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.

My sisters, my dad and I were pleased when my mum just quietly quit during covid. At that point there wasn't a need as such, but there is now, and I'm glad none of us had to have the conversation.

Dad is ok at the moment, but that will be a bugger to deal with when the time comes.

Just talking about this today. DH saw an ancient old man pulling into supermarket car park, drove on wrong side of road (in car park), and then parked badly across 2 spaces with no signalling. So dangerous.

I think once you reach a certain age you should have to do a yearly eye exam to read the number plate and a practical every few years. It’ll mean so many people losing their licence but it’s not a right. Taxi services will have to be better. Buses at a certain age still rely on a long walk to the bus stop and not really practical.

DOI I don’t have a licence currently for medical reasons and waiting for it to be returned and rightly so I don’t have it.

I agree, a lot of people are suggesting better bus services would mean elderly people might be more willing to give up their driving licences, but I don't think those people would be willing or able to use buses. Aldi, all this extra testing being suggested. It would be a logistical and financial nightmare, far better that people choose to stop driving when they're no longer able, it needs to be discussed and publicised much more. I also agree that driverless cars will be a big help

I think once you reach a certain age you should have to do a yearly eye exam to read the number plate and a practical every few years

I don’t know about the practical, but I think everyone with a driving licence should have to have an eye exam at least every 2 years, or more frequently if the optician suggests.

I agree that as people age and become more infirm they should no longer drive if unsafe to do so. However, I’m always concerned at the number of presumably child-bearing aged posters on here who post to recount a stupid error or accident while driving and confess that they’re anxious drivers and/or are scared or not confident when behind the wheel. I feel the driving test should require a higher standard of driving than it currently does. You can’t afford the ditsy/silly little me act when propelling a ton of metal.

This. And the results notified to DVLA. And a sight test be mandatory after every road incident.

Would you travel with him driving or would you let your DC get in the car with him?
If not, tell him. Get a dashcam so you can show him his driving. Don’t just rely on the GP as some are reluctant to report because they don’t see what the persons driving is like and some doddery old people are still very competent behind the wheel.

I agree with some elderly people should not be driving. Every three years from 70, you get a form and tick boxes and boom get another license.

Many elderly people don’t understand that they have a problem.

Even the best public transport system isn’t going to be door to door, which is what a lot of elderly and disabled people need.

My gran, for example, struggles to walk because her knees are so bad. She wouldn’t be capable of walking to the bus stop, standing to wait for a bus, then walking to her destination. But she can sit in a car and use her ankles to move the pedals.

Her only alternative would be a taxi, and she’d have to telephone and speak to someone, book in advance and be tied to that departure time, and if she couldn’t get a taxi that day she’d be stuck.

I look forward to the day we get these single person electric powered AI controlled bubbles that are capable of doing short preset journeys. My gran never drives more than 5 miles, she goes to the shops, the doctor, and her kids and grandkids houses. I’d be much happier for her to get in a little computer controlled bubble that could take her short distances.

This is the issue with setting up a society that requires people to drive. I hate driving. I know I’m not good at it. I only drive certain familiar routes because I’m scared - to school, to work, to a couple of friends and familys houses, that’s it. But I have to drive. Otherwise how am I supposed to get to work and get DC to school?

So, as long as you get your inheritance, it doesn't matter that he's a danger to himself and others?!

I think you live near me as this happened on my old road. He'd been told by his optician to stop driving but didn't then mowed down and killed a 3 year old. Got sent to prison too as he should. Poor poor family lost their only child.

This!
I have a drivers licence, have barely driven in 25 years, not at all for 6. I keep it as it's useful id, and if I ever need to again will take some lessons but doubt I would be safe if I just got in a car and drove

Older driver here (77) - I wear glasses to drive and can pass the number plate test - but I hate driving at night (headlight glare). I prefer to use roads I know, I do need a car as I have a dog (for dog appointments), I avoid fast busy roads because I dislike the stress of those situations.

When I next renew my licence - I shall look at the exorbitant cost of insurance, the cost of keeping a car in working order but I will still do it as people are missing the point that a driving licence is an accepted form of ID if one does not have a passport.

Why on earth the government of whatever stripe does not introduce a National ID card (equivalent to a driving licence without the permit to drive) which could persuade people to give up their driving licence.
Oh and sort out public transport for those who cannot or do not want to drive.
Not dismiss any improvement as un-necessary because everyone drives these days.

So, as long as you get your inheritance, it doesn't matter that he's a danger to himself and others?!

This isn't just about financial inheritance. You don't know or understand my life or circumstances and I doubt you've bothered to read my posts either.

Plus, as others have explained, even if I do report him it's not very likely to result in him getting his license taken away because he doesn't have a diagnosable condition that would get him off the road.

I can't drive for medical reasons and it makes me fume that other people are so entitled they just carry in despite being an obvious danger on the roads.

Most accidents are drivers between the ages of 17-25yo (which is why their insurance premiums are higher) and most accidents occur in towns and not on motorways. It's down to the competency and health of the individual driver, not neccesarily the older age of the driver (although I did stop DF from driving).

Yes, it is entitled. I have frequent ear infections and I dont even think about driving if I've got one.

My dad justifies his own continued driving by saying the optician says his eyes are fine and he gets new glasses often. He should not be driving though because his reaction times are slower and his physical health is so poor that he has frequent falls.

I agree there should be further testing for older drivers,however many accidents are caused by bad irresponsible young /middle age drivers as well,There was a dreadful accident nearby to us ,with a guy driving and had taken drugs as well. A mum with her new baby, crossed over on a pedestrian crossing on Green Man ,car flew through and she was hit at 60 mph ,Managed to push babies pram to safety by some miracle .However she has been left with severe injures ,has 2 other DC to care for as well.

It’s important to remain socially engaged as you get older, to reduce the risk of dementia. How do you suggest people do this if they have no means of getting out of the house?

There are drivers who shouldn’t drive because of medical reasons of all ages, they need to notify the DVLA but some do not. Plus just the actual competency levels of some are very poor, easy to see just how bad when you see some people try and park. Then there is speeding and very nervous drivers. Which are at opposite ends of the spectrum of over confident and not confident and both dangerous in their own ways.

We took his keys off him.

No, I don't think he would have disinherited me but that wouldn't have stopped me doing the right thing. I would've just denied it if he'd asked - and as I said, he was under the hospital eye clinic so it was easy to go along with his suspicion that they had reported him.

Remaining socially engaged won't stop someone getting dementia.

Who is statistically more likely to be in a car crash?
Statistics show that there are different factors at play when it comes to who is most likely to be involved in a car accident. Here’s a quick breakdown of the main ones:
What age group is most likely to be involved in a crash in the UK?
Young male drivers under 25 are four times more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers aged 25 or over.
Worryingly, young car drivers account for a quarter of drivers killed in reported drink-driving accidents despite only representing 7% of drivers in the UK.
Are men or women more likely to crash?
Men are more likely to experience a casualty from driving, with 62% of all car-related injuries being male. Sadly, 78% of all car fatalities are male, according to the Department For Transport 2021 report.