To think ROSPA should make it clear that Older Driver Assessments might result in a loss of license?

[sprucinitup]

An elderly relative was recently diagnosed with a medical condition which does not result in automatic loss of driving license, but nevertheless, his GP recommended that he undertake a free Older Driver Assessment, saying he thought it might be "helpful". He gave my relative a leaflet which also described the assessment as "helpful". My relative booked an assessment. It consisted of online cognitive tests and a practical driving assessment. At the end of this, my relative was told he was driving too hesitantly. But rather than offering the "re-training" mentioned in the leaflet, they removed his license.

He is understandably very upset about this, because he wasn't warned that loss of license was a potential outcome.

This is the website: https://www.olderdrivers.org.uk/driver-assessment/ . If there is info on there about loss of license then it must be well buried because I can't see it.

He is very responsible, and will of course accept the decision, but aibu to think that there should be a more transparent process, so that elderly folk don't feel tricked into giving up their license by stealth?

If it was made absolutely clear that there is a possibility they could have their licence removed, then it might mean a lot of older people wouldn't go for it and they'd continue driving when they shouldn't.

I was going to say that you're being unreasonable, but I've clicked through all the links on that page and even on the detailed information about driving assessments it doesn't say that a licence can be revoked.

Can he re do the test and get his licence back?

You say 'they' removed his licence. Who is 'they'?

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/fitness-to-drive/challenge-the-decision/

This might help.

The point is to identify drivers who are too inform to be driving. As someone with experience of people who undertake these tests for medical reasons for the most part they are incredibly lenient, I can't believe the levels someone can still be driving at so if they've said he shouldn't drive they are correct. And his GP was correct, it IS helpful, he's no longer a danger to himself and others on the road.

what did they expect to happen?
If their dr has told them to be assessed then they needed to be assessed.

are you saying that if your relative was aware they might lose their license they wouldn’t have gone ahead with the assessment?
thats so dangerous.

you could take it as “at least they are not driving and putting themselves and others at risk”
look around you, everyone knows a few people who shouldn’t be driving, your relative is one of them

Either way, he did not give informed consent to the assessment.

It sounds like assessment was offered as a 'helpful' thing to give tips and hints. The websites talk about strengths and weaknesses. They talk about a report detailing the findings of assessment but they don't say 'your licence could be revoked.'

Unfortunately, but understandably, a lot of people continue driving when they are no longer fit to do so. Often they don't realise, and nobody wants to give up their independence. I think older people (and I am one of them!) should be regularly assessed as a matter of course.

I expect that he should be told he should have an assessment and warned that it might result in loss of license. The license outcome would have been the same, but he would have felt more in control of the process, not tricked into it.

I was ready to tell you how unreasonable you are but reading the information, I actually agree - it should be clearer. Notwithstanding that fact, if someone’s driving is so poor their licence has been revoked then I suggest that’s the best for everyone all round. Even if there’s re-training available, the licence needs revoking pending the re-training.

I agree they should be assessed, but not in an underhand way.

Or might not have had the assessment, be driving unsafely and lead to the death of others.

I agree with the way you have put it. If this had happened with anything else and/or happened to a woman people would be screaming no informed consent

But he might not have done the assessment then, and would be a danger to himself and others on the road.

Like the school run parents and sales reps do

Unlikely because it sounds very much like he failed the test as he is no longer fit to drive.

OP how old is this relative?

I think the problem is that we should all have a duty to ensure that we're still fit to drive, but we're often either reluctant to admit that we aren't, or are just unaware that our eyesight has deteriorated or that our reactions aren't what they were, for example.

I'm assuming the assessment centre's business model is to flog people courses, so his driving must have been quite bad if they didn't do that!.

Surely it must be expected that any kind of "assessment" by a professional inviles that professional having duty of care to the public at large?

He would have done the assessment, and he would have accepted the outcome with much less upset. It is the underhand trickery that is the issue.

I guess the question was why was the test optional in the first place? Clearly, if his licence has now been removed, he needed to be forced to have the test or loose his license automatically if he refused. If they had made it clear to him that he could lose his license, and he had refused, then he's still be driving which clearly he isn't safe to do.

You'd have to be pretty dim to think that a safety organisation testing older drivers is then going to just pat everyone on the head and send them on their way.

My friend who drives at the age of sixty nine is a very good driver but would NOT be able to complete an online cognitive test as he cant type anywhere near fast enough. I had to help him fill in a medical form online because he couldnt do it fast enough and the fields kept timing out. Guess he could always consult a solicitor under the Equality Act.