|
When should an elderly person's license be taken away?
The family of man who went missing near Wadena, Minnesota this week told WDAY-6 News they warned Public Safety officials in St. Paul about David Paulson's Alzheimer's disease and the need to get him off the road. Authorities searched for Paulson earlier this week after he went missing for three days. He got stuck, and was found in the woods suffering from hypothermia.
But family members say they warned local police and wrote a letter to the state of Minnesota asking it to pull Paulson's license. How and when should an elderly person's license be taken away?
In this letter to Driver and Vehicle Services in St. Paul a year and a half ago, the family of 76-year old David Paulson outlines the dangerous risk he poses to himself and others, driving through stop signs and red lights in Wadena Minnesota, stopping suddenly on major highways in heavy traffic, even driving down the wrong side of the road, and even rail road tracks with a train coming his way.
The family followed the suggestions from Driver and Vehicle services, going on this website, which walks people thru the steps when trying to report an unsafe driver who is suffering a medical condition.
“It states right on the web site, they will not divulge who turned in the information.”
Once the letter is received, Driver and Vehicle Services is supposed to set up an appointment with that at risk driver. An evaluator can then decide if that driver needs to re-take a written or road test or simply cancel driving privileges right then and there.
“Not only for safety of family members, but for those on the highway. If you have someone who is dangerous, it is not just himself, but everyone else.”
Going online anonymously saves families the emotional and mental turmoil that can result from trying to pull a license from a loved one. Taking no action on this case, nearly cost David Paulson his life.
Public Safety in St. Paul receives 10-letters a week from people requesting an evaluation be done on an "at-risk driver." They could not tell us the status of Paulson's driving privileges right now, citing privacy issues. He remains hospitalized at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena in stable condition.
(2010-03-14 / WDAY)
|
首頁 
聯絡我們
