest crash rates of anyone on the road. However, as some of the skills required for optimal driving performance begin to decline at older ages. Research shows that crash rates begin to increase as drivers reach their 60s or early 70s, and increase more rapidly after about age 75.
Consider also that your body is not as resistant to injury as it might have been 30 or 40 years ago. If you are involved in a crash, you are likely to suffer more serious injuries as compared to a younger person in a similar crash. This makes it increasingly important for you to do everything you can to keep your driving skills sharp and to minimize your chances of being involved in a motor vehicle accident in the first place.
The good news is that there are things most of us can do to decrease our risk and improve our driving. Awareness is the key: awareness of the changes we go through as we age and of the changes in our driving environment. A desire and ability to adapt to those changes can help many of us continue to drive safely.
As we age, our senses physically change. Our vision becomes limited by the amount of light able to enter the eye, reduced focal speed, reduced ability to see colours and reduced peripheral vision.
So how do we address these challenges? Regular eye exams, daylight driving hours (if night vision is an issue), turning our heads regularly while driving, checking mirrors often, and considering larger rear-view mirrors.
A new seniors’ driving test called ‘Enhanced Road Assessment’ (ERA) involves cognitive inclusion within a two-part practical driving test, concerning directional instruction and vehicle activation of controls while driving. All seniors should be made aware of this new procedure and practice prior to presenting themselves for the practical road test.
Steve Wallace knows how driving safely can contribute to a long driving career. If you are concerned about an upcoming driving exam, this presentation may be of interest.