Unsafe elderly driver - how to protect the public

Inactive

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Trouble with the young is that they think they know everything, i suppose all that seem overly concerned here are perfect drivers that regularly cover 50K miles a year incident free for the last 20 years?

Fair comment, I wonder just how many of us could safely say 100% that they could pass a standard driving test tomorrow without any further instruction??

ailuro2

Let a couple of his tyres down, make sure it's on the driver's side so he notices, or make sure you're there.

When he can't change the wheel or operate the foot pump himself tell him you're worried about his safety - what would happen if he were on his own, etc?

Do it before he buys the new car, unless of course you want to buy an automatic car cheaply (well, this is MSE:o)

Jakg

Inactive wrote: »

Fair comment, I wonder just how many of us could safely say 100% that they could pass a standard driving test tomorrow without any further instruction??

Me.

Unlike most people on the road I actually understand the odd concepts of indication and lane discipline.

Unfortunately young drivers take all the flak - the driving test is hard, but making it harder won't stop the over 50's who've never done a proper test, haven't had any formal instruction and have the worst habits ever.

p00hsticks

vaio wrote: »

I’m 50+ and insure a group twenty car, cost was £300, added 55yo OH, price dropped by £20, added 75yo Dad, price went up to £700.

This has made me think of one possible angle that the OP could take - that of cost.

From what the OP says, the father doesn't currently own a car, and if he hasn't driven for ten years may not really be aware of how much he is likely to have to fork out these days to keep one on the road.

So perhaps you could sit down with him and work out how much it is going to cost to buy his car, tax it, insure it, maintain it, AA cover, petrol etc.

With a bit of luck, it will come to the sort of figure where you can turn round and say ' blimey! for the amount of times you use it it would work out cheaper to pay for a taxi whenever you wanted to go out!' and hope that he agrees.

Garetha

p00hsticks wrote: »

From what the OP says, the father doesn't currently own a car

They have a manual car - my mother drove until recently

Pensioners are the new wealthy - income exceeds expenditure - so spend it or some of the benefits get stopped!

Inactive

Jakg wrote: »

Unfortunately young drivers take all the flak - the driving test is hard, but making it harder won't stop the over 50's who've never done a proper test, haven't had any formal instruction and have the worst habits ever.

Where did you get that information from??...it is wrong I'm afraid.

worbikeman

It might be the last bit of pride the old fella has.
You can worry too much about what 'might' happen.
Wait til he has a prang then you can say "I told you so".
In the meantime, avoid the roads when he is out!

margaretclare

Jakg wrote: »

Me.

Unlike most people on the road I actually understand the odd concepts of indication and lane discipline.

Unfortunately young drivers take all the flak - the driving test is hard, but making it harder won't stop the over 50's who've never done a proper test, haven't had any formal instruction and have the worst habits ever.

I don't know why you think 'the over-50s have never done a proper test'. There will still be a few drivers about - a declining number - who started driving pre-WWII when tests were not required, and perhaps a few from the fuel crisis of 1956 when testing was suspended. Other than that, all of us 'over-50s' have taken a test. Some of us have gone on to take the Advanced Motoring test. DH is an Advanced Driver. Because of his diabetes he has to renew his licence every 3 years, answer detailed questions and allow access to his medical records. This applies to all of us after age 70.

I took some 'refresher' sessions with the AA School of Motoring a couple of years ago after surgery, and I also did the Advanced Motoring course. DH and I are both in our mid-70s. We see appalling examples of driving from all ages, on a daily basis.

Inactive

Compulsory Car Driving Tests began in 1935.;)

margaretclare

Garetha wrote: »

My father is 88 and hasn't driven for about 10 years apart from recent driving lessons.

One instructor gave up on him. A friend who sat with him said 'don't drive' and refused to help further. Another driving instructor advised him to take a test.

His reactions are very slow, he walks very slowly with the aid of two walking sticks. We don't know if he could stop quickly enough in an emergency.

When challenged he denies his potential danger and is in the process of buying an automatic 'which I will be able to drive'

I've written to his GP asking for his opinion or if he would advise the DVLA. I had no reply.
I've written to the DVLA asking for advice on assessment without mentioning his name - but no reply.

We're so worried about him having an accident and hurting himself or someone else.

Can anyone advise what else I could try to get him assessed?

I can't give you any advice, apart from trying to talk to his GP face-to-face. I am an energetic defender of those of us in the older age-groups who wish to continue driving, but what you write above is alarming.

1. He hasn't driven for 10 years. When I didn't drive for a couple of years recently I took a couple of refresher sessions with a reputable motoring school and then did the Advanced Motoring course.

2. The reactions of those driving instructors is very relevant. Those people know what they are doing. They're not in the business of encouraging unsafe drivers on to the roads.

3. Reaction times are also very relevant. How slowly he walks with sticks may not be relevant. In an automatic you don't use your left leg at all, but it has been known for drivers to use the accelerator rather than the brake, with disastrous results.

4. How is his eyesight? There was a tragic case near us where a young woman was killed and her mother seriously injured, on a pelican crossing on a dry road in broad daylight. The culprit was a man of 77 driving a Toyota Land-Cruiser, who had limited sight in one eye and no sight in the other. His excuse: 'the sun was low and got in his eyes'.