Living without wheels

In Newport Beach, the prospect of having your driver’s license revoked by the DMV should worry those who still need to get around. Funny thing is, it doesn’t.

Seniors who lose their licenses have a handful of prospects available to them to get from one curb to the next. The Orange County Transportation Authority and South County Senior Transportation offer inexpensive rides for seniors who cannot drive.

In Newport Beach, however, seniors primarily rely on rides provided by the Oasis Senior Center.

Oasis offers rides for senior Newport Beach residents to any destination within the city from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Michael J. and Edie Piatniza have used the service from the senior center since both voluntarily relinquished their licenses for medical reasons.

“I had a stroke and was automatically grounded by my doctor, and I understood that,” Michael Piatniza. “He told me after that he would notify the DMV once I was able to drive.”

The retired colonel regained his license quickly but decided to give up driving for good after considering the chances he was taking with not only his life but also that of his wife and others’ on the road.

“I think it is dangerous and expensive, and I am not about to endanger my wife’s future by being put in jail,” he said. “Plus, the other people on the road that could get hurt.”

On June 7, the Oasis Senior Center had scheduled a workshop to provide senior drivers with the opportunity to talk to experts in the medical and motor vehicle fields, but it was canceled.

The discussions would have included the DMV reexamination process, how to stay mentally and physically fit for driving, and alternate driving techniques for seniors.

“People need to be aware of what can happen” Robert Sammartino of the DMV said. “It is not as much of a mystery as it seems.”

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles website, drivers can be flagged for reexaminations by physicians, police officers, past driving records, members of the driver’s family or friends.

Occupational therapist Debbie Ricker’s discussion would have covered alternate car equipment, such as pedal extenders and panoramic rearview mirrors.

Seniors are often concerned about driving, Ricker said.

“Seniors begin to lose their ability to multitask, and driving is the ultimate multi-tasking,” Ricker said. “Add in the cellphone and the radio, even conversation in the car, and older adults are going to have problems driving.”

Ricker and her business partner, neuropsychologist Dr. Kent Peppard, have for seven years taught seniors to anticipate the aging process and how it affects driving skills.

“Having that freedom relinquished is huge,” Ricker said. “As a community, we need to come up with some alternatives so the seniors don’t feel that their life is over once their license is relinquished. People often say to me, ‘If I can’t go out and drive, I am going to die.’ ”

The Oasis staff had the idea for the workshop when attending a similar presentation at the Norman P. Murray senior center in Mission Viejo. Susie MacGregor, special programs coordinator for Oasis, was surprised by what she learned.

“We are mandated, as staff of the center, to report seniors we think are unfit to drive for reexamination,” MacGregor said.

MacGregor, who organized the canceled workshop, felt that the lack of senior interest could lie in free senior transportation provided by the city of Newport Beach.

“In Mission Viejo, they don’t have a transportation plan. If you can’t drive, you’re out of luck,” she said. “The city of Newport Beach has a transportation service for seniors, so if you lose your license, you will not be trapped, stranded at home.”

The staff at Oasis doesn’t plan to offer the workshop again, but those who have attended in the past, such as the Piatnizas, feel the class is too valuable to be brushed off.

“People should take the class because it is geared to old folks,” Michael Piatniza said.

“If you are older, you should have a brush up of your capabilities and the rules because they are constantly changing,” Edie Piatniza said. “Just like anything else, it is good for you to acquaint yourself with new laws and regulations and the consequences. Over a number of years, you can forget the rules.”dpt.03-boomers-CPhotoInfo101RKB9820060603j09k9zncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Betty Tesman, right, helps Joyce DeWitt off the Oasis Senior Center bus Friday. Oasis offers bus service in Newport Beach on Mondays through Fridays.