News Release: Enhanced Road Assessments for Seniors to be offered in Sooke

March 10, 2020
[Sooke, BC]

After several years of advocacy efforts, the District of Sooke is pleased to announce that RoadSafetyBC and ICBC are piloting Enhanced Road Assessments in Sooke. Offering assessments locally will allow senior citizens who require testing in order to renew their driver’s licenses and who are unfamiliar with driving conditions near the current Mackenzie Road testing facility, to complete driving tests in their home community.

Details of the new program were outlined in an email to Mayor Maja Tait from Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnsworth:

“The pilot will run for between 4 – 6 months, after which RoadSafetyBC will conduct an evaluation to determine whether Sooke will continue as a permanent assessment location. The evaluation plan will include a review of overall volumes, residency of drivers completing the assessment in Sooke, and fit/unfit licensing decisions in comparison to other ERA locations. 

Customers were able to book ERAs as of November 2019 and the first assessments were scheduled for January 2020. ERAs are administered through the local ICBC Appointed Agent at the Sooke Coast Capital Savings branch and are conducted once per month.”

Mayor Tait will be requesting that the pilot program be extended to at least 12 months with consideration given to permanent service provision in Sooke.

“I’m pleased to see that advocacy in action has resulted in additional services for Sooke residents,” said Mayor Tait. “However, having a 12-month test period will allow for more complete data and analysis and also allow time for Sooke residents to become aware of this new option.”

The District of Sooke has been advocating for local and/or Westshore ERA testing since 2017 in collaboration with the Sooke Region Community Health Network’s Age-Friendly Committee, local residents, and MLA John Horgan.

For further information regarding Enhanced Road Assessments, please contact RoadSafetyBC at 1-855-387-7747.


Media Contact:
Mayor Maja Tait
Tel: (250) 642-1634
Email: mtait@sooke.ca

Media-Release-Enhanced-Road-Testing-Seniors-2020