SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Linda Hough feels a large part of her life has been revoked.

After being diagnosed with early symptoms of Alzheimer's, Hough, 70, was required to retake her road test. She failed and her licence was taken away on May 28. Unable to drive, she's felt stranded ever since, she said.

Linda Hough, pictured here on July 24, was diagnosed with the early symptoms of Alzheimer's. Consequently, she was required to retake her driver's road test. After failing she feels a huge part of her life has been taken away. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

"I have no life anymore because I can't go anywhere or do anything. I'm retired, I'm at home," Hough said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Her vehicle had offered her a sense of freedom, she explained.

"I'd get in the car, go over to the doughnut shop, chitty chat with my cronies, go over to Wal-Mart, come downtown and do my thing," said Hough. "And once a month I (would) have to do the rounds and pay my bills."

During her driving exam she followed too close to other vehicles, failed to come to a complete stop and demonstrated improper posture, according to a letter from the Department of Transportation. The total number of demerit points far exceeded the limit.

She said she feels that she was treated unfairly and that the rules were too vague, mentioning that the acceptable radius for making turns was unclear, as an example. However, she admits that her memory is faltering and she may have forgotten a few things, but not enough to become a danger to anyone.

"I don't have parking tickets, I don't have speeding tickets, I haven't gotten in any kind of accident," said Hough. "I've never been stopped by the police, the car is in tip-top mechanical condition."

She doesn't like to take the bus and taxi cabs are too expensive to use as a main method of transportation, she said.

Hough tries to catch a ride with her son when she can, but he works during the night and needs to sleep during the day.

Most of the time, she will walk or try and hitchhike around town from her home in the Inukshuk Housing Co-op, but she wonders what she will do when winter arrives. Hough said she can't spend all her days walking around in the harsh Northern winters.

She does have friends and family, but she doesn't want to be constantly pestering them.

"That gets pretty tiresome. They have their own lives to lead too."

The NWT Seniors Society plans to sit down and meet with the road safety division of the Department of Transportation, according to someone involved who didn't wish to be named.

Though Hough's story may make people feel sympathetic, road safety is the first concern of the department, according to Garry Dziwenka, senior policy analyst for road licensing and safety.

"We're there to help them out - we don't want to take their licence, but sometimes we have to for safety reasons," said Dziwenka. "The thing we have to be concerned with is the safety of everyone on the roads. That includes other motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, anybody that uses our road and highway system."

Dziwenka said it's not only seniors who are required to be retested. Anyone who has a medical or cognitive condition that may create a hazard is required to be retested as well.

The criteria are stated in a document called Medical Standards for Drivers, which is produced by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.

"We don't just take (their licence)," Dziwenka said. "We give them opportunities that they can drive up to standard."

"We do send out letters explaining what the problem is. We're happy to answer any questions from the person. We have a medical review officer in our office that does all this."

Dziwenka said anyone can take the test as many times as they want.

Hough said she plans to do just that.