Senior Driving Education vs Assessment

Many geriatric researchers presenting at safety conferences agree that education, not testing, is the answer to seniors driving longer and safer.

Prior to intervention by family, government, medical personnel or police, seniors should take charge of their driving situation. It is best to prepare for an impending driver assessment well ahead of time. It will relieve the stress of the unknown and the arrival of the dreaded letter. Seniors should be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to all sorts of things, particularly as it pertains to driving.

Many people believe seniors have a higher-than-normal crash frequency. This is not true. They do have a much higher chance of injury in a crash because of the frailty brought on by advanced age, particularly those over 75 years of age. Two presenters at a DSAA conference made a very strong case that senior-driver harassment by governing bodies exists throughout North America.

The most common crashes listed in order of frequency and cause of injury are:

The left turn at intersections, crossing multiple oncoming lanes of traffic, causes injury for all drivers. This type of crash is often due to declining depth perception in seniors and lack of experience in teens.

The fact that oncoming vehicle drivers could change to the outside through-lane at an intersection, without warning, and be hidden behind the inside lane of two lanes approaching, was also a factor. For both seniors with slower reaction times and teens lack of experience, lack of scanning contributes to this crash.

Rear end crashes are very common. This is caused by all drivers not understanding time and distance for stopping. Understanding the consequences of tailgating is a lesson to be learned by all. Again, seniors are more likely to experience more injury than a teen.

Joan Wallace Driving School offers a free seminar for seniors at 2:00 pm every fourth Wednesday monthly. Call to sign up. 250-383-7483.