Senior Drivers Attend Police Seminar in Berkeley

In a state known for its car culture, California boasts the highest number of senior drivers. To address the unique challenges faced by older drivers, Berkeley Police Officer Stephanie Cole hosted a seminar at the North Berkeley Senior Center on Thursday. The session aimed to help seniors improve their driving skills and determine when it might be time to give up the keys.

"A lot of folks are coming to the class. It's about an hour long and it's nice to have folks show up and have that dialogue and that conversation," said Officer Cole, who welcomed 31 senior citizens to the seminar.

California is home to over 5 million senior drivers, two-thirds of whom take multiple medications daily. On average, elderly drivers outlive their driving ability by 7 to 10 years. This statistic highlights the importance of discussions like the one held at the seminar, where seniors were eager to engage.

"I'm very concerned because I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking: how long can I drive and when should I give up?" said senior Lucy Lim, voicing a common concern among attendees.

Wendy Bomberg emphasized the need for honest self-assessment: "We gotta be honest with ourselves. Nobody wants to hurt somebody else. Yeah, talk to your doctor. Talk to your friends, talk to your family. If your family can't tell you, I don't know who can."

The seminar offered practical tips for extending driving years, even with physical limitations. Recommendations included avoiding rush hours, staying off freeways, and driving during daylight. However, the potential for mental limitations was a key concern.

"This is a topic we don't want to face; have to face," admitted Lim, reflecting the difficult nature of the conversation.

Officer Cole highlighted the seminar's goal: "It's designed to have that conversation, not only for the people here that are driving, but their friends and their family. So, by not necessarily saying 'this is you, this is your problem,' it's just saying 'this is a conversation we should have.'"

The seniors appreciated the seminar's focus on safety and responsibility. "There are a lot of drivers over 65 and they want to know, and they want to be safe and they want to obey the rules and laws of this land," said senior Manuelita Echeveria.

Keith Pageau likened driving skills to muscle memory: "It's just like a muscle. You have to use your muscles all the time and if you don't use it, you lose it. And, being cognitive in driving is the same way. You have to think about it."

Advancements in medicine were also discussed as a means to help seniors continue driving safely. "Modern science allows us to improve the body we have as things wear out, and I think that's a great hope and a great promise as we move forward," said trial attorney Mosely Collins, who has experience with senior driving issues. However, he urged realism: "There are some things that we're not gonna be able to overcome if it's a real physical impairment."

For those uncomfortable with face-to-face conversations, California law permits concerned family, friends, and others to anonymously request the DMV to re-examine any driver's ability online. This provides an additional layer of safety and accountability for senior drivers and their communities.