DriveABLE testing is now available on the Coast for those seniors who need it, saving a trip to the city for a simple computer test to measure driver fitness.
"I know the seniors who need to take this test are going to be very relieved to find out they can save themselves a trip into Vancouver," said Ed Steeves, the former politician and current Sechelt mayoralty candidate who lobbied to bring the testing to the Coast.
DriveABLE is a touch-screen computer test that is used to assess things like motor speed and control, spatial judgment and decision-making and a driver's ability to identify hazardous driving situations.
Turning 80 years old can be a trigger for the test but it may also be deemed necessary when a cognitive impairment is suspected.
Seniors must have a driver medical report completed when they turn 80 and that report is sent to the office of the superintendent of motor vehicles (OSMV).
OSMV reviews the file and may call for a DriveABLE test to be administered.
Until recently, that testing was only available on special computers off Coast in centres like Vancouver, but on Friday, Oct. 21 DriveABLE came to Sechelt Insurance at Tsain-Ko Mall.
Among those at a demonstration of the program Friday were Steeves, Sechelt councillor Ann Kershaw and Barb Robertson, who raised concerns about the lack of accessibility to local testing in March of this year when she was forced to travel to Vancouver for testing.
"I'm so happy this is available here now. I wish it was when I had to take the testing," Robertson said.
Steeves tried his hand at a few of the tests on the touch screen computer, including one that resembled the game Frogger, where a dot must pass through a dashed moving line without hitting anything.
Another test involved touching a diamond shape when it flashed on the screen and then touching a pad at the base of the computer to wait for the next shape to appear.
Those taking the testing have the chance to navigate practice screens before taking the actual test, in order to get more comfortable with the actions required.
From now on DriveABLE tests will be scheduled as needed at Sechelt Insurance.
For more information about DriveABLE testing you can contact the OSMV at 250-387-7747.
