"What happened at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on July 16th, 2003 is a tragedy on many levels. It is essential to respond without drawing biased, prejudice, ill-informed conclusions about mature adults driving skills. The same rules of agility, mental alertness, mechanical difficulties, and reflexes can be applied to a 25 year-old driver as well as an 85 year-old driver."
Dr. Monika White, CEO, Center for Health Aging

At Drive Quest, we agree with Dr. White, and we are concerned that after the unfortunate accident in Santa Monica, in which a senior driver lost control of his car and killed ten people, police departments and the DMV have created new very strict sets of guidelines to monitor and retest mature drivers through the Division of Safety.

Lately, we have seen many senior drivers come to our school after being sent to the Division of Safety because of a minor traffic infraction such as not stopping the car for two seconds at a stop sign. Before July 16th 2003, those types of infractions resulted with a traffic ticket but now, in addition to getting the ticket, a Division of Safety hearing and a comprehensive retest is often required.

We have also noticed that the time given by the DMV for a candidate to prepare for the Special Test has been considerably reduced. Some of our clients who could have passed given the proper amount of time and training had to take the test ill-prepared and did not pass because of lack of preparation time. Consequently, the DMV has refused to retest many candidates because of the driving skills displayed the day of the test.

We feel that this is unfair and we are trying to take proactive steps so that our current and former clients stay clear of any infraction they may have been unaware of that may require them to be retested by the Division of Safety. That is why we strongly recommend seeing driving as a continual behind the wheel education process. Indeed if no change occurred from one year to the next, the DMV would not need to print a new manual every year.
We suggest doing what many wise students have been doing year after year: take once a year a behind the wheel course for mature drivers. Unlike "55 and Alive" or any classroom program, a behind the wheel course is more adequate to improving and maintaining good behind the wheel driving habits

If you are not registered to our Once A Year Refresher program, please call us toll free at 1 888 783 7483 and our office personnel will gladly help you set up your once a year appointment and mail you a courtesy reminder. Upon completion of this program a certificate will be issued to you, which could entitle you to an insurance discount with your carrier.

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