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AIBU?

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Original poster

To report FIL to the DVLA

67 replies

FruitCider · 30/07/2018 10:29

Background...

My father in law is 71, and lives about 15 minutes away in a rural village.

10 years ago he was diagnosed with Ménière's disease, which he has not declared to the DVLA.

5 years ago he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he takes metformin and gliclizide and ignores DVLA advice re texting blood sugars before car journeys

2 weeks ago he started losing sensation in his right foot, he will not go to the doctors about this despite the fact that it may be linked to his diabetes.

On Saturday evening he gave me a lift to another village 15 minutes away and I was terrified. We nearly clipped the curbs going round bends on several occasions, he was braking v heavily and was very heavy on the accelerator, he was doing 22mph in a 30 zone and 33mph in 40 zones, causing a tail back of at least 20 cars.

I tried to speak to my partner yesterday and suggested his dad needed to give up his driving license, but DP would not have any of it.

AIBU to consider writing to the DVLA about my FIL undeclared medical history in the hope of having his license revoked? I would do this and ask the DVLA not to disclose it was me that contacted them. I really feel he is not safe to be on the roads... I love him dearly but I worry about him hitting the curb and running over a pedestrian or rolling his car and killing himself!!!

OP posts:
missmouse101 · 30/07/2018 20:42

My goodness, please please report him. It's a very sensible course of action.

NorthernChinchilla · 30/07/2018 20:45

My best friend has the same condition, Menieres, and doesn't drive on those grounds alone. FAR too risky.
So glad you've reported- driving is a priviledge, not an inherent right, despite so many people's views.

crazycanuck · 30/07/2018 20:57

So pleased you have reported. My BIL’s elderly mum rolled not just 1, but 2 cars, before she finally stopped driving. Thankfully she was ok and no one else was involved, but she was such a liability on the road.

Bluelady · 30/07/2018 21:02

Now you've reported him, please do something that will benefit him and try to get him to the doctor about that numb foot before he loses it.

PigletJohn · 30/07/2018 21:09

You took the right action.

You may think this is a a made-up story, but it isn't.

A while ago I was at a New-Years eve party. The house was opposite the beach. At midnight we crossed over to do some fireworks on the beach. On the other side of the road was a hedge and a path, people were spilling off the curb before filing down the path. It was a wide road with good streetlamps.

A car approached and the elderly driver didn't see the group of people. He hit about a dozen of them. A few had head injuries. One lost his hearing. Others had broken limbs. One lost an eye.

Apparently it is quite common for older people to lose night vision.

Would it have been better if he'd been off the road before it happened?

Original poster
FruitCider · 30/07/2018 22:01

Now you've reported him, please do something that will benefit him and try to get him to the doctor about that numb foot before he loses it

I've been trying to talk to him all week about it! I'm pretty persistent Wink

OP posts:
CanineEnigma · 30/07/2018 22:11

Honestly FruitCider I hope your persistence pays off. It's not just the foot he could lose, he really needs to understand that - the whole leg below the knee.

pleasereport · 30/07/2018 22:22

I'm so glad you reported this. Just google the campaign for Poppy-Arabella's law to see how devestating these driver's selfish actions can be, and how the law needs to be changed to prevent these atrocities in the future.

Reaa · 30/07/2018 22:43

Sorry for double post, pic did not load first time.

Bramble71 · 30/07/2018 22:45

I am disabled and have reduced sensation and power in one leg and, after an assessment of my driving, had my licence temporarily suspended. It was considered that I couldn't safely stop a car. It scared the heck out of me!

I really think you should report this; he could easily cause an accident and if he did, you'd probably feel bad for not doing as much as you could to help keep him, and others, safe.

Original poster
FruitCider · 31/07/2018 08:06

Honestly FruitCider I hope your persistence pays off. It's not just the foot he could lose, he really needs to understand that - the whole leg below the knee.

I know, I'm a nurse who has done an extended course in diabetes, that's why I told him he needed to see a Gp re diabetes and foot numbness. He reckons his blood sugars are always under 8, but that's probably a complete lie.

OP posts:
Goth237 · 31/07/2018 23:18

PLEASE report him. Please, please, please. For the sake of everyone involved. He may not be bothered about his own safety or the safety of others, but someone needs to be. He is breaking the law and at some point it will go horribly wrong, he will lose control and kill himself or someone else. Please report him.

Goth237 · 31/07/2018 23:20

Sorry, just read that you did report him. Thank you for doing that.

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