Jill Couch, Pro 31 Safe Senior Driver
At September’s Senior Network meeting in Fort Collins, Jill Couch with Pro 31 Safe Senior Driver gave an informative presentation on evaluating senior drivers. Her company reaches out to many senior and professional groups on educating the public about safe senior driving and helping or evaluating seniors with their driving abilities.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2012, there were 5,560 people 65 and older killed and 214,000 injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. These older people made up 17% of all traffic fatalities and 9% of all people injured in traffic crashes during the year. These statistics have been increasing each year. This is attributed to senior’s lower vision and hearing, cognitive abilities, and use of prescription drugs while driving per other studies.
Jill evaluates senior drivers on vision, hearing, rules of the road, and cognitive ability such as response time with several tests to determine if they are fit to drive. If the two hour test results indicate they are not fit, she convinces the senior driver to give up their car keys. Her organization has been very successful in removing unfit seniors from driving versus their children, who have much less success. Visit their website: www.pro31safeseniordriver.org for more details.
In many cases, the senior driver’s personal doctor, optometrist, or their children can request the state’s Motor Vehicles Dept. have a new driving test performed before renewal or cancel the driver’s license if they feel the senior driver is incompetent in driving. Law enforcement can also intercede by requesting the senior driver be re-examined during a stop or vehicle accident.
Children can often see lots of dents in the senior‘s car or receiving calls from parent’s friends or neighbors before making a judgment call.
However, most children don’t know how to handle the issue with their parents, but can recommend discussing the issue with their doctor or optometrist before a tragic accident occurs or call Jill’s organization for help at 970-988-9085. Pro31 Safe Driver charges a fee to visit the senior driver and initiate their two hour test with a comprehensive summary.
In Colorado, all senior drivers’ over 65 are required to take an eye test before receiving their driver’s license renewal every five years. No online renewals are allowed for senior drivers.
So seniors or their children, please ask for help as our staff at 50 Plus hates to see a tragic accident due to declining vision or cognitive abilities. There are many tips for safe senior driving or alternative forms of transportation for you to utilize as provided in an updated 2016 handbook, Colorado’s Guide for Aging Drivers available by the Colorado Department of Transportation. All Aspen Clubs and the Larimer County Office on Aging have this important booklet, which you can pick up or mailed to you.
AARP, AAA, and AOTA have created their popular national CarFit program including Northern Colorado by visiting www.car-fit.org. Two new free Car-Fit classes for seniors will be available by the UCHealth Aspen Club on October 3 in Loveland and on November 7 in Fort Collins. Please call 970-495-8560 to register for this free 30 minute senior driving evaluation program. You will be glad you did!