The MTO provided funding to Traffic Injury Research Foundation, of 171 Nepean St., Suite 200, Ottawa , Ontario, to do a Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Screening Tools For Drivers 80 years old , or older.  But because the MTO can’t stand by the results, it posted a disclaimer, although it continues to force seniors into humiliating, unreliable testing at significant cost to the senior.    

The Meta-Analysis led to the implementation of two cognitive tests (supposed ‘Thinking process’ tests), introduced to the already established testing protocol of seniors this spring of 2014.

On receiving the results of the study, the MTO, felt compelled to add the following Disclaimer to the Traffic Injury Research Foundations website,

“  THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION OF ONTARIO HAS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THIS REPORT;

      A META-ANALYSIS OF COGNITIVE SCREEN TOOLS FOR DRIVERS 80 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER, MTO DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY, VALIDITY, COMPLETENESS OR CURRENCY OF THE REPORT”.

      FUNDING OF THIS REPORT IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS REPORT, THE TRAFFIC INJURY RESEARCH FOUNDATION OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY. 

      USE OF THIS REPORT IS COMPLETELY AT ONE’S OWN DISCRETION AND RISK”.

      There is a good reason for the disclaimer.  This method is known for the ease of bias selection, to pick facts to suit preconceived conclusions, if one desires.  And obviously someone desires in this issue of unjustly targeting senior drivers for testing abuse.

So, we have a Government that discriminates against the senior drivers, while knowing that the overwhelming statistics , including their own and those of the OPP, show that the senior drivers are the safest drivers on the road, and all the experts, including the Canadian Medical Association says ” An Accurate test for determining  cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, does not exist”.

If an accurate and reliable test for dementia did exist, it should be used on the most demented group first…the under 50’s

Now they are applying a second discrimination against the Elderly Drivers, forcing them to take an invalid driving test , that they themselves won’t endorse.

What is next if we don’t push back??

Sincerely, Ed. Rockburne,RCMP, Retired, erockburne@cogeco.ca   July 27th, 2014