Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons is hosting a meeting on Wednesday, February 8 for those in the community with concerns over the way senior citizens are retested for drivers’ licences.
The issue has been on Simons’ agenda since the winter of 2010 when some local residents came to him with concerns over having to travel to Nanaimo to take driving tests. One test in particular, the DriveABLE cognitive ability test, has been problematic because of its use of a computer program, something which seniors who have no computer experience say is unfairly difficult for them.
Since then the DriveABLE testing has become available in Courtenay, lessening one stressful aspect of taking the test, but Simons still believes there are concerns around the location and nature of the tests.
“Everyone agrees that we should make sure that only those who are capable of driving on our roads are,” said Simons. “That isn’t at all what that issue is. What we need to do is recognize that the impact of losing independence needs to be addressed.”
Many seniors in Powell River only drive in this area, and many live far from town in an area with limited public transportation. Complaints about the retesting often revolve around having to travel for the test, having to drive a vehicle unfamiliar to the driver and then having to take the test in an area they are not familiar driving in and which is far busier than Powell River.
Phyllis Sawatski, a local senior, failed a DriveABLE test and an on-road driving test she took in Courtenay in October 2011. She said she didn’t understand the computerized testing at all and that all the people she dealt with during the process were unpleasant and unhelpful.
Sawatski has a son with a disability who she takes care of. She said having her licence revoked has essentially jailed her and her son at home because they live outside of town and now have very limited means to get around. She said she only ever drives in Powell River and has never had a problem before.
“I just can’t do anything,” said Sawatski. “That DriveABLE is absolutely crazy.”
At 80 years old Betty Knudson was told she would have to get retested for her driver’s licence. She went to Courtenay to have her DriveABLE test which she said she failed because of the lighting in the room and the poor quality of the test. She retook the test in Coquitlam, which she said had much better conditions, and passed. After paying over $600 in expenses for travel and the tests themselves, Knudson is back where she started, with a driver’s licence, but frustrated by the entire situation.
“I was furious,” said Knudson. “I’ve driven since I was 20, I’ve never had an accident, I’ve done everything right, never done anything bad. For them to do this to me, I was so upset.”
Simons also objects to the way the test is administered by driving testers. He said many people who have gone through the testing say they were treated poorly and got the general impression that those in charge are generally quite flippant toward what is such an important decision in that senior’s life.
“I think they just need to have information that’s presented respectfully and explains exactly what it is that government’s trying to do,” said Simons. “To me that’s not a good way of dealing with something that’s so significant to people.”
The meeting is about hearing the concerns of seniors in the community and giving information on the current system and how it works. Simons said so far over 50 people have signed up. He hopes having the meeting will help him with bringing the issue to the attention of the government.
The meeting will be held from noon to 1:30 pm at Cranberry Seniors’ Centre. This event is now full, but for more information people can call Simons’ constituency office at 604.485.1249. The meeting will be recorded for Shaw TV and screened locally on channel 4.
