To report this to police?

[suspended]

My grandad is refusing to give up his licence. He is 86, and has become more and more disabled over the years.

Last year he spent a month in hospital after fracturing his hip- he now has one leg shorter than the other and walks with two sticks. He limps and can only walk around 2m unaided. We suspect although have no proof that he could not do an emergency stop.

He has glaucoma and reduced eyesight. He regularly goes to get his eyes depressurised and then drives back even though his sight is impaired after the procedure. He will not accept a lift.

Last Wednesday he had a fall and broke his arm. We just called him and he was not in. Then called my nana and they were 'driving'. She said she was changing gears for him.

I am honestly at my wits end with them. They could kill someone. What can we do? My dad has called their GP to discuss it but they can not do anything with out my grandads permission. The police were unhelpful as he passed his driving test review a few years back.

My grandparents could have help from myself, my brother or my father but won't accept it. They have also been completely flouting the covid 19 rules and have been out every day shopping, visiting friends and generally pissing all of us off with their lack of care for others.

I had a thought though, would it work if I reported them for dangerous driving?

What a shame you didn't know where he was so he could be caught driving but not really.

Changing the fucking gears for him.

How monumentally stupid and selfish.

It more than likely won't be himself he injures.

Selfish fucker.

tbh, OP, I'd have called the police right away, and the DVLA after.

As an aside: what does reporting such drivers to the DVLA do? do they write a letter telling the person to give up their licence? What powers do they have?

Confiscate or hide his car keys and report him to the Dvla

Report to DVLa. I suggest that your Dad also writes to his GP outlining all the reasons why he feels that his Dad is unfit to drive. He could cc the police station local to your grand dad and DVLA. I find sometimes writing can be more effective.

Take his keys !

Report to Police and DVLA !!!

I don't drive because I have several medical conditions which I believe make me unsafe to drive. Including a tendency to faint and dyspraxia - I cannot tell left from right, and struggle with physical coordination, reaction times and judging speed and distance.

(Lots of people with dyspraxia can drive safely of course, but I feel in my case that I cannot, and my lessons were a disaster).

Not driving can be a pain in the backside at times, however, I don't believe that I am capable of driving safely, so I don't. I couldn't live with myself if I killed or hurt someone.

Lots of people don't drive - my cousin has epilepsy, my brother is also dyspraxic and doesn't feel fit to drive and a friend and my grandfather are both blind.

I would report them to the DVLA. They are being very selfish here. They could kill someone!

As with others, report to DVLA and police. I’d also email the practice manager of his GP surgery , telling them exactly what you’ve told us and that you’ve reported him . They will quickly concur when they know that Police and DVLA are involved.

We had no idea about dad and his poor driving until he was stopped by the police . Turns out he forgot to stop at red lights and didn’t know when to turn... mum had to tell him to brake, turn left, move to the left lane etc... and she can’t even drive! I shudder to think what might have happened... we had no idea at all.

As an aside: what does reporting such drivers to the DVLA do? do they write a letter telling the person to give up their licence? What powers do they have?

They write to the person & depending on the situation give them a certain date by which they have to attend a GP/optician etc appointment.

If they do not attend, or the relevant professional does not sign the forms to certify fitness to drive they have the authority to revoke the licence.

(Dh voluntarily surrender his licence following dizzy spells & mil lost hers due to Alzheimer’s after her dr refused to sign she was fit)

Report.
Get him off the road.
It is as bad as drink driving.

*14:05melissasummerfield

You should have a conversation with them and then report them to the DVLA.

A little girl was killed close to where i live by a similar driver who went straight through pedestrian crossing, her mother survived just about and reading about it was absolutely heart breaking.*

I remember that case, I guess you must live near to me. It was heartbreaking the woman was a friend of one of my friend's. So very sad

It is extraordinary though. My dad at 86 was blind in one eye and had macular degeneration in the other and his eye doctor said he was OK to drive. I shit you not.

This is a common situation.

My father had to be forced to give up his licence earlier this year. Similar conditions and deaf and really slow reactions. Had a few TIA's. Tended to drive int he middle of the road very slowly. Very dangerous. I took his keys and said he will kill someone.

Eventually he said he would sell the car - best thing he ever did

just take the keys or phone the police a he goes out driving say youre concerned as youve seen him drive all over the place

Yes, report him. Any implications won't be as bad as if he hits someone, even if he can't gather that.

Has anyone mentioned reporting to the DVLA yet?

On the police front, he needs to be seen to be driving by an officer to report for dangerous driving. The manner of driving needs to fall 'Well below that of a standard driver' careless driving is just 'below that of a standard driver' It's something like that, been a while since my traffic training.
You can call 101 and pass the details of the vehicle, VRM etc, that can be put on as Intel or passed for stop/checks if seen.

Report him - I know someone who was left motherless as a toddler, because an 80+ year old hit the gas instead of the brake.

I would report the DVLA... and / or write what you have written in your OP to their GP.
The GP will not be able to discuss it with you but has a duty to act on what they are told, so it's easiest to put it in writing. I have done this before when I had concerns about an elderly person who was not telling their GP the true picture of how they were coping at home.

I can’t believe his Dr hasn’t reported this to DVLA as he has impaired vision 😕

He could kill someone! Time to call the authorities. It sounds like you can remain anonymous.
The Covid behavior is a separate issue. I'm not sure I'd abide by the "rules" if I were 86, either.
However, all you can do concerning that would to keep your own boundaries. You don't have to put their "needs" above yours.
Good luck with a hard situation!

On the police front, he needs to be seen to be driving by an officer to report for dangerous driving. The manner of driving needs to fall 'Well below that of a standard driver' careless driving is just 'below that of a standard driver' It's something like that, been a while since my traffic training.

I'd guess that driving with a broken arm and relying on his wife to change gear would come under "well below"!

Sorry for not replying I got locked out of my account for a few days.

I do believe my grandma is enabling him/encouraging him.

Since he has been to the hospital they have begged us to take them out 'for a run' because they are bored. We are in the middle of a fucking pandemic! They can't get in our car. Honestly it feels like banging my head off a wall.

I have reported to DVLA, have sent an email to 101 as well. Called the GP, they were no use. Will tell my sisters husband to let the car tyres down (they live nearby).

We have called them and told them his insurance is invalidated. But that's just made me think that maybe reporting to his insurance company might be an avenue too?

I used to work for the DVLA. Report it to them. It's one of their main areas of work. You can do it anon.

You have to ask yourself "Can I live with myself if they injure themselves, or someone else, because I didn't report it?"

Sometimes you have to act for the greater good.

My mum recently reported her 90+ neighbours who live opposite for driving when they really shouldn't. She heard from their daughter that their driving was "horrifying", but the daughter refused to do anything about it. Mum watched him a few weeks back... It took 15 minutes for the old couple to get from the front door to sat in the car (a distance of maybe 10 metres). When he reversed, he hit the gate at the end of the drive... Mum was on to the DVLA within minutes.

@suspended yes contact the insurance, they may not be able to discuss on the phone due to confidentiality so I’d suggest sending an email stating your concerns.

Dvla has online.
Found them useless but you may have more luck.