Elderly Driving

Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room.  No one wants to take Grandpa's driver's license but somehow it gets put into our laps as doctors.  My home state of Maine has tons of paperwork to do in order for sick and elderly people to keep or lose their licenses.  No renumeration for me, just good old fun. The only thing more fun is making the decision to tell them they can't drive.  Ouch.  All of a sudden Grandpa can now get out of his chair and start swinging.   This is why I was so excited about this article in the Boston Globe.  It talks about a new initiative: 

During the Keys (to Independence) program, occupational therapists..will administer a battery of tests using specialized equipment, including a pedal that measures how long it takes a driver to apply the brake and a computer program that measures a driver’s ability to make decisions and stay focused while being distracted. Drivers who pass the clinical assessment without concern will then take a road test in a special car accompanied by a driving instructor and the occupational therapist.  The therapist will then provide a final report to the patient’s physician, who is ultimately responsible for asking the patient not to drive, if that is the recommendation.


What?  I still have to pull the license?  Damn!   I guess whoever came up with this program isn't so stupid.  They don't want Grannie bashing them with her cane because they feel she can't drive.  Here is a question.  What happens if after the test they feel Grannie is such a danger driving that she could kill someone soon?  Wouldn't they feel obligated or be liable if they let her drive home straight through the schoolyard?