VICTORIA – The provincial government is taking action in response to concerns raised by some seniors about the DriveABLE program, announced Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

 

The changes will ensure that British Columbians can do their driving assessments closer to home and will alleviate the potential anxiety some seniors are experiencing around doing an on-screen assessment.

 

The most important change means that a decision regarding a person’s ability to continue driving will not be made solely from an in-office computer assessment. People who fail the computer assessment will be offered a DriveABLE road assessment. The results of the in-office assessment combined with the on-road evaluation and medical information will ensure license decisions are made in the fairest manner possible. The Province will pay for the cost of both assessments.

 

Of the 3.1 million B.C. drivers – 84,000 of whom are over the age of 80 – only about 1,500 are referred to take the DriveABLE assessment. People are referred to the superintendent by physicians when they have been identified as having cognitive issues that may hamper their ability to drive safely.

 

The Province has responded to seniors concerns, and is taking other steps to consistency and improved client service. In addition to expanding the DriveABLE to provide an on-road assessment for those who fail the in-office computer assessment, the Province will make the following changes:

 

• The service delivery model will be improved as quickly as possible by reducing the amount of travel for rural B.C. The service will be offered as close to home as possible by allowing more people to benefit from DriveABLE’s regional expansion and additional mobile services.