Local politicians are going to bat for seniors who must take Drive Safe and Drive Able testing in the Lower Mainland in order to keep their licence after they turn 80.
The story of local 80-year-old Barb Robertson's struggle to take the testing in Vancouver was first reported by Coast Reporter in March. Since that story ran, area politicians have been working to bring the testing to the Coast in an effort to make it more fair and accessible for seniors.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has supported the effort by sending two letters to the minister overseeing the testing.
"The board was in total agreement of one letter being sent to talk about support for these people and the fact that there should be testing available here at least once a month or that kind of option so they don't have to go all the way over there," said SCRD board chair Garry Nohr.
The second letter asked that seniors be warned about the upcoming testing on their 79th birthday, to help prepare them for the process.
Both letters were copied to Powell River - Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, who took the concerns to the legislature last week.
"I raised it in the house and made some suggestions to the minister responsible, the solicitor general, and thankfully she was actually open to some suggestions that I made and recognized the impact that this has on people," Simons said.
In minutes forwarded by Simons to Coast Reporter, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Shirley Bond said she was willing to look at bringing testing to the Coast.
"We need to look at an evolving, mobile way to do this, so people don't have to leave home. I think there are additional costs and anxiety. I also believe that we need to look at better information for families and for individuals because it is a medical issue; it is a cognitive issue. I think we do need to do a better job," she said.
"We will arrange a briefing for the opposition caucus where we could walk through those issues related to Drive Able."
Simons was pleased with the response, but wants to do more.
"I'm hoping that briefing will be helpful, and maybe, if I could ask at this point if it's possible that the Minister would be OK with me speaking with the superintendent [of motor vehicles] to look at all options and make sure that my constituents know that their concerns are being heard," Simons said in an exchange with Bond in the house.
Bond encouraged the move.
"I am looking at ways to try to make this a more responsive, more sensitive process, a better education process for families, for seniors' centres. I don't know how we do it, but I look forward to that input," she added.
