You're too old to drive!

[Cal Sibley]

That's the message I seem to be getting from Motor Vehicles. I had a stroke last year, but feel pretty good now. By law, your family doctor has to notify Motor Vehicles of this and other conditions that could affect your driving. Motor Vehicles called me in for a bunch of reaction tests on a computer ($400. out of pocket expense) and a thorough road test. I was kept on small
residential, snow covered streets for the entire test. I was told I could probably pass the test but needed a few driver lessons at $75. a pop. before re-attempting the drivers test. Incidentally I was kept on the roiad for 40 minutes. I think normally it's about 20 minutes. My learners permit specifies I drive an automatic transmision which I haven't driven in years. Hey, it's my $20,000 for a new vehicle, not theirs. I've never been so disgusted in my life. It's the first time I've felt discriminated due to age, and of course I don't like it. I agree with safety above all else, but feel they're loading the deck. Has anyone else got this feeling lately? Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal



Cal - Montreal

[rubicon]

Cal, are you saying you had to pay for a test given by the dmv and have to start all over with a learners permit? Are the classes private or are they dmv too?

[FIJI]

thought I'd just post the other side of the coin. (not to stir the pot...just for "perspective")

Sept 23 my 74 year old aunt was in an accident on I-75. Witnesses say she was doing about 90 mph and hit a 6 ton landscaping truck head-on. Both vehicles went into the ditch and the truck tipped over on her car. She was unrestrained and ther Golden Retriever was ejected. Luckily the two guys in the truck were uninjured. Some seven weeks, and two hospitals later, shes still in a hospital bed. Cant talk, cant walk, and the outlook is grim. Never been sick a day in her life (literally) until now.

Then......I find out that the DAY BEFORE the accident. Her doc told her she had Alzheimer's and shouldn't drive -but nobody took the keys away from her ! (I dont live nearby)

I find all this out AFTER the accident happend. As her guardian and power of attorney I'm left to handle the "mess" left behind.

No easy answers to your dilemma.

[Nulle]

Cal in the US Medical records are confidential so this would be a very rare and maybe an illegal area. With Government paying for Medical things I guess your privacy is also lost . Too bad for sure and hope things work out ok.

[Cal Sibley]

Rubicon,

I think the classes are private, under contract to DMV. I lived in Maryland for some years and returned there to finish out my working years. Maryland computerized their system a while back, and they have no record of previous license holders beyond about fifteen years. I said I was a former resident and license holder. They couldn't find me on their data base. I guess they thought I was lying until I produced an old expired state license.
That got me my license in a hurry. Good service too.

Fiji,

I'm well aware of your point. At some point you simply have to stop driving, no two ways about it, but should you be subjected to a test far more difficult than normal? That reeks of discrimination to me. Also, most people are retired at 67. Should the government be allowed to charge you well over $400. for this service, if the vast majority are going to fail it? In Canada we take pride in a sense of fair play, but in this instance it seems lacking. If a person can't prove their fitness then revoke the license. There's no other choice, but don't under any condition stack the deck. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Nulle]

Cal: Your right that the test should be the same as that taken by anybody else and maybe at the most have an imformal interview with the person so see how they respond and think and that should be it .

[Mike Moss]

Cal,

Sorry about your condition. Since I am up there in age also I feel the same way you do about it.

I would say to take the lessons and pass the test. It does seem like a lot of government however.

When you get another car try to get one with ABS. That device really helps us stop.

I prefer auto tranmissions even on the Corvette. They are safer to use. If one needs to stop fast on ice with an auto shift it into neutral.

[Cal Sibley]

This is an update to my original post several months ago. I sat out the winter, not wanting to take my road test on the small, narrow streets of this very old city. Then I did as motor vehicles recommended, took a couple of driving lessons from an accredited driving school. After two lessons the instructor was convinced I wouldn't benefit from additional lessons and told me to go ahead with the road test so I'm in the process of scheduling it. I'll compare the difference between the expectations of the driving instructor and motor vehicles. That should give me a good idea of actual prejudices if they exist. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Nulle]

Good Luck and am sure you will do fine and keep us posted.

[Cal Sibley]

Hello Mike,

I took the driver lessons. After the second one, the instructor said I was fine, go take the test again. So I did last Friday and thought I did rather well. How did I do? Who can tell. Usually as soon as the test is over the licenser giving the test tells you if you passed or failed, right? It's been that way with driving tests I've taken in the States, Europe and elsewhere in Canada. I was told they would get back to me in about a week with the results. I find this totally obscene. I should be subject to the same standards as others taking this test. Maybe they're looking for perfection. Actually I think they're just looking for some rason to fail me. It's very discouraging. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Cal Sibley]

Hello all,

Sorry to have sounded like such a whiner. I finally passed their ridiculous test on the third try and will get my license back shortly.
All in all I was without a license for about 18mos., and it cost me over $700. I didn't mention it before, but I drove a 38' metro bus in Washington DC for 11 years and was a licensed driving instructor to boot. I know when I'm being given the runaround. I've heard others say this also. The rehabilitation specialist sends you to the driving school of her preferrence for your lessons at $70. an hour. There's a lot of room for collusion there,
and why wait a week to find out if you passed. Shouldn't you be graded and told immediately while the experience is fresh in their mind? The most questionable part of the exam is their insistence you turn your head rearward to check for traffic when changing lanes. The rear view mirror and outside right mirror should be enough for you to determine safety in the case of potential blind spots. Turn your head around and you create the worse possible blind spot, the one right in front of you. It's no wonder we pay the highest insurance premiums in N. America. I know it's the law that physicians must notify motor vehicles of illnesses such as strokes and seizures. That's commendable, but I'd still like to punch my doctor in the nose for doing it, if only she weren't so damn cute! And, I do firmly believe it - motor vehicles want you off the road when you reach a seniors age. I'm convinced. It's does feel good to be getting behind the wheel again. Thanks for putting up with me. My topic was directed at this forum because some of you are apt to experience this same thing in months to come. Best wishes to all.

Cal - Montreal

[FIJI]

..."on the road again!!"



CONGRATS

[Nulle]

Great ! Now drive down here and we will shoot some pheasants and quail lol

[gspsonny03]

Congrats Cal, glad to have you back with us on the road.

[Cal Sibley]

Whoa Mohammed ! Maybe I spoke too soon. It appears the assholes in Quebec City are on a wildcat strike so nothing is getting processed. Sometimes it's hard to tell when they're on strike. They do so damn little to begin with. I'd hate to see Canada split up, but honestly feel we'd be much better off without these snivelling prima donnas. I guess I'll have to wait them out as usual. They'll eventually get bored and go back to work. Of course firing the whole damn bunch mught not be a bad idea either. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal