Barbara J. Hamby

Driving Privileges

Toward the end of the instruction given by the A.A.R.P. volunteer for senior drivers, the delicate subject of when to retire your driving privileges was broached. Odd how much more sensitive the issue seems when you’re in the affected age bracket. The instructor suggested that, if you have any doubt about your abilities, you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and ask them to assess your driving skill. I immediately thought that they would probably pick up your license while you were there if your performance wasn’t satisfactory and you might not get a chance to improve it. Someone else suggested that, for veterans, the Veterans’ Administration would also perform that service.

Most of us think we are excellent drivers. I can remember the frustration that my daughter and I suffered when we tried to get the State of Washington to pull her father’s license after his alcoholism resulted in dementia. He had been discovered by police hundreds of miles from home with no idea where he was or how he got there; just sitting in his car. She had to go get him and then later bring his car home. Eventually she and her husband were able to get his car away from him and get him placed in a residence where he could be supervised and taken care of.

I was surprised when my mother moved from Yuma to Vancouver, where I was living at the time and voluntarily gave up driving. I later learned it was because she was living in a facility where very few of the residents had cars and they immediately began asking her to give them rides. She didn’t want that responsibility. I was relieved, because she was unfamiliar with the Vancouver area and its many one-way streets and I’d been afraid that would be a problem. Fortunately, I was able to take her shopping and to doctors’ appointments, as well as out to lunch and other outings.

I continue to be grateful to be living where I am. There are several alternative types of transportation available if/when the day comes that my driving is no longer safe. We learned more about those during the class this afternoon.

Unfortunately the heavier clothing I wore today still did not keep me comfortably warm in that cold room, but we all stayed awake for the remainder of the class. We finished about an hour earlier than planned, so we didn’t suffer as long today. I’m glad I don’t believe you can catch cold by getting chilled.