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AIBU?

To report this driver to the police?

94 replies

FlyRussianUnicorn · 17/03/2016 16:30

Jesus. Just driving back from the supermarket- a journey that should take 5 minutes has taken double.

Old woman driving at 15mph on a 40mph road for no reason what so ever- and slammed on her brakes, again for no reason, twice. Second time I beeped my horn at her, and the car behind beeped at me- she nearly caused us both to crash. Open road, quiet (there were us 3 on the road and I saw 2 going in the other direction while driving)

Refused to overtake a cyclist who ended up pulling over and stopped and gestured at her- then she hesitated for a good 5 seconds before pulling RIGHT out on to the other side of the road to overtake despite the cyclist being right on our side of the road and she could of got past straggling the middle line.

Car was completely bashed in at the back so she has clearly had an accident. Both stopped at our local petrol station but managed to hold my tongue. She must of been mid 80s and could barely walk into the petrol station.

AIBU to report? Surely this driving is just as reckless as severely breaking the speed limit?

OP posts:

Report

sparechange · 17/03/2016 17:12

This is his blog:
http://lifeasawidower.com and if you google his name, it comes up with links to the petitions he has started for compulsory retesting of OAPs

EasilyDistracted21 · 17/03/2016 17:13

YANBU there's a similar driver in my village which is a one lane track so I dread the day I'm behind him and we meet something coming the other way!

sparechange · 17/03/2016 17:17

Sorry for the link spamming but this blog post is really important and worth reading
We all have a duty to keep roads safe...
http://lifeasawidower.com/2014/12/22/tell-them/

RobotLover68 · 17/03/2016 17:17

I reported a driver for a very similar incident - police didn't even get back to me for a statement - clearly not interested

carefreeeee · 17/03/2016 17:17

if you nearly crashed into her when she was only doing 15 mph you must have been far too close! Especially if it was the second time - maybe she braked a bit to get you off her tail.

It's your own fault if you crash into someone from behind.

15 mph is not dangerous in itself and nor is being hesitant about overtaking...

40 mph is a speed limit not a speed minimum

DesertOrDessert · 17/03/2016 17:17

Just for info, you should give a cyclist the same space you would a car, so pulling right over to pass a cyclist (who is moving) is the correct thing to do.
But, yes, report her. I wish someone has reported my Grandmother. Thankfully a police car saw her and followed one day before taking her keys off her and driving her home. Her licence has been revoked.

Oooblimey · 17/03/2016 17:18

Yes I'd report her for safety reasons but not sure what action the police could take if any. Possibly contact DVLA too?

When my gran got to the point that she thought she was still good to drive but clearly wasn't, my uncle disconnected her battery and we told her the car was broken and it was too expensive to fix. Solved the problem without upsetting her!

Notimefortossers · 17/03/2016 17:25

I used to work in elderly care and this guy of 83 used to come in from 15 miles away and visit his wife every day. If he was ever late, we were always so on edge because he could barely see or hear yet was still driving!

I can't believe they don't re-test OAPs as standard. You should report the lady not to be mean, but for her own safety as well. I believe they do remove licence's in individual cases and if nothing else the report will add to the statistics showing this to be necessary!

hedgehogsdontbite · 17/03/2016 17:26

Sounds like you were too close and she was driving accordingly. Also when you overtake a cyclist you're supposed to give them as much room as you would a car ie not squeeze past straddling the middle line. Maybe she should be reporting you.

purplepandas · 17/03/2016 17:27

I would report for the safety of others and the person themselves. Hard to do but I agree, I could not live with myself if this individual harmed someone (or themselves) and I had not reported.

Bunbaker · 17/03/2016 17:27

"15 mph is not dangerous in itself and nor is being hesitant about overtaking...

40 mph is a speed limit not a speed minimum"

Driving erratically at 15 mph in a 40 mph speed limit on a clear, open road is cause for concern though.

I was told by a police officer that they would stop someone driving significantly under the speed limit because they would want to check whether the driver was under the influence of drink or drugs, or just too ill to drive safely.

Be realistic. Most people do drive at around the speed limit and not at speeds significantly over or under it.

SirChenjin · 17/03/2016 17:34

A driver should be able to drive to the road conditions - and someone who drives erratically at 15mph is obviously not able to do that, nor are they in a position to report others.

Actually come to think of it, phoning the police would have been the best thing she could have done as they would then have beenough able to see for themselves how inappropriate it is for her to be driving.

