Letter to Minister of Transportation

March 13, 2014

Via Email, transportation.minister@gov.ca

The Honourable Mr. Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation,

324 Legislature Building

10800 97 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5K 2B6

Dear Mr. Minister:

Doctors electronically connected to Alberta Transportation, Department of Driver Fitness.

Yesterday, we attended at a seniors driving information meeting in St. Alberta, AB. which was intended to provide support for seniors who have been stripped of their license to drive. Mrs. Bonnie Dobbs PhD. who led the meeting, informed us that all doctors will soon be electronically hooked to the Department of Driver Fitness, of Alberta of Transportation.
Please advise us of the intent of this protocol and the attending cost to taxpayers.

Mrs. Dobbs further explained that therefore seniors will no longer be able to get off the hook, once in a physicians office they have been deemed to have dementia. She further discussed, with apparent contempt for seniors who “doctor shop’’ (in order to avoid the Simard MD testing).

Some seniors are suffering total neglect in long term care facilities, skin rotting and blackening on their bodies resulting in deadly septicemia has became recently public in Calgary. However your government is concerning itself and spending scarce resources and effort to unfairly target, destabilize and humiliate independent, functioning Alberta citizens. Please note attached, yesterday’s email.

We would be grateful to be in receipt of your response concerning these matters, by the 2nd of April 2014. Thank you.

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

cc.
Honorable Associate Minister of Seniors, Mr. Dave Quest

Mr. Steve Young MLA

Attachments

Subject: Website Feedback: senior drivers test

Date: March 12, 2014 9:27:42 AM MDT

Hello,

  My parents who are both in their early 80’s and in good health are having a similar (& extremely frustrating) experience in regards to my father renewing  his driver’s licence.  He is physically in good health but did fail the Simard MD test.   Mom and dad have not heard from DriveABLE yet (they live in the XXXXXXXXXX area so perhaps that makes a difference)   In the process they seem to be getting the run around, going from the doctor’s office to the local DMV office, to the post office and from there apparently back to the doctor’s office thus far and who knows where else before this is over with!

      After reading some of the similar accounts on your site and in particular the letter from the Dept of Transportation stating that it does not require seniors to take the Simard MD or DriveABLE test to renew their licence….my question is:   can the senior simply demand a road test and forget this other hoopla or does the doctor’s say trump all?  

    My parents live on the farm and still actively farm – my father still is a competent driver/machinery operator…no dings, close calls, traffic tickets or fearful passengers!   If you have any suggestions as to how they can handle this situation less painfully we would certainly appreciate it.

    Also, thank-you for all you do in regards to the issues of senior citizens.  Until this experience with my parents, I had no idea how real or common these concerns were.   Age discrimination certainly does exist!!!  How sad it is.

Response

Letter to Driver Fitness

March 21, 2014

Via Facsimile (780) 422-6612

Acting Director, Ms. Kelley Merilees-Keppel
Driver Fitness and Monitoring Branch
Main Floor, Twin Atria Building
4999 – 98 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 2X3

Dear Madam:

Doctors electronically connected to Alberta Transportation, Department of Driver Fitness and Monitoring.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014, we attended a meeting in St. Alberta, AB. conducted by Mrs. Bonnie Dobbs PhD which was intended to be a support meeting for seniors who have been stripped of their license to drive. At that meeting, she informed us that all doctors will soon be electronically hooked to the Department of Driver Fitness and Monitoring, Alberta Transportation.

Mrs. Dobbs further explained, that therefore seniors will no longer be able to get off the hook, once, in a physicians office, they have been deemed to have dementia.

Please advise us 1. why is this electronic monitoring being put in place? 1. who is responsible for initiating this troubling protocol? 1. the attending cost to taxpayers

Alberta Transportation statistics indicate that seniors are the safest drivers on Alberta roads.

Mrs. Dobbs, further expressed strong objection for seniors who “doctor shop’’ (in order to avoid Simard MD testing).

Mrs. Dobbs again also told us, of her ‘night time driving’ deficit. Since it is mandatory to report driving deficits, please advise us if this senior Albertan has reported her deficit to the Department of Driver Fitness and Monitoring?

Attached, please find an example of elder abuse.

We would be grateful to be in receipt of your response concerning these urgent matters, by the 2nd of April 2014. Thank you.

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

cc. Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Wayne Drysdale
Honorable Associate Minister of Seniors, Mr. Dave Quest
Mr. Steve Young MLA

Subject: Website Feedback: senior drivers test

Hello,

My parents who are both in their early 80’s and in good health are having a similar (& extremely frustrating) experience in regards to my father renewing his driver’s licence. He is physically in good health but did fail the Simard MD test. Mom and dad have not heard from DriveABLE yet (they live in the XXXXXXXXXX area so perhaps that makes a difference) In the process they seem to be getting the run around, going from the doctor’s office to the local DMV office, to the post office and from there apparently back to the doctor’s office thus far and who knows where else before this is over with!

After reading some of the similar accounts on your site and in particular the letter from the Dept of Transportation stating that it does not require seniors to take the Simard MD or DriveABLE test to renew their licence….my question is: can the senior simply demand a road test and forget this other hoopla or does the doctor’s say trump all?

My parents live on the farm and still actively farm – my father still is a competent driver/machinery operator…no dings, close calls, traffic tickets or fearful passengers! If you have any suggestions as to how they can handle this situation less painfully we would certainly appreciate it.

Also, thank-you for all you do in regards to the issues of senior citizens. Until this experience with my parents, I had no idea how real or common these concerns were. Age discrimination certainly does exist!!! How sad it is.

Tags: Department of Driver Fitness, DriveAble, Minister of Transportation, simard md, Steve Young, Wayne Drysdale