To get my grandma's driving license revoked? And how?

[jilldoyoulikeowls]

Sorry, just hoping for some traffic as quite worried.

My grandma is recently widowed and we live rurally. She has diminishing sight and has recently been diagnosed with cataracts (the appointment at the hospital not until early Sep to see what will be done about them).

She is very independent and adamant she will continue to drive, and at her appointment at the opticians she insists they never mentioned anything about her stopping driving until they have been removed.

She has bumped a cyclist as he was in the shaded part of the road and she couldn't see him, and she can't see the remote control if on a worktop of dark colour, and can't make out anything if it's not in bright light.

She has also mounted the kerb.

I know I could simply take her keys (I don't know where she has stashed her spare though) but what else can I do?

The GP and opticians won't entertain me as it breached confidentiality.

I've stressed how dangerous she is. But she won't listen.

She has a problem with her foot this week so I know she is off the road for now.

I have offered to do all shopping etc etc. But will be quite an undertaking to ensure she's out and about as much as she is. But what other options are there.

Do I report to the police? DVLA?

Did anyone see that piece last week about the pensioner who drove into a tent at a fete? When the door was opened, there were instructions reminding her how to drive pinned to the steering wheel...

Jill could you let us know what happens with the DVLA etc? I'm in a similar position, thanks

The money saved by not running a car (all that tax, insurance, petrol, oil, MOTs, general maintenance, repairs) would go a long way towards taxi costs. And without the stress of remembering to do all the above.

Positive points for when negotiating OP.

I certainly do not think she should be on the road if her cataracts are compromising her vision, but once they are sorted she could very well be absolutely fine, so can you come at it from that angle. A temporary inconvenience.

tbh if the cataracts are bad enough for her to have been referred to get them sorted she probably is not at driving standards.

We were in the same position with DH’s grandma a few years ago.
She would have ended up killing someone.
We took her keys on the sly after visiting, called her GP and the dvla.
Now unable to drive as she’s registered as having on of the eye conditions the DVLA do not accept when you apply for a liscence.
She’s still very independent, does everything for herself - just uses the bus, lifts from family or taxis to do it instead

It sounds very worrying. I am glad you plan to report to the DVLA.

The motorway around our city was closed in both directions on Sunday afternoon because an elderly lady had driven the wrong way up a slip road, causing a five car accident and the death of a man, injuring a number of others.

I wonder if her family had had similar concerns over her driving.

Just to be clear (and to clear your conscious), you cannot get her license revoked. You can, however, make an anonymous report to the DVLA who can consider whether or not is is appropriate to revoke her license.

Any idea if they will say who reported?

Well no, but as you’ve had conversations with her about it, I imagine she’ll guess. But that shouldn’t put you off because it’s the right thing to do

We had similar concerns about my father. He had cataracts and despite us pushing from every direction (GP, specialist consultant, Ophthalmologist etc. ) the best we got was him being told not to drive at night. He's now had his operations and his vision is fine so he's back driving again but tbh I'm not sure he should be. his reaction times seem slow these days. We're in the process of getting him 'looked' at but it can be quite hard to get a driver's license revoked unless they have one of the specifically listed conditions.

“Everyone else in family agree that if optician didn't mention it she should be fine”

I’m inclined to think that the optician did, but she either didn’t listen, or is not telling the truth.

Will do @StopPOP

You do realise your family are going to know it’s you OP and it’s going to cause a shitstorm for yourself, don’t you?

I understand the concern etc. But I couldn’t be arsed with the drama 🤷‍♀️

I understand the concern etc. But I couldn’t be arsed with the drama

jellypeanuts are you seriously suggesting that you'd prefer to risk someone being killed?! She has already hit a cyclist.

Well done for reporting her OP. It's obviously sad for her not to be able to drive, but it would be much worse for everyone, her included, if she injured or killed someone.

I had an eye test because I knew my sight was bad. I was told I had a cataract which I already knew and to 'keep an eye on it'. It was so bad all I could see was a blur, I was not told to get surgery.I was not told not to drive.

I arranged to see a specialist and was told that if it had been left any longer it would have been a problem to remove because it was so advanced.

It is possible that she used the same optician that I did (or another one that wasn't very good) and they failed to tell her what she should have been told, just as I was.

You are doing the right thing OP.

It’s not about ‘being arsed with the drama’ attitude. If she was to kill someone, badly hurt someone you would wish you were arsed with the drama.

Do what you think is right.

" she's also my recently bereaved old Nan "

And sadly she could leave someone else without a child, parent or partner.

How did the cyclist not report her?

And she mounted the pavement??!!

You know tha you have to report her.

OP. You are doing the right thing if you report her. Numerous accidents are caused by people who shouldn't be on the road, so you are doing the sensible thing and helping to keep other road users and pedestrians safe.

My mum reckons the opticians told her she was “borderline” for driving with a cataract in one eye and macular degeneration in both eyes. Apparently she was convinced it was okay that she only drove a mile to the supermarket and doctors.

The next week she had an accident and totalled the car, the only accident she’s ever had in 50 years of driving. Luckily no one hurt. My brother took her car shopping but she didn’t tell him what the optician said! We’ve since talked and both agree she shouldn’t be driving, luckily mum didn’t like any of the cars they looked at so she is currently relying on taxis. The cost is less than running a car, and the drivers often help a little old lady carry the shopping to the door, it’s just a pain for her having to plan in advance rather than jump in the car.

Idk, people moan about the nanny state-you wouldn't expect to have to tell someone who can't see properly to not drive would you really?

You'd think that they wouldn't want to for their own sake-never mind whoever else they might endanger!

Also talk to citizens advice about her benefits. When my gran was getting in and couldn’t drive she applied and got a non means tested £60 a week benefit for her to spend as she saw fit but was meant to be for stuff she couldn’t do due to immobility. So she spent it on taxis and a gardener. That was over ten years ago. Can’t remember the name of the benefit.

Please get her off the road. I was hit head on by an elderly man with eyesight problems. I was lucky to walk away, but he had lifechanging injuries and was eventually prosecuted by the police when he refused to give up his licence.

It may be that she will be able to drive again when she has had her cataract operation. If so could she pay privately to have it done sooner?
The GP will not share information about her with you but will listen to what you have to say and would want to consider whether they should see her with a view to them reporting to DVLA in this case.
Please don't take her car without her permission, that would be the offence of TWOC and there would be no insurance cover for whoever removed it.

on my last checkup at the opticians I had slight cataracts but was told I was fine to drive - I am sure if someone's eyesight is so bad they cannot see cyclists or walls - they would be told not to drive by the optician due to eyesight problems alone.
I find night driving difficult (too many bright lights) so I don't do it.
When my eyesight becomes worse - I will not be driving - I don't need anyone to tell me - unless I have dementia I will know.
I don't understand the stubbornness of people who want to carry on being a danger to themselves and others. People survive without driving and owning a car is very costly.
Move to a town (don't live rurally) if you are not able to drive safely.

I know she will be stuck at home but she is going to hurt someone, potentially worse. Take it from someone mown down as a child by an elderly driver who said the light was green, when it was red.