Notonthestairs · 17/03/2016 17:35

My grandmother had her licence taken away last year.

Before hand she had been pulled over for driving too slowly, the police then contacted her GP who contacted me. I said I wanted her licence taken away and the GP (who was about to retire) offered to be the fall guy so she didnt get angry with me. In the finish I had to tell her that I felt she shouldnt be driving anymore. It didnt make for great relations but I was worried about her and others.

Do contact the police if you can remember car registration - it might the catalyst for her family to do something about it.

That said it was very hard to do and I felt terrible, she loved her car and it was her last bit of independence.

specialsubject · 17/03/2016 17:38

clearly erratic driving and poor car control/awareness, which does need reporting. But you need to look at yourself too, as mentioned:

if you can't stop in time if the driver in front jams on the brakes, you are too close. That crash would be YOUR fault, not hers. As the driver behind you was also driving dangerously close, the crash would have probably been the end of your car.
you should indeed pull right out to overtake cyclists if at all possible. They can wobble and your slipstream can make them wobble.
horn use is to make another driver aware of your presence, which could have been needed. Not to make them go faster.

Notonthestairs · 17/03/2016 17:42

Actually I forgot - the police contact the DVLA and it's them that contacted my granny's GP.

EweAreHere · 17/03/2016 17:49

Report her. At the very least, it should result in a 'friendly' visit.

I almost reported an older female driver today for the same reason. Poodling along in front of me at 35ish in a 60. I pulled along side of her at the roundabout, and she was in the wrong lane at the roundabout it turns out as she almost pulled straight into me without warning, when I had been in the correct lane and was doing what I was supposed to. Then poodled along and through the next roundabout straddling lanes. I was on my way to pick up my primary school child from a club, so didn't have time to stop and get her reg number.

Collaborate · 17/03/2016 18:24

Please report.

Some of my daughter's friends were injured in Liverpool recently when a lady in her 80s mounted the pavement and mowed 6 of them down, in a queue for the school bus. Some have life changing injuries. The driver mistook the accelerator for the brake pedal.

The police are best placed to assess the danger of this driver. Best done before they kill someone. In my view this can be as dangerous as drunk driving.

curren · 17/03/2016 18:26

I would report.

I would expect the police to do what they normally do. Look into the matter.

They may have had other reports.

Dhs family beat around the bush over his grandfather. I gave dh til the Monday or I was ringing the police for advice. On the Saturday he crashed his car. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt. It could have been much worse.

flubdub · 17/03/2016 18:35

Definetely report. Regardless of what some others are saying, driving at that speed indicates that she wasn't comfortable, or well enough to be driving. It IS dangerous, as quite often it ends up with a huge queue of traffic behind them, all edging to overtake as soon as they can.

And if nothing else, if reported, they can check her eyesight / reactions etc and no harm will come of it.

NerrSnerr · 17/03/2016 18:48

That last link from sparechange says it all. She sounds really dangerous and her next accident could be fatal.

Bunbaker · 17/03/2016 20:33

"Regardless of what some others are saying, driving at that speed indicates that she wasn't comfortable, or well enough to be driving"

This ^^. Those that think it is OK to drive at 15 mph in a 40 mph speed limit good driving conditions on a clear road shouldn't be driving. Quite apart from the fact that the driver might be under the influence of drink/drugs or unwell, you get the added problem of frustrated drivers taking risks and overtaking when they shouldn't.

Narp · 17/03/2016 20:41

I watched an episode of one of those Motorway Cop-type things recently (the DSs love them). It featured an elderly lad spotted droning very much like this - slow, swervy, slow decision making.

When stopped the poor women was angry and distressed - clearly suffering from dementia. Too impaired to drive safely, but aware enough about the impact of losing her independence. Her licence was revoked.

Narp · 17/03/2016 20:41

driving, not droning

specialsubject · 17/03/2016 21:28

I can't see anyone saying that driving at 15mph in a 40 limit on a clear road in the dry is right.

there are times when it could be correct. No absolutes.

the elderly driver is more dangerous, and those who have unsteady legs need adapted cars at least.

Biscuitsforbribes · 17/03/2016 21:35

Oh gosh, the bit about the cyclist is scary! You can report drivers like this anonymously to DVLA. If someone's over 70 they class it as medical fitness to drive apparently.. I'm not sure how you would do it (unhelpful) but I know a colleague has done so about a neighbour they were very concerned about.

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