Challenging the Simard MD

Renewing your driving license

In Alberta, the legal requirement for a senior to have one’s license renewed is that:
1. a physician carries out a physical exam on the senior who wishes to have his license renewed
2. the physician signs the Medical Examination For Motor Vehicle Operators Form which certifies that on the noted date, he examined the senior in accordance with Safety Code Medical Standards.
3. If the physician does not recommend a driver’s examination, (section B) then the applicant senior has met the full requirement to have his Alberta Driving License renewed. He/she can go to the Registry & obtain his/her license.

GOVERNMENT EDICT

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Seniors, who attend at a physician’s office requesting a physical exam, in order to renew their driving license, are not sick persons requiring medical care. They are individuals, who have come because of a government edict, which directs that seniors must undergo a physical exam in order to renew their driving license.

This edict exists, despite the fact that according to Alberta statistics, seniors are the safest drivers on Alberta roads.

COST TO THE SENIOR

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This edict incurs a significant cost to the senior.
A physician may bill between $80 and $150.

Some physicians regularly test the cognitive status of their clients. They subject all clients, who are driver license applicants, to the Simard MD test, although we are told ad nauseum that Simard MD testing is intended only for those who are medically at risk.

We have been advised by academics who are familiar with the Simard MD that this testing sets up the senior for failure, not only by the nature of the questions but also by the way the test is scored.

More recently, the almost guaranteed failure results in the senior being directed to the DRIVERCHECK Tes which may cost the senior with $650.00 (with GST $682.50)

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PRIVATE FOR PROFIT ENTERPRISE

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These tests are sponsored by a private for profit enterprise. To date the Department of Transportation has failed to advise us that they have reviewed or authorized this testing.

We can name senior individuals who though they had a job and needed to drive to work, were told by their physician that they could no longer drive until they passed the DRIVERCHECK test.

We can name individuals, who after months of unspeakable anguish, sleepless nights, extensive, expensive psychological testing, hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars, all at their own expense, were able to prove to the satisfaction of Driver Fitness of the Department of Transportation that they are cognitively intact and thus regained their right to drive.

We can name individuals who failed both tests but easily passed a road test.

This begs the question, why would anyone, especially a professional doctor carry out such a bizarre protocol if he did not have a vested interest in referring elderly persons to these Tests?

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DRIVEABLE and DRIVERCHECK

Products, such as Driveable and DRIVERCHECK, which allegedly test cognition, have been promoted under the guise of research, science and safety.
Seniors must fearlessly say NO to all cognitive testing. In doctor’s offices, hospitals, private homes, wherever, say NO.

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SENIOR DISREGARD:FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE

Finally, one must ask, how can products which have been developed at the University of Alberta with monies from the Heritage Trust Fund and taxpayer money, now be used by a developer in private enterprise? This matter cries out for a public Inquiry.

We allege this to be a massive, sophisticated, multi-million dollar scam perpetrated against the older citizens of this province by government, private interests. Unfortunately some physicians have bought into this corrupt protocol.

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Updated October 5, 2026

Tags: DriveAble, elder financial abuse: violation of senior rights: challenging DriveAble & DriverCheck, Simard