Driving a car is a privilege, regardless of whether you’re learning, or coming to terms with the fact your driving days are nearing an end. Photo: courtneyk.
Most of us were learner drivers at one stage, or we’ve faced the challenging role of teaching someone to drive.
It’s a bloody tough gig learning how to drive – how to control a vehicle, follow the rules, drive to the road and weather conditions, all the while keeping an eye on your fellow drivers.
It’s a bit like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach and sometimes you think you’ll never get the hang of it.
As if all that isn’t bad enough, a story we published this week reveals a horror “stunt” targeted at L-platers. Apparently these mindless idiots think it’s hilarious to honk their horns at L-platers waiting at traffic lights, the minute the light turns green.
That’s enough to startle any driver, but it can have dangerous repercussions for a young, inexperienced driver in city traffic.
In fact the driving instructor in Michele Tydd’s story, Delma Johnstone, told how one of her students copped this harassment while she was in the midst of her driving test.
Not surprisingly, she reacted by pulling over in the next lane in front of another car. The poor student was distraught and the testing officer had no alternative other than to fail her.
The NSW road rules are clear, you must not use your horn or any other warning device, unless:
- you need to warn other road users about the position of your vehicle
- you need to warn others that you are approaching
- you need to warn animals to get off the road
- it’s part of an anti-theft or alcohol interlock device.
And critically, never use your horn to scare or intimidate other road users.
The rules mean you can’t even give a quick beep to say hello or goodbye to friends, let alone honk your horn out of frustration or anger, or just because you’re an idiot and think it’s somehow funny to scare the crap out of a novice driver.
There are fines for misusing a car horn – currently $337 – but I reckon there should be harsher penalties than just financial ones. How about they’re forced to ferry around the learner driver for free for as long as it takes for them to get their licence? Or they’re just forced to hand over their licence.
At the other end of the driving spectrum are the drivers who’ve had their licence for decades, often with an unblemished record.
Certainly their wealth of experience driving in all kinds of conditions on all kinds of roads gives them an edge over younger, less confident drivers.
But what happens when age starts to weary them and their abilities?
With the proportion of Australians over 65 expected to reach almost 25 per cent by 2050, many more seniors will face the prospect of losing their ability to drive.
In NSW, drivers between the ages of 75 and 84 are required to have an annual medical assessment from their doctor to continue to hold a licence. Those over 85 also need to pass a driver test or assessment once every two years.
How do you know when it’s time to hand in your licence? Or how do you convince mum, dad, grandparents that they’re no longer capable of getting behind the wheel? Especially if they are convinced there is nothing wrong with their driving abilities.
It can be an emotional time for all involved, and understandably so. For many seniors, losing their licence feels like losing their independence, their self-worth and even their identity.
At 82, our family matriarch is still a capable driver, but Alzheimer’s is robbing her of confidence when driving to unfamiliar places. The stress of getting lost, then running late, adds to her general confusion so unless she’s driving to a familiar location she’s now a passenger.
At her last medical assessment we all agreed she should be on a restricted licence so she can only drive within a certain distance. We also rely on technology to keep track of her just in case she does stray. Like a teenager, she’s on the family tracking app and her medi-alert does the same thing.
Mum has been unequivocal about stating she’ll hand in her licence the minute she doesn’t feel confident or safe when driving (or when we suggest it) and we only hope she remains that way into the future.
But there are many, many seniors who are just as unequivocal about keeping their licence regardless of their health or ability.
Fortunately in the Illawarra our seniors, like all non-drivers, do have transport options available to them, and public transport is just one of those options.
We’re also extremely fortunate to have the Aged Dementia Health Education and Research (ADHERe) centre based at Wollongong University. ADHERe works in partnership with industry providers, health care practitioners and consumers to develop educational resources, as well as research, to ensure older people and their carers have high quality services that promote a fulfilling life.
One of those resources is the Decision Aid for Older Drivers, which aims to help seniors (and their families) make informed decisions about their driving futures. It was created in partnership with health professionals, academics and health professionals from a range of disciplines and most importantly, with input from older drivers.
It encourages conversations about driving – whether to continue driving, modify driving routines or retire from driving – and how to prepare for other ways to get around.
It is a practical, sensible, understandable document that I would recommend to all older drivers as well as to children and carers of older drivers like me.
I’ll be sitting it in front of the matriarch when I get a chance and also keeping a copy in my top drawer for down the track. After all, none of us are getting any younger.
