A decision by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec could result in thousands of elderly Quebecers losing their driver’s licenses.
Effective immediately, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) will automatically revoke the driver’s license of people with neurocognitive disorders as soon as the diagnosis is made by the doctor.
Previously, SAAQ required a road test before making a decision.
SAAQ sent a letter to healthcare professionals in early November noting this change.
This new procedure aims to “facilitate the management of risks in terms of road safety and to be simpler at administrative level,” says the letter received by TVA Nouvelles.
The new measure risks disrupting and further complicating the lives of drivers over the age of 75, who number nearly 422,000 in Quebec and who mainly face assessments for neurocognitive problems.
To get their driver’s license back, people must appeal the decision and show they are still fit to drive. So that burden is on them.
Finally
Mélanie Cadrin, who lost her 2-year-old daughter in a road accident involving an 86-year-old man, is delighted with the state-owned company’s decision.
“I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy. If we could prevent this from happening to other families, I would be the happiest person in the world,” she says.
On September 18, 2010, this Lavalloise was on her way to a family celebration with her parents and daughter Frédérique. Everyone smiled, the toddler pointed to the Jacques Cartier bridge with his fingertips in amusement.
“We were stopped on the back road of the 132 to take the exit when the man drove towards us at 100 km/h,” says the mother.
Unfortunately, the girl and her grandmother did not survive the impact. The guilty driver escaped unharmed and died of multiple cancers a few months later.
“I spoke to his son who told me his father shouldn’t have driven. He told me that he and his sister didn’t agree to letting their father drive,” Ms Cadrin laments.
” Good start “
“It’s a good start, but we also have to offer these people solutions,” says the mother, who has been running an educational campaign for safe mobility for seniors since her daughter’s death.
But the mental health consequences of several thousand elderly people who will lose their driving licenses are likely to be significant, fears geriatrician Fadi Massoud, who was hit by TVA.
“At the age of 60 or 80, this can mean a restriction of the autonomy and quality of life of these people,” regrets the doctor.
Thousands of victims
In a year in Quebec
- 191,000 drivers have undergone a medical evaluation for cognitive disorders, cataracts, muscle degeneration, etc.
- 50% keep their license
- 41% other maintained with restrictive conditions
- 0.08% lost their license or had to change classes
- 4% had to undergo a new medical assessment at the request of the SAAQ.
- 1,244,706 people 65 years of age or older in possession of a Quebec driver’s license
Source: SAAQ data and statistics for 2020
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