Mayor’s Message

Driving is a Privilege

Driving on public roadways is a privilege given to those who meet and maintain the requirements for a driver’s license, including the mental and physical willingness and ability to obey traffic laws and safely operate a vehicle. Each of us has the responsibility to drive carefully and without distraction.

Years ago, my stepfather began showing signs of cognitive decline, and surprisingly even got lost a few times while driving. As a retired truck driver, this, coupled with a few minor collision incidents, was completely out of character for him. He loved nothing more than firing up his Chevy pickup and driving around town, often with my mother in the seat next to him. Driving was his passion, so you can imagine the weight my brother and I felt when we connected the decline in driving ability with other symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The day we helped him retire his driver’s license and sell his truck was very sad for everyone, but it had to be done.

Because he had safely driven for those many years, it did not mean he was safe to drive when his ability changed. When we are on the road, it’s not just our personal safety at risk; we have a responsibility for the safety of others, including pedestrians. Just as my brother and I recognized and took appropriate action with our stepfather, each of us should be introspective and honest about our ability and the ability of those around us to operate a vehicle safely. Sometimes, doing the right thing means accepting that driving is no longer something that should be done. Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we cannot be a passive bystander in situations that could put others at risk.

Recently, a young adult friend of mine was appropriately pulled over by an on-duty police officer in a neighboring city for a lane violation. Upon interacting with the driver, the officer suspected impairment and conducted field sobriety tests. The breathalyzer came back 0.0 - no trace of alcohol, but motor skills tests suggested the possibility of impairment. Ultimately, he was handcuffed and taken to the county jail on suspicion of DUI, where he was incarcerated for 12 hours until his father returned home that evening and couldn’t find him.

My friend was not impaired. He has high-functioning autism. He is licensed, legal and able to drive, and may drive better than many of us. I don’t blame the officer for this unfortunate incident, but since then, I have become aware of something that can assist individuals in communicating unseen conditions so police officers are aware of contributing factors when interacting with individuals.

If you, or someone you know, has a condition with which you or they can safely drive, but you fear could be misunderstood in an encounter with law enforcement, I encourage you to visit dld.utah.gov/invisible-condition and review the list of Invisible Conditions, which include those ranging from autism spectrum disorder, to hearing loss, to diabetes and many others. A bill passed by the State Legislature in 2022 allows for a sticker to be applied for with a simple request form and placed on a driver’s license notifying law enforcement and first responders of a physical or mental health condition that may interfere with the ability to communicate with them and avoid misunderstandings.

This little step of requesting a sticker can go a long way in preventing confusion, misunderstanding, and inconvenience in what can easily become tense situations.

 -Kress Staheli

Mayor

kress@washingtoncity.org