Age and driving

lostinrates

Old_Joe wrote: »

Reading many of the posts on this thread at 82 I suspect many of will think the same of me. I wonder what the ratio of accidents/deaths are caused by the older driver compared with many of the younger generations?






Before recently before renewing my driving licence extension the DVLA checked details of my health. I don't know what sort of questions were asked, but being of the hospital but there was no risk, unlike the doctors practice, of any personality influence by me.

Yesterday there was notable impatience from younger drivers, but it was my parent who nearly caused impacts.

Fwiw, there are more than age related health reasons to not drive. As I said, I am not well and ATM am transitioning onto new drugs. I am uncomfortable driving until I know I am 'ok' with their effect on my body. I', on week five of a gradual increase of dosage of these.

I am happy to do short runs to local town (under five miles away) but not to the town 25 minutes away yet. I have discussed all of this with my neurologist. I just don't know how I would cope without friends ATM. Last year I started to lose my sight intermittently and its about the most terrifying thing, because every choice we have made about how we live and where we live around my illness, we never thought we might have to factor in losing sight, and not driving. Thankfully its been controlled and not a problem, but its made it clear to us as we look at my parents that we don't want to me in the position either of them are in, ever.

Errata

lostinrates wrote: »

I am hoping they will consider it along with other medication and consider whether there is a medical reason they should not be driving.

If not the ball is back in my court.

Do you hope the doctor will do that without talking to and possibly examining your father?

lostinrates

Errata wrote: »

Do you hope the doctor will do that without talking to and possibly examining your father?

I doubt it very much, on more than one count.

Errata

lostinrates wrote: »

I doubt it very much, on more than one count.

Then you may have a problem if your father doesn't feel an appointment with the doctor is necessary. You can't force him to go, and neither can the doctor.

margaretclare

Anyway, there are stereotypes that some still conform to and that thankfully many are challenging, Especially as most of us will now be working up to around then!

Stereotypes...I've been battling against stereotypes for most of my lifetime and am still doing so.

We've had some well-publicised instances of older drivers causing death and injury around where I live, in recent years. One was a local GP, would you believe! As a result of another terribly sad case, a local MP has managed to get a change in the law - previously the police could not challenge a driver's ability to see, now they can. It is absolutely essential to go for the free annual sight check-up.

The 2 instances above were of men who were near-blind, even the local GP I mentioned! The other bloke failed to see 2 women on a zebra crossing in broad daylight on a dry road, resulting in the death of a young bride-to-be and serious injury to her mother. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3283844/Bride-to-be-killed-as-she-shopped-for-wedding-dress.html

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110723/jsp/nation/story_14277609.jsp

When incidents like this occur, tragic as they are, the reaction is often 'oh, older drivers shouldn't be on the road, they have a bus pass anyway, what do they need to drive for'. Out and about on a daily basis, we see lots of examples of appalling driving by people who can't be described as 'elderly'. It's not - mainly - older people who are guilty of texting or using a mobile phone at the wheel. The pet hate of both DH and me is tail-gating and recently he was hit in the back bumper by a driver at traffic-lights who was simply not paying attention, was much too close, and when DH had to avoid an oncoming motor-bike the following driver couldn't stop. He was a much younger man and was worried about his insurance! There is this stereotype, though, of an older man driving to the pub up the middle of the road at 20 mph.

BTW I recently went for my eye test. I'd read about AMD, a cause of progressive blindness in older people. I was greatly relieved to find that I haven't got it. After cataract surgery some years ago both of us value our sight very highly.

lostinrates

Errata wrote: »

Then you may have a problem if your father doesn't feel an appointment with the doctor is necessary. You can't force him to go, and neither can the doctor.

The parent in question has very regular doctors appointments, I don't foresee that as any difficulty at all.

lostinrates

margaretclare wrote: »

Stereotypes...I've been battling against stereotypes for most of my lifetime and am still doing so.

We've had some well-publicised instances of older drivers causing death and injury around where I live, in recent years. One was a local GP, would you believe! As a result of another terribly sad case, a local MP has managed to get a change in the law - previously the police could not challenge a driver's ability to see, now they can. It is absolutely essential to go for the free annual sight check-up.

The 2 instances above were of men who were near-blind, even the local GP I mentioned! The other bloke failed to see 2 women on a zebra crossing in broad daylight on a dry road, resulting in the death of a young bride-to-be and serious injury to her mother. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3283844/Bride-to-be-killed-as-she-shopped-for-wedding-dress.html

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110723/jsp/nation/story_14277609.jsp

When incidents like this occur, tragic as they are, the reaction is often 'oh, older drivers shouldn't be on the road, they have a bus pass anyway, what do they need to drive for'. Out and about on a daily basis, we see lots of examples of appalling driving by people who can't be described as 'elderly'. It's not - mainly - older people who are guilty of texting or using a mobile phone at the wheel. The pet hate of both DH and me is tail-gating and recently he was hit in the back bumper by a driver at traffic-lights who was simply not paying attention, was much too close, and when DH had to avoid an oncoming motor-bike the following driver couldn't stop. He was a much younger man and was worried about his insurance! There is this stereotype, though, of an older man driving to the pub up the middle of the road at 20 mph.

Nevertheless, in this case, the stereotype is being conformed to I fear.

Margaret Clare, may I ask what you would do if you felt a contemporary of yours was in the position my parent was in...fairly socially isolated locally, but 'busy' if able to get out and about but proving no longer that 'Quick reacting' or sensible on the road.

Fwiw, around the dinner table no one holds a candle to them (or a word edge ways) . It's mainly a driving issue.

mumps

lostinrates wrote: »

Honestly ...I don't think my parent is up to it, either practically or temperamentally.

I have been thinking about it and I do think my next step might have to be to phone my parent's doctor, who I know. I know the doctor cannot talk to me, but I can talk to her.

The very depressing thing is I very strongly fear this might lead to an irretrievable breakdown in my relationship with my parent. I am the only family member still in any contact with them and have controlled it very well and I have been proud of the way I have learned to handle my self with a very difficult person who despite a difficult nature is obviously still 'my parent'. I am also aware that at this time might not be the best time for this to take place because there is 'dip' in mental health and a poorly timed action could be ' the final straw'.

When my uncle was approaching 80 and showing signs of dementia we reported it to DVLA. They didn't give any information about why they wanted him to have a medical and he lost his licence. He was very upset but we felt if it was a choice between upsetting him and risking lives we had no choice. To be honest lessons would have been no help, his reactions were slow and he got confused although it wasn't obvious to someone who didn't know him. The doctor was reluctant to diagnose dementia initially but he fell and it was diagnosed in hospital.

Just wanted to add that my uncle was a wonderful driver and it was sad to see him and realise how his younger self would have felt about his driving. I know this because I remember when he was concerned about his father's driving and he persuaded him to stop. I suppose this made the decision easier as we felt his younger self would have wanted us to do it even though the 80 year old didn't want to lose his independence.

marisco_2

When you have always been a competent driver, facing that you now fear driving in unfamiliar areas and are prone to making poor judgements, must come as a horrible realisation. Remaining independent for as long as possible, by being able to get about and take care of day to day needs, is very important to most people. However once you get to the stage where driving a car has the potential to put yourself and other road users at risk, you have to be responsible and accept that it is time to stop driving. This is what I would do as I simply could not live with myself if I caused an otherwise avoidable accident and innocent parties got hurt or worse.

Yorkie1

I agree with the other posters who say that if persuasion / negotiation doesn't work, a report can be made to the DVLA.

I have an acquaintance whose aged Dad's driving was abysmal but the Dad wouldn't accept it. If the family confiscated the car keys, he found the spare set and carried on driving.

So eventually, after much heartache like that shown on this thread, they felt that the risk both to him and to the wider public was too great, so they referred it to DVLA. They called him in for a medical and his licence was revoked.

The difficulty they found with the 70+ recertification process is that it relies on the driver being self-aware and/or honest about their abilities.