Chief’s Column: Questions for elderly drivers

A few weeks ago, I addressed the concerns of a reader whose elderly neighbor was showing signs of dementia thus resulting in unsafe driving. The reader reported that the spouse/caregiver was trying not to take away the “independence” of this individual however; there was a concern for the safety of the elderly person and others involved.

To determine if there may be a problem, I have provided a list of questions that individuals should ask if they feel that they or someone they know may be driving in an unsafe manner. The following information was obtained from the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

• Do you see clearly in the dusk and dark?
• Do headlights from other vehicles obstruct your sight?
• Are you easily intimidated by passing vehicles including trucks and motorcycles?
• Do you have difficulty reading road signs?
• Do you have difficulty following construction detours or seeing the police officer on detail near construction zones?
• Do you have difficulty seeing train crossing signals and hearing train whistles?
• Do you have difficulty keeping up with the posted speed limit?
• Do you get drowsy behind the wheel or have difficulty concentrating?
• Do you have difficulty hearing other vehicles?
• Do you often get lost on once familiar roads?
• Do you forget the basics, such as putting on your headlights and wearing a seat belt?
• Are you unsure of your parking skills? Can you parallel park and park in a straight line?
• Are you unsure of your reflexes and reaction time? Is it difficult to react quickly in certain situations, e.g., braking to avoid a collision?
• Have your friends, family or even police officers told you that you aren’t a safe driver?

If you find yourself answering yes to many of these questions, you may want to consider driving less, or not driving at all. Drivers who voluntarily surrender their licenses are eligible for a free Massachusetts I.D. For more information, contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles at (857) 368-8020.

For more information and details on the physical qualifications of operating a motor vehicle safely, please go to https://www.mass.gov/info-details/older-drivers.

Anyone with questions for the Chief’s Column may submit them by mail to the Grafton Police Department, 28 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519. You may also email your questions or comments to chief@graftonpolice.com. Please include an appropriate subject line, as I do not open suspicious email for obvious reasons.

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr.

Chief of Police