Ride Program frightening my Senior Parents

This past Tuesday evening my parents were driving home from the Pt Dover Lighthouse Theatre
when they saw flashing lights on #6 highway. They have never been in a Ride program before,
and the Cop stopped them, and intimated my Mom who was driving by asking " How old are you " ?
Then he said " I could take your license away - but oh well you're going to have to try for your license
next year " My Mom 80 years old was so shaken, her heart started beating so fast, and she was so scared -
I am Appalled at how that Police Man treated an innocent driver . She didn't sleep all night she was so upset .
What a Cruel Jesture to do - to a Senior Woman who has never had an accident, wasn't drinking, just innocently
driving home !!!!

Thank God they didn't taser her!!!!!

Sounds like that cop passed the sarcasm 101 course at cop school.

Still ... Despite his ignorant choice of words, he must have had cause to express his point. Being close to a relative, we sometimes choose not to see it, but ... Your mother, not likely realizing it (like so many seniors), was perhaps driving a little erratically or excessively slow, thus giving the cop reason to bring it up. But I'm just speculating on the possible other side of the story.

You should likely make a friendly call to Zonko Horvat, Detachment Commander, Inspector, OPP Norfolk County Detachment at 519-426-3434.

I don't doubt that your parents are upset as they should be and an apology is in order. Any Police officer can make a mistake but making them aware of how powerful their words are, especially to seniors is a good lesson. I gather from your message that maybe if the policeman in question was aware of the effect of what he thought was a casual comment, he might learn something.

But it's really up to you or your parents to call. Let us know how it goes. If they handle it properly, we all win.

I'm so sorry that your mother was so shaken. I think he could have been a little more kind though. I remember an elderly client of mine that was stopped by the police coming home from Port Dover. She was fined for driving too slowly.

Yea, I nearly hit a senior while driving out of Port Dover a couple of years ago. When I reached the crest of that hill at McClung's, she was just on the other side doing about 40 at best. I hit the breaks, then 2 cars behind me did the same, as did the cop behind them. I had an opportunity to pass, but the other 2, plus the cop were stuck behind her for a short while. By the time I was about to turn onto the Blueline, the cop was in the process of pulling her over.

Not to take away from the point of this particular topic, but you have to scratch your head and wonder why a few seniors are incapable of controlling a car at normal speeds, yet still have their license. But I suppose the same could be said about younger people who drive way to fast in populated areas.