Elderdrive
Supposing someone has driven a vehicle all of their adult years, they would tend to operate a mechanical device like a car, in a kind of mental overdrive. They're so familiar with the process that they needn't bother giving any thought to what they're doing. Merely shove in behind the wheel of a car, and the rest is ritual, long-term memorization, familiarity with the mechanics of driving, and adjusting to the flow of traffic.
And of course, elderly people were once young, with all the muscular ability of the young and the near-to-instant reflexes that stood them in good stead when having to make instant, accident-prevention decisions. There is old and there is elderly. There is elderly in fairly good physical and mental health, and there is the frailty of very old age where the mental processes are nowhere as keen as they once were, and the physical reactions much, much, much slower.
Those truly elderly people who, under the critical gaze of younger, more able drivers, park the vehicle they're driving, and gradually peel themselves painfully out of the driver's seat, then hobble along the parking lot to their destination. Shopping, a doctor's appointment, meeting a friend, picking someone up, whatever. They're crotchety, deformed in bodily shape, incapacitated with age. And they're driving.
So what? Doesn't everyone drive? And isn't life a complete crock without the ability to get about where you want, when you want to? People are so accustomed to having their own personal means of transportation that it's become a no-brainer entitlement. And no brains is exactly what it takes to permit infirm in mind and body, elderly people obviously showing their age, to assume control of a metal monster.
Like statistics? How about that in the Province of Ontario there are ten licensed drivers older than 101... And 8,770 drivers ranging in age from 91 to 100; 408,349 in the 75 to 90 age-bracket. Now that's elderly, and that's a demographic that we well know suffer from a whole range of debilitating illnesses, thanks to the onset and the continuation of old age, since that's a state that proceeds apace.
Comfortable with the thought of all these inevitably age-impaired operators of motor vehicles? Yes, those 80 and over must renew their license every two years. They take the vision test, a written traffic test and finally take part in a group education session. They do not go out on the road with someone tasked with actually testing their practical road-ability behind the wheel.
Fading vision is a problem with advancing years, and so is hearing loss. Reaction time is slower - trusting that most elderly are capable of assessing situations that require an immediate response to avoid unpleasantness at the very least, an accident in the worst-case scenario. Remember reading about those elderly drivers knocking down pedestrians and then simply proceeding, not realizing they're dragging someone along?
These facts do not give great cause for comfort. As though there aren't problems enough with people imbibing alcohol and then proceeding to drive. As though there aren't enough speed demons on the road. As though they aren't more than enough young adults driving to impress one another, and engaging in road racing. As though people aren't always in a hell-bent-for-leather hurry, running amber lights and stop signs.
Surely this will make us feel better; the number of drivers in Ontario suffering from dementia is roughly 30,000, expected to triple to 100,000 by 2028. Why the hell are they permitted to drive? Their family members know very well the frail state of health of their elders, but hesitate to hurt their feeling by suggesting they constitute a danger to themselves and others behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Besides which, they have so few pleasures in a declining lifestyle, how can they be forbidden their independence? Easily: there are alternatives; kindly relatives driving them to appointments; taxis, ride-sharing, public transportation. What's the matter with this society, to just take it for granted that as long as the elderly drive during the day, avoid peak travel hours, drive slowly, all will be well.
Family members, attending physicians well aware of the state of their elderly patients' health and capabilities, and government agencies need to be more responsible. Human lives depend on it.
And of course, elderly people were once young, with all the muscular ability of the young and the near-to-instant reflexes that stood them in good stead when having to make instant, accident-prevention decisions. There is old and there is elderly. There is elderly in fairly good physical and mental health, and there is the frailty of very old age where the mental processes are nowhere as keen as they once were, and the physical reactions much, much, much slower.
Those truly elderly people who, under the critical gaze of younger, more able drivers, park the vehicle they're driving, and gradually peel themselves painfully out of the driver's seat, then hobble along the parking lot to their destination. Shopping, a doctor's appointment, meeting a friend, picking someone up, whatever. They're crotchety, deformed in bodily shape, incapacitated with age. And they're driving.
So what? Doesn't everyone drive? And isn't life a complete crock without the ability to get about where you want, when you want to? People are so accustomed to having their own personal means of transportation that it's become a no-brainer entitlement. And no brains is exactly what it takes to permit infirm in mind and body, elderly people obviously showing their age, to assume control of a metal monster.
Like statistics? How about that in the Province of Ontario there are ten licensed drivers older than 101... And 8,770 drivers ranging in age from 91 to 100; 408,349 in the 75 to 90 age-bracket. Now that's elderly, and that's a demographic that we well know suffer from a whole range of debilitating illnesses, thanks to the onset and the continuation of old age, since that's a state that proceeds apace.
Comfortable with the thought of all these inevitably age-impaired operators of motor vehicles? Yes, those 80 and over must renew their license every two years. They take the vision test, a written traffic test and finally take part in a group education session. They do not go out on the road with someone tasked with actually testing their practical road-ability behind the wheel.
Fading vision is a problem with advancing years, and so is hearing loss. Reaction time is slower - trusting that most elderly are capable of assessing situations that require an immediate response to avoid unpleasantness at the very least, an accident in the worst-case scenario. Remember reading about those elderly drivers knocking down pedestrians and then simply proceeding, not realizing they're dragging someone along?
These facts do not give great cause for comfort. As though there aren't problems enough with people imbibing alcohol and then proceeding to drive. As though there aren't enough speed demons on the road. As though they aren't more than enough young adults driving to impress one another, and engaging in road racing. As though people aren't always in a hell-bent-for-leather hurry, running amber lights and stop signs.
Surely this will make us feel better; the number of drivers in Ontario suffering from dementia is roughly 30,000, expected to triple to 100,000 by 2028. Why the hell are they permitted to drive? Their family members know very well the frail state of health of their elders, but hesitate to hurt their feeling by suggesting they constitute a danger to themselves and others behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Besides which, they have so few pleasures in a declining lifestyle, how can they be forbidden their independence? Easily: there are alternatives; kindly relatives driving them to appointments; taxis, ride-sharing, public transportation. What's the matter with this society, to just take it for granted that as long as the elderly drive during the day, avoid peak travel hours, drive slowly, all will be well.
Family members, attending physicians well aware of the state of their elderly patients' health and capabilities, and government agencies need to be more responsible. Human lives depend on it.
Labels: Human Relations, Realities, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ 6:01 PM
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