This is an amazing story about an older female driver's (the author's aunt) car accident: how she was freed from behind the crushed steering wheel, and how a helicopter brought her to the Emergency Department (ED) of an upstate community hospital. She was not worried about her health or even the damage of the car; rather she was worried about her future driving ability. Like many seniors in non-urban areas of the USA who value their independence, driving is crucial to her remaining independent. Using the "Driving Safely as You Get Older" guide prepared by her state Department of Motor Vehicles, the author tested her in her kitchen. She passed all the tests. According to the author, she is an extremely thoughtful, cautious, and self-protective person. She weighed everyone's advice, including that of the author, considered the results of the in-home performance testing, and read the Americans Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Driver Safety Program brochure. She has chosen to limit her driving to local, well-known roads, and only during the daytime.
Abstract