Older Drivers

Information related to older drivers.

When Is It Time to Stop Driving? A Guide for Seniors and Their Families

Image of Japanese Koreisha MarkDeciding to stop driving is one of the most emotionally charged choices a family will ever face. For senior drivers, a driver’s license represents a lifetime of freedom and independence. For their adult children, watching a parent’s driving skills decline brings deep worry, stress, and a fear for public safety.

Deciding to Stop Driving

image of a Senior DriverWe have built our world around the convenience of the motor vehicle. Without one, our focus suddenly becomes much more narrow. Are you prepared to cope with the decision to stop driving when the time comes?

Dad Can't Shoulder Check

image of driver performing a shoulder checkMy father, who just turned 80, is undergoing a mandatory drivers' exam next month. He did not pass the previous one, largely due to his inability to shoulder check, according to the score sheet he was given.

Road Safety for Seniors

Road Safety for Seniors is a seminar or webinar that I created to present as part of Vancouver Island University's Elder College program in the early 2000s. It has evolved from a single three hour presentation to an eight hour presentation held in two hour sessions over a period of four weeks. 

image typical of seniors behind the wheel

Planning to Become a Better Driver

image of a Wise OwlI've joined the ranks of the senior citizens and my last formal driver training class was in the late 1990's. With that in mind I was wondering about planning to become a better driver. ChatGPT offered some advice, but I still had to correct some of it. Here's what AI shared with me in response to my question after my edits.

Supervisor for a Senior Driver

senior driverQuestion: A dear senior friend who was called for a re-examination failed the road test. That friend has now been issued a learner driver's licence which requires them to be supervised by a fully licensed adult driver. What is the legal responsibility of said driver supervisor?

Night Driving Glasses

Night Driving GlassesI've had a couple of regular correspondents ask me recently about night driving glasses. These glasses have yellow lenses and are supposed to cut glare and increase contrast allowing you to see better in the darkness. After a bit of research, it appears that using these glasses is not a good idea.

Court Rules Against Driver in ERA Dispute

BC Courts Coat of Arms imageThis case provides a clear look at how the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles in British Columbia decides who is fit to stay behind the wheel. In Ahmad v. British Columbia, the court explains why a driver's licence cancellation was upheld despite the driver’s appeal.

Dad Should Stop Driving

stop driving imageHelp! My father is 87 and has had a minor accident. My sibling and I would like to see him give up his license and stop driving to keep him safe, not to mention others. He won't give it up freely! We don't want to be disinherited either! Who or what do we contact without him knowing?