Changes to provincial DriveABLE program to evaluate seniors
Posted March 19, 2012 12:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Changes are coming to the provincial program designed to evaluate seniors’ driving skills.
The controversial computer assessment part of the DriveABLE will now be combined with a road test and a doctor’s evaluation when deciding if a senior is still fit to drive.
The two-part test will be paid for by the province.
Lorraine Logan with the Council of Senior Citizens for BC says it’s a step in the right direction but she isn’t totally satisfied.
“What I’d like to really see is some accountability in this DriveABLE program certainly run by the government, but right now it’s contracted to a private sector company,” explains Logan.
She says she’d like to “take away the mystery of this test,” have more public awareness of the program, or a better campaign.
“The government has done a fairly good job with the graduated licenses for new drivers and learners, and why not at the end of their driving career start something similar to that.”
She adds seniors are still frustrated there is no appeal process.
The changes were announced by Justice Minister Shirley Bond after complaints from seniors about the suitability of computer-based testing for drivers who may be in their 80’s.
About 1,500 seniors are referred to the DriveABLE program every year by their doctors when they are considered to have mental issues that may harm their driving ability.
