How to report an elderly driver that is clearly unable to drive properly

Strider590

dibuzz wrote: »

My 80 year old ex neighbour has COPD and his car was his freedom. He only drove to the Post Office or Asda and stayed in the car whilst his wife went in but it was a change of scene for him.
His daughter saw him make a mistake once he said it was another driver's fault. I wasnt there so have no idea but it was enough for her to mention it to his consulatant and ask if he should be driving. She said he probably shouldn't and informed the DVLA who revoked his licence. He had only had his new Motability car 2 weeks and had to send it back.
He went downhill so fast it was scary to see, he started drinking which put more stress on his wife who was in the early stages of Alzheimers and a few months later they are both in nursing homes. She no longer recognises me which is very hard as we were very close, in fact she was my only friend and he is just wasting away.
His daughter was only doing what she thought was right and for the sake of other road users it was the right decision but it has had a devastating effect on them both.
I don't know what the answer is, obviously some people lose their ability and awareness as they get older. It's just sad that it usually comes at a time they most need the freedom their car brings them.

I'm not sure if your suggesting that loss of car speeds up the onset of Alzheimers? There may be quite a few medical experts that would disagree......... The thing is, for as harsh as it may sound, if he'd caused an accident that cost the lives of several other people and his daughter had done nothing, she'd have to live with that for the rest of her life, long beyond his own natural death.

The fact is, if someone is medically unfit, they should not be driving around in a potentially lethal weapon. Whatever their age......

alastairq

Strider590 wrote: »

I used to think this way..... But when your constantly being overtaken and/or honked at, you either have to wonder why OR you have to arrogantly assume that everyone else are maniacs.

Forgetting the fact that many times one gets honked at for totally incorrect reasons.

And those who are correct, probably won't honk at you.

arcon5

Not sure what good retests are, since most people that have just passed their test don't have a clue how to actually drive anyway. All they've been taught is how to make their mechanically propelled vehicle move in accordance with a big blue book - not quite the same huh. Then who teaches these new road users how motorways work?

There's a reason young peoples and new drivers insurance