Watch the video above: a new program will help keep seniors safe behind the wheel
SASKATOON – It’s a sense of freedom, pride and privilege, having a drivers license. Being an older, mature driver and having that license taken away can be devastating.
Lee Carlson has been a part of the Saskatchewan Safety Council’s ’55 Alive Program’ for over 12 years. He travels all around the province instructing safe driving.
“I’ve physically worked with drivers one-on-one in their late 70’s early 80’s quite capable, I’ve also worked with drivers in their 60’s that are struggling because now as we get older we start to have health concerns,” Carlson said.
It’s around the mid 50’s when people start experiencing changes to their vision, hearing, thinking skills, and physical mobility. all of which are important to operating a vehicle safely.
CAA is a strong advocate for traffic safety for all ages. Next week, the Saskatchewan branch will be joining forces with the Safety Council and SGI to launch a new seniors multimedia web tool and mature drivers course.
“It’s an opportunity for seniors, mature drivers and baby boomers to look at and check out the website and assess your skills as a driver and say where can I improve what areas out there that I might not be comfortable with driving,” said Christine Niemczyk with CAA Saskatchewan.
It’s a refresher some mature drivers are for, others not so much.
Carlson urges mature drivers to assess their skills so they can stay in the drivers seat for as long as possible.
“The whole idea is to encourage good driving habits out there, work on the bad habits and improve those,” Carlson said.
Seniors and their loved ones can assess driving skills from CAA and learn more about changing abilities, and, if needed, how to modify driving habits.
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