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P/SUNNY Temp: 82 °F Wind: W at 13 mph Monday, August 4, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 1, 2003 Medford driving instructor John Bergstrom, 87, encourages older drivers to use self-assessment tests to determine if they are fit to drive. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Older drivers and their families struggle with when to stop driving Serious automobile crashes involving older drivers have raised the issue By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Dark glasses on, radio off, seat belt firmly fastened, John Bergstrom backs slowly out of his east Medford driveway. Mid-morning traffic is sparse this Tuesday as he eases the 1991 Plymouth minivan onto the neighborhood streets, but Bergstrom is cautious just the same. At 87, he knows he doesn’t drive like he used to. Even after 15 years as an AARP driving instructor, Bergstrom says he’s alert for signs it’s time to hang up the keys. So when a too-narrow construction zone leads Bergstrom to squeal tires against a curb, he winces. And when he purposely neglects to turn on a blinker during a lane change, he chides his passengers for not noticing. Advertisement "I feel good about my driving," says Bergstrom. "But I know the points that I have to watch." Such self-assessment has become crucial in recent weeks as serious automobile crashes involving older drivers have riveted local and national attention on whether they present heightened danger to themselves and others. In June, a 92-year-old Jacksonville man struck a Medford pedestrian in a shopping center parking lot, critically injuring her. Two weeks later, a 91-year-old veered off Oregon’s Highway 99 near King City, killing a young mother and her baby. Last month, an 86-year-old driver crashed his Buick into an outdoor market in Santa Monica, Calif., killing 10 people. Last week, a 79-year-old man apparently lost control of his automobile at a Florida farmers’ market, injuring six people. The incidents have renewed debate about revoking licenses of drivers after a certain age, and spawned calls for more rigorous screening. At issue is the balance between public safety and personal independence. "I know myself if I lost my ability to drive tomorrow, it would be difficult," says Dina Rudesheim, 37, an Oregon State Police dispatcher who fields daily complaints about local older drivers. "But as you age you have to expect some changes and make plans. We’re not going to let you plow over people." Some older drivers and their advocates contend that the attention arising from recent tragedies is misplaced. "What I see is when something happens, it is magnified because of the horror," says Ed Alcantar, 75, a statewide coordinator for the AARP’s 55 Alive driving classes. "I’m very agile mentally and physically and there’s a lot of people like me," he says. But even educated drivers like Bergstrom admit that elderly motorists — and their families — must be increasingly vigilant. "This is a problem that seniors have," he says. "We have to decide whether we’re a danger to ourselves and others." That’s particularly true in Jackson County, where nearly 18 percent of some 155,000 licensed drivers are older than 65, according to state Driver and Motor Vehicle Services figures. In Oregon overall, about 14 percent of drivers are older than 65; nationally, the figure is about 10 percent. Age alone isn’t the issue, says Bergstrom, a retired electronics industry executive who drives about 5,000 miles a year. It’s ability that counts most, he says, detailing the most common problems for older drivers. Blind corners and left turns are precarious. Ditto for intersections and merging traffic. "Our main problem is a right of way problem," he says. "We pull out in front of people." Speed is another issue, Bergstrom says. If many teenagers drive too fast, many seniors drive too slow. "We have to admit we are a hazard because we are slower," Bergstrom says. "We’re legal, but we’re a hazard." Even when seniors know better, accidents happen, says Bergstrom. Seven years ago, at age 80, he pulled out in front of a speeding driver at a blind intersection, causing the only accident of his driving career. No one was seriously hurt, but Bergstrom was embarrassed. "I said, ‘I’m giving up as an instructor,’ " he recalls. "But then I realized one of the benefits of being an instructor is telling others and reminding yourself of proper technique." Classes such as the $10 55 Alive Driver Safety Program help older drivers assess and improve their ability. Grace Clark, 86, of Ashland, says last month’s session was a valuable refresher. Clark, who’s been driving since she was a 13-year-old farm girl, believes she’ll know when it’s time to turn in her keys. "I think when I have a hard time seeing the traffic, or if I start to get shaky about somebody getting in my lane," she says. "But I’m very aware right now of everything and everybody." What if older drivers are unable or unwilling to evaluate their skills? Oregon law requires all drivers to renew their licenses every eight years but does not require screening. After age 50, a vision test is required, also at eight-year intervals. More rigorous requirements were considered in 1999, when Oregon legislators directed a committee of doctors and advocates for the elderly to study the effects of aging on driving. The panel concluded that neither age nor medical conditions alone are sufficient predictors of future motor vehicle accidents. The risk depends on several factors — vision, hearing, strength, reaction time — too individual for common laws, the group concluded. The committee recommended more frequent evaluation and more complex testing for older drivers. But only one of 26 recommendations made it past lawmakers: a requirement that medical providers report severe and uncontrollable impairments to the state. The law took effect June 1 in six southwestern Oregon counties, including Jackson County. Since then, 119 drivers — including a dozen in Jackson County — have had their licenses suspended within five days of the report, says David House, spokesman for the DMV. Such a law is a relief to Michele Jones, 56, of Medford. It would have been helpful five years ago, when her 79-year-old father insisted on driving despite a diagnosis of dementia. He had several near-miss accidents and backed into a neighbor’s lamppost. "Mom allowed him to drive because he got upset and agitated," Jones recalls. A move from Maryland to Oregon didn’t deter his urge to get behind the wheel, she says. Family members told lies, hid the car keys and bought a device to disable the ignition. Finally, Jones told her father he could no longer drive. It was a difficult decision that ended only with his death from congestive heart failure six months later. Many families struggle to determine whether older relatives remain safe on the road, says Don Bruland, director of senior and disabled services for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments. "The whole issue of when you take mother’s or father’s keys away is such an important thing in our society," says Bruland. "It’s an issue of independence." Rudesheim, the OSP dispatcher, contends that independence must take a back seat to safety. "There should be some kind of built-in requirement that you should be retested in some way," she says. "As we get older, our abilities diminish. You can’t just put a blanket over it and say it will be fine." Motoring across Medford, Bergstrom acknowledges that relinquishing the independence his car offers would be difficult. His wife, Doleen, 88, hasn’t driven since 1968. "We’ve got to get to church on Sunday," she says. "We’ve got to get to the kids’ house." When he has to give it up, he will, says Bergstrom. But that day hasn’t arrived yet. "As long as my mental acuity and physical condition is good, I’ll continue," he says. "I kind of look forward to driving to 90." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Staying safe behindthe wheel Older drivers who wonder whether they’re still safe on the road should consider the following factors: Do friends and family members express concern about your driving? Have you gotten more tickets or police warnings when driving? Are "near-misses" or traffic crashes, even fender-benders, becoming more common? Has a health care professional advised you to restrict or stop driving? What to do Listen to the advice of those you trust: family, friends, doctors. Take a driver refresher course such as the AARP’s 55 Alive Driver Safety Program. Call 608-5675, 732-5466 or 772-8398. Discuss driving with your doctor or pharmacist. Know how medications might affect your driving. Begin planning your eventual retirement from driving. Explore transportation options. Two days a month, use public transportation so that when the time comes, you’re experienced. — Source: Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and Darlene Grant, AARP instructor Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times