To report this elderly driver to the DVLA?

[Omzlas]

Long time lurker - first time poster

Back story:
I have an elderly relative, let's call him Bernard. Early 80's, he has severe arthritis, osteoporosis, cataracts, fibromyalgia as well as a few other things. He takes a good cocktail of medication each day. Bernard has a car but isn't confident at all in his driving abilities these days but was a bit of a car fanatic in the past

Due to various disabilities, he can't lift his arms further than about 35 degrees (can't even get them out in front of him, zombie style), can't even drive '10 to 2' style and is unable to navigate left hand turns

Bernard regularly cuts across lanes, believing that he is in the right because 'that lane marking isn't correct, I'm in the right'. Bernard's reflexes are shot, he can't react to cars changing lanes etc

My AIBU
Would I be a complete cow to report this to the DVLA? AFAIK, Bernard has made them aware of his arthritis but nothing more, despite me telling him that he needs to. His condition isn't going to improve and he's aware of this but he's said that he won't consider stopping driving as he sees this as his last shred of independence. Bearing in mind that he's unable to do basic things like watering his plants, washing clothes or vacuuming, he gets his grandchildren to do things like this for him. I've mentioned stopping driving to him but his reply is along the lines of "I need to drive" but in the next breath says "it isn't like I drive far, I usually only go out once a week.

His driving is terrifying and if I ever go out with him, we take my car. I genuinely fear for our safety but I'm also worried that he'll end up hurting someone and/order himself.

Thanks if you've made it this far!

This [[https://www.which.co.uk/elderly-care/your-relatives-needs/concern-about-elderly-drivers-and-driving/342515-talking-to-your-relative-about-their-driving
Which article on dangerous elderly drivers]] has suggestions for ways to approach the discussion with drivers, as well as your options for reporting.

On average, elderly drivers are still far safer than young men aged 18-21, but if you can identify a driver of any age who's unsafe and help to get them off the road, you'll be doing a public service.

I agree that we need to ditch the ageism and concentrate on the danger.

If you identify a driver of any age who should not be on the road, then you should feel the same need to report them to the responsible authorities so they can take appropriate action.

I have some elderly relatives who have recently given up driving, they love it. They will call for a cab if they need to go anywhere, cheaper than car insurance and maintenance, and they have no trouble having to find a parking space.

if Bernard does kill someone he will probably be jailed for dangerous driving and could die in prison

I don't think that tends to happen actually, they just take away the licence and assume they'll pop their clogs soon anyway. No public interest in jailing someone in their 80s unless they are a real danger to society - even as a deterrent.

I would definitely contact the DVLA for advice. Or phone the doctor - they will talk to you.

As for mandatory medicals, no but you have to declare every three years that you are fit to drive (maybe this is where a GP should have to sign the form). www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/driving-past-your-70th-birthday

Report. You can do it very easily and anonymously via DVLA website. You know how you’d feel if he killed himself or worse someone else due to his actions.

You know you have to.

Report them ASAP! Yesterday I had my wing mirror taken off by an elderly driver swerving in between lanes. He was barely visible behind the wheel and didn't even slow down, let alone stop, when he hit me. Police are involved so hopefully he won't be on the roads any longer. It is utterly terrifying as had he hit me head on at 60mph, me and my son would most certainly have been killed, the only reason he didn't was because I swerved my car on to the grassy verge to avoid him.

I had the same thing with my dad. Someone else reported him, which kicked off a slow process of medical re-examination by the DVLC. He failed the eye test, having only one eye and only being able to see pretty much directly ahead out of it. By that time he'd been avoiding right turns and night driving for ages, and I think had been driving at about twenty miles an hour or less all the time as it was some poor exasperated sod stuck behind him for 15 miles at that speed who reported him.
It didn't stop him driving. He was insistent that he was a good driver, and the DVLC were idiots. I had to take the keys and it led to no end of arguments, but I couldn't live with letting him endanger others' lives.

If reporting is too slow and denial an issue, we managed to borrow the car for a relative that urgently needed one to work, seeing as they hardly used it, and then a lot went wrong with it so it had to be scrapped.

That Saga article is excellent, @itstimeforanamechange - thank you.

It mentions the Elderly Driver Assessment which you can do with the Institute of Advanced Motoring. There is a similar assessment offered by RoSPA.

Report immediatly to DVLA and then report to police.

i truly believe anyone over 75 must have a yearly physical to retain their licence and should not be allowed a large car or fast sports type.
(not being ageist or anything but ive seen 75yr old woman driving a BMW and just dodging lanes and she can barely see over the wheel!)

You have a moral obligation to report him. I reported my own father some years ago.

My husband loved driving-he'd take anyone anywhere. But he always said he hoped that he'd know when to give up.
He started having seizures, and returned his license.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it

I'm so sorry for your loss CPtart, I can't even begin to imagine how hard that is. For anyone to lose a loved one through driving

I'll probably call the non emergency Police today, and his Dr's surgery.
Thanks for the link too, I'll have a look when I'm on the laptop later

report.

the boy racers tend to take themselves off the road with the aid of a tree (although sadly not always) but the lethal drivers in this group are less likely to do that.

I wish we could all be retested, like everyone else I think I am a competent driver, but am I right?

Encourage him to get a mobility scooter/electric wheelchair? Then report him.
I can still drive for short distances (an automatic) but I can't get very far by myself once I get to where I want!

I'd be gutted to lose my licence but I'd never drive if I didn't feel competent.
I got a scooter a couple of weeks ago. It's opened up a whole new world. I feel like I have my life back.....albeit a slightly different version.
Legally he needs to declare his conditions or can face a fine. I'm not sure what the repercussions of not declaring your conditions and then being in an accident are.

...I'm not elderly but have a medical condition

@Omzlas - I'd call the DVLA too. It's a hard thing to have to do, but you are doing the right thing for everyone else on the road as well as for 'Bernard' - however much he will hate losing his independence, I am willing to bet he'd hate hurting or, God forbid, killing someone more.

It’s no good relying on the driver’s GP who will hesitate to deprive a patient of independence. For some it might be the beginning of the end. The GP would be conflicted.

We need mandatory health, reaction and sight checks by professionals who do not know the driver concerned; and if you fail you are off the road.

Report to DVLA rather than GP, the GP will be obliged to speak to the patient first and encourage them to speak to the DVLA themselves and only allowed to breach confidentiality to report them if they do not do this, and even then they have to tell the patient that they are doing so. Much quicker to report him to the DVLA yourself!

I wouldn’t hesitate.

Optician reported fil, DVLA wrote straight back revoking his licence, thank goodness his driving was awful

Please report!

Definitely report. My dh car got written off by an elderly driver who didn't give way and just went straight into the side of my dh.

I would also say that taking his keys sounds like a good option but my dh works in a garage and has had customers calling in the past that have claimed they have lost their keys etc can the garage sort new keys/change locks etc. Twice it has turned out that their kids have taken their keys off them for their own safety. Much better to remove the car completely if you can find an excuse to do so.

Report! He could end up killing himself or someone else.