All’s well that ends well, but not before causing Barrhead senior, Joe Smith, a lot of stress, time and expense.
On Thursday, Oct. 9, Smith passed his driver’s license road test, successfully putting an end to what should have been a simple process of renewing his driver’s license.
Smith, who is 87-years-old, said his ordeal started about a month a go when he tried to renew his driver’s license.
In Alberta, when a person reaches 75 years old, they must first get a medical report signed by a doctor stating the person is medically able to drive a motor vehicle.
To get the report, Smith booked an appointment to see his doctor, but he was not available so he had to see another physician.
“Everything was good,” Smith said. “The doctor said my eyesight and overall health was good,” Smith said, adding that did not surprise him because he is fit and very active for his age.
Before Smith could leave the doctor asked him to take one more test, called the SIMARD MD.
The SIMARD MD, is a test that was developed by Dr. Bonnie Dobbs and Dr. Don Schopflocher at the University of Alberta’s Medically At-Risk Driver Centre, as a tool to help medical professionals determine, in an objective way, if a person has the mental ability to drive.
“I should have walked out the doctor’s office then,” Smith said. However he said he did not and the doctor proceeded with the test.
The test consisted of the doctor listing a dozen items and then asking Smith to recite them back. To make the task more difficult the doctor would periodically interrupt Smith and ask him a question before having him return to recite the list.
“It was so embarrassing and humiliating. I don’t know anyone who could pass this test, regardless of if they are a senior or not,” Smith said, adding that he has recreated the test with a number of his friends and family and not one person has been able to successfully.
Including his grandson, who is currently in university studying to become a doctor.
“He said the test was unfair and no one could be expected to pass it,” Smith said.
Because of Smith’s score in the SIMARD MD test, he was then asked to go to Edmonton to complete the DriveAble test. The DriveAble, is a 30 to 60 minute computerized test, designed to test people’s cognitive ability. For example one of the one of the computer tasks has a set of lines that move down the screen with gaps between them. The individual is instructed to move the box between the lines by pushing a button at the appropriate time. The task is to simulate the action required when a person is making a left turn at a stoplight.
“Everything happens so quick. You don’t have anytime to see what is going on,” Smith said. “The questions stay on the screen for such a short time, it does not give you enough time to answer.”
Especially, Smith said for people who are not very comfortable using computers.
“I don’t think it is very fair,” he said. “I was already nervous enough and then I have to take a test on a computer when I know nothing about them.”
Like the SIMARD test, Smith did not pass the exam and he was told his driver’s license would not be renewed.
However, Smith did not let that dissuade him. In an effort to get his license back, Smith decided to take his class 7 and get his learners and then retake his driver’s road exam to get his license back.
At first, he said the Alberta registries office in Edmonton wanted him to take his driver’s road test in Edmonton, but Smith held firm and took his test in Barrhead.
“The traffic in Edmonton is crazy and it is not the type of driving I have to do everyday,” Smith said.
The unfortunate part for Smith, is that Alberta Transportation, does not require people to take the SIMARD MD test.
Christine Way, Alberta Transportation press secretary, said the department does not require the SIMARD MD test.
“It is up to each doctor to decide if they want to use it during their evaluation of the person,” Way said.
Nor does Alberta Transportation require people to take the DriveAble test. A person can opt to take a standard road test
The DriveAble test is done by a private company and cost more than $200. However, if a doctor requests a person take a road test to demonstrate their driving abilities, there is no cost.
Smith said he was never made aware that he had a choice.
As for if a private company should have a say in whether a senior is still capable of driving, Smith said it should be up to the doctor in consultation with the family.
“If my family told me I shouldn’t be driving, I would not hesitate to give up my license,” he said.
Although Smith said he is glad, everything worked out for the best and he now has his driver’s license he is going to keep telling his story to make sure other seniors do not go through what he had to.
“What happened to me is not right,” Smith said. “Since my story I have gotten so many phone calls from people who say they are appalled at what happened to me,” Smith said. “Even though I now have my driver’s license I am going to keep speaking out to make sure this does not happen to anyone else.”
