Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says seniors should decide for themselves when it's time to stop driving and it's not up to the government to regulate their activities.
The premier's words come one day after a Toronto mother was killed when she and her baby were hit by a car that ran a red light, and police say the driver was a woman in her 80s.
The 12-week-old baby was unharmed despite being knocked out of the stroller.
McGuinty says seniors and their doctors should give careful reflection and consideration to when it's time to hang up their keys.
There does come a point when driving is no longer safe, McGuinty added, and sometimes it comes sooner rather than later.
McGuinty says he's willing to listen to any advice his transportation minister may have, but isn't sure it's something that calls for action on the part of government.
Ontario not looking to regulate older drivers after mother killed, McGuinty says
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Published on
January 13, 2010
- Published on July 1, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- Roseanne
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:01:01
Ontario does have in place testing for senior drivers at age 80 and above.
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- b
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:57:09
I would like to know the statistics for number of people killed by inexperienced young drivers compared to people killed by seniors.
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- Jack
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:52:01
This is a nightmare scenario for anyone with an aging parent who refuses to acknowledge that their ability to drive is diminishing.
McGuinty's response is short sighted and it hurts families. I'm grateful that my father lives in a province where mandatory testing is necessary for seniors over a certain age. If you pass the test, no problem - you keep driving. But if you fail, it helps the families and doctors of drivers who should no longer be on the road to convince their loved one that its time to move to the passenger seat.
Wasn't the news full of stories last week about the increasing numbers of seniors with dementia in the upcoming years? There are more and more seniors who simply don't have the capacity to make an impartial decision about their own driving skills. -
- Roseanne
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:49:15
Ontario does have in place testing for senior drivers at age 80 and above.
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- b
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:44:33
I would like to know the statistics for number of people killed by inexperienced young drivers compared to people killed by seniors.
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- Jack
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:36:01
This is a nightmare scenario for anyone with an aging parent who refuses to acknowledge that their ability to drive is diminishing.
McGuinty's response is short sighted and it hurts families. I'm grateful that my father lives in a province where mandatory testing is necessary for seniors over a certain age. If you pass the test, no problem - you keep driving. But if you fail, it helps the families and doctors of drivers who should no longer be on the road to convince their loved one that its time to move to the passenger seat.
Wasn't the news full of stories last week about the increasing numbers of seniors with dementia in the upcoming years? There are more and more seniors who simply don't have the capacity to make an impartial decision about their own driving skills.
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