KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Dr. Shelley Bhattacharya talks to families every week at KU Medical Center who are worried about a relative and their driving abilities.
She works at the Landon Center on Aging and works solely with people 65-years-old and up.
If a family is concerned about an elderly driver, she will take the relative through a series of tests -- both cognitive and physical -- to determine if they are fit for the roads. The doctor always starts the session by asking the family a key question: "Would you feel comfortable letting your elderly relative pick your children up from school?"
If the answer is no, she knows there is a problem.
She says the mistake made by an 87-year-old earlier this week is a common one among elderly drivers. A man from Independence mistook the gas for the brake and crashed his car into an eye doctor's office in Blue Springs. His wife was in the car but neither were seriously hurt.
Dr. Bhattacharya says the three most common mistakes among elderly drivers are:
Faulty left turns
Lane Drifting
Poor judgment or reaction to unexpected situtions
Dr. Bhattacharya understands the issue is a sensitive one. If you are uncomfortable approaching a family member directly about their driving, she says you can send in an anonymous form to have them tested by a doctor and ultimately the DMV will decide if the person should keep his/her license.
For Kansas Residents:
Write a letter explaining why your relative should be tested and why they are an unsafe driver. Address it to the following:
Driver Review
Department of Revenue
Attn: Director of Vehicles
915 SW Harrison, Room 162
Topeka, KS 66626
For Missouri Residents:
http://dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/forms/4319.pdf
Missouri and Kansas do no require testing for elderly drivers.
