To think that too many people are in denial that they should not drive?

[Onomatofear]

I hear about countless examples of elderly people or people with health problems getting behind the wheel of a car when they shouldn't be. Why do they do it?

I remember my dh's granddad doing it. Now it's my dad. He's 78 and can barely walk without falling over and he refuses to accept that he shouldn't be on the road. About 6 months ago, he accidentally drove over a pedestrian island thinking it was an actual road. I pointed out to my mum that him being old wouldn't count as a defence. She still gets in the car with him(!)

And before you say why don't I report him, it's easy to say but I've reported someone before for the same sort of thing and he figured out it was me and went mad at me. It's even more difficult to report your own parent.

I've lost count of the times I've seen an older person get out of their car very slowly and hobble off with the aid of a Zimmer frame/stick/ crutches. If they are that doddery, how can they possibly react in time if they have to?
Having said that, my old dad was still driving at quite an advanced age. But his reactions were fine, he was physically and mentally very well, and it was his failing eyesight that did for his driving licence.

Yes, you also have to reapply every 3 years in England too. The trouble is everyone thinks they are fine (just look at Biden) and you only have to tick boxes. I am over 70 and I would welcome being retested, but given that there is a huge backlog in driving tests I don’t think this is possible. What I think would be a good idea is compulsory eyesight tests and reaction time testing. I have yearly eye tests.

I would point out that he also had a full medical and an eye test annually. The other reason he gave up was that he would be bound to be blamed for any accident at his age, even if it really wasn't his fault.

So simple but effective! I hope other forces will follow through.

I agree. There should be some re-testing, at least of eyesight and reaction times.

@Onomatofear you are absolutely right.

This is one area where AI will help us as we age. It cant come quickly enough tbh because each generation is living longer so years with poor mobility and other types of ill health are very likely, yet everyone will want their independence for as long as possible.

Can I suggest you ask your dad to try taking some NAC supplrment. It might not help but Ive heard some fabulous results esp about mobility and imflammation.

@Onomatofear well yes, I would still report them even if it meant we had no where to live. In fact I would take their keys away. I would feel immensely guilty if they had run over a child because I did not put a stop to it.

But the problem is also that if they don't have a diagnosed condition which prohibits driving, reporting them won't get them off the road. The person I reported before did have a neurological condition.

Thank you. What is NAC?

People always say ‘loss of independence’ as the reason for not giving up driving but I don’t really get this.
All of the elderly people I know only drive about 20 miles per week. With the savings they would make giving up their car they could afford a taxi for every trip they make.
No one will be phoning them for a lift in an emergency will they.

Calling a taxi isn't always that easy or cheap if you live rurally though.

It's the freedom if being able to pick up your keys and go as you always have, the concept if being able to rather than the actual need to.

Yes but running a car, including service and insurance costs isn’t cheap either. If you start to use a taxi service they get to know you.
My sister and I had to speak to our mother about 10 years ago about driving. We were having lunch in a pub and she asked where the menu was. We told her it was on the blackboard on the wall. She said what blackboard!!

I support everyone being retested, both written and driving, every five years. There are so many, non elderly drivers who don't know the road rules. Driving is a privilege not a right and people need basic competency. If you don't think you could easily pass a regular written and driving test, should you really be on the road?

My ex mil called me an idiot for contacting the DVLA (Drs order) to have my drivers licence revoked for medical reasons. At the time I was undergoing tests to see if the seizures I'd been having were epilepsy. Apparently one of her friends is epileptic and has regular seizures but thinks she's fine to drive so continues to do so. Thankfully mine weren't due to epilepsy but a reaction to the antidepressants I was taking at the time. My medication was changed and I was able to eventually get my license back. As annoying as it was at the time not being able to drive whenever I wanted. I would never have forgiven myself had I not gone to the Dr or told the DVLA and had continued to carrying on driving and seriously injured or killed someone. I definitely agree with drivers over a certain age having to re sit a driving test. If they tick the box that says they feel able to still drive then a regular test should be mandatory. I narrowly missed hitting an elderly driver side on who had missed a red traffic light and pulled straight out in front of me. Luckily I had just come through the green light on my side and was turning to round the corner so hadn't picked up speed and was able to stop in time. If I was coming in on the straight bit of road chances are I'd have gone straight into the side of her. She didn't even have a clue she'd driven through the red light and kept trying to drive forward into my car as I was trying to drive around her so I wasn't blocking road, and into the cars waiting on the opposite side of the road. I didn't have my phone at the time but I did see someone else note down her registration plate.

@Abitlosttoday I drive but often don't recognise people at a distance.

🤷🏻‍♀️

I wear glasses for driving, I can't wear them walking around.

@Onomatofear

Then ask a friend to do it for you. report the 'man' and the plate. She can say he was doing xyz and it scared her, she thinks he probably is no longer fit to drive.

My friends father disinherited his daughter because she reported him to the DVLA. He was 83 , dementia symptoms and Mr Magoo sighted. His car had so many dinks from gateposts etc

.luckily her sibling reinstated the old will.

Each individual case is different. My Dad drove until he was in his 90s. He was fine, he was an engineer and realised he’d probably need a new car or a big MOT spend.

YANBU. I am hoping though, that technology will have advanced so much in the next 30-40 years that if I am incapable of driving, it won't be an issue because cars will drive themselves.

It's such a shame our public transport system is so shocking, certainly away from the main cities. If there was a feasible alternative, so people could feel that they aren't losing their independence, they would probably be more likely to accept their own failings. Maybe.

You need to report him.

My mum collapsed and was told not to drive until medical investigations were completed. No cause was found but she was now unsteady on her feet, slow to react with poor eyesight. She claims that the neurologist at her final appointment said that she was safe to drive (this was despite me emailing the team to describe her symptoms in detail, as she obviously couldn’t say what had happened while she was barely conscious and because she downplays everything and always says she is fine. She also at times lacks the language skills to communicate effectively)
There is no way that you could watch her walk or chat to her without realising something is amiss. I told her that I would contact the DVLA and report her, plus the GMC and the health board to report the doctor. I had the consultant’s details because of the email correspondence so it wasn’t an idle threat. I’m actually not convinced that my mum didn’t make it up/ misremember/ misunderstand.
She complained a lot but after some harsh words she gave in. I do however think I could have been nicer about it, but I was sure that the doctor would say she couldn’t drive so I was a bit shocked.

@Fairyliz

It's not always about the cost of a taxi, it's about availability. The fares are just 'not worth it' to taxi drivers who have to do it on the meter. It costs them more than they get.

The councils are to blame for this.

@crazyBadger

Maybe report him to the police?