A man who witnessed the multiple vehicle crash that was caused by an elderly woman driving the wrong way on Highway 99 near Delta, B.C. on Tuesday, says seniors should be subject to regular tests before they are permitted to get behind the driving wheel.
"People should get tested frequently to make sure that everything is tickety boo,'' said Steve Carson.
While he was driving south on Hwy 99 on Tuesday evening, the Abbotsford resident said he was startled to see an elderly woman driver taking the wrong turn while exiting the Ladner Truck Road, and winding up on the wrong side of the Hwy. 99.
Minutes later, the sedan that she was driving slammed into an oncoming vehicle and she died from her injuries. Carson said he narrowly avoided being hit by a truck that had swerved to avoid her and would causing a second accident about one kilometre away from where the woman died.
"I don't have a problem with people driving as long as they are capable,'' he said.
Based on kilometres traveled, the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) says seniors are more likely than other motorists -- except very young drivers -- to be involved in a crash. It also says seniors have more serious injury accidents.
But despite a flurry of accidents involving senior drivers in recent days, B.C.'s Superintendent of Motor Vehicles Steve Martin isn't calling for a crackdown.
"The issue for us and my department is somebody's medical fitness to drive and people at all ages have different medical conditions,'' he said.
Since they drive less often, he says seniors account for about 10 per cent of all crashes.
"It's not necessarily that older drivers are posing a greater risk,'' said David Dunne, of the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation.
License renewal
"What we really need to focus on are those individuals who have certain medical conditions that effect their functional ability to perform the things that they need to do to operate a vehicle safely," said Dunne.
When they turn 80, or if they already have a medical condition, B.C. drivers must visit a doctor to get a licence renewal and they must be tested every two years. The rules are virtually the same Canada wide.
"What we know about aging is that beginning around age 80 you experience more chronic conditions and some of those conditions impact your ability to drive," said Martin.
Every year, 100,000 B.C. drivers have their medical ability assessed. But the flurry of recent accidents raises the question of whether the current rules are tough enough.
"Are you asking me should seniors be tested every six weeks or something?" said man, who was interviewed by CTV News. "No I think we're ok most of us, yes"
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Mike Killeen
