On its own, the fact that Frank Harding hasn乌鸦传媒檛 been in a car accident isn乌鸦传媒檛 that impressive.

What乌鸦传媒檚 impressive is that he乌鸦传媒檚 been driving for almost 80 years 乌鸦传媒� and showing no signs of slowing down.

Following a recent medical examination, the 98-year-old Courtenay resident was recommended by his doctor to undergo a driving assessment to make sure he was still fit to get behind the wheel of his 1990 Volvo.

乌鸦传媒淸The doctor] figured that due to my age, I should do a road test,乌鸦传媒� said Harding, who was born in New Brunswick on Dec. 12, 1919. 乌鸦传媒淗e gave me a phone number and this lady took me out. It was foggy. We debated whether we should go out or not.乌鸦传媒�

Harding said he barely passed the reassessment the first time around due to poor weather and fog.

乌鸦传媒淎ll I could do was see the road just in front of my car,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淪he put me through a spot where there was a stop sign and I didn乌鸦传媒檛 see it until I was already in the intersection.乌鸦传媒�

Harding said he was docked 59 points throughout the assessment. The maximum amount of points allowed to be docked was 60.

Because of how narrowly he had passed, his doctor recommended he perform the test again.

Harding said the second time he took the test that he passed with no issues.

乌鸦传媒淭he woman said, 乌鸦传媒榯ake me to Walmart.乌鸦传媒� I said, 乌鸦传媒榳ell, that乌鸦传媒檚 not a problem乌鸦传媒�. So we went to Walmart.乌鸦传媒�

Eight decades of driving

Harding first obtained his driver乌鸦传媒檚 licence in 1945, after returning to New Brunswick from the Second World War. He had served in Italy and also participated in the Liberation of Holland.

But he乌鸦传媒檇 done plenty of driving before then.

Even though he had never owned a car before going overseas and had only driven tractors and other farm equipment until that point, Harding listed his occupation as 乌鸦传媒渢ruck driver乌鸦传媒� when he first enlisted in the army.

乌鸦传媒淲here I lived, I never had an occupation. I hardly knew what the word meant,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淪omeone told me that when I joined the army, all I乌鸦传媒檇 be doing is walking. So when they asked my occupation, right off the top of my head, I said I was a truck driver.乌鸦传媒�

Because of that little white lie, Harding often found himself performing various driving assignments for his Company during his time in Europe.

He mentioned how when he first arrived in Sicily, he was presented with a truck, a big water tank and a container of powder to retrieve water for the rest of the Company.

乌鸦传媒淭hat was my job 乌鸦传媒� supplying water for all of these men until the engineers set up our water purifiers,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淢y record said I was a truck driver, so if they needed a truck driver, they called on me!乌鸦传媒�

Frequent gym-goer

At 98, Harding attributes his continued good health to eating well and going to the Comox Recreation Centre regularly.

He said he goes to the gym five or six mornings per week, where he uses a dozen of the exercise machines.

乌鸦传媒淚t gives me something to get up for. Otherwise, I乌鸦传媒檇 probably stay in bed all day,乌鸦传媒� he said.

His niece Cora Driscoll lives a few blocks away from Harding in Courtenay, where he lives by himself in a small bungalow.

乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 so positive. He乌鸦传媒檚 got such a good outlook on life,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 just amazing.乌鸦传媒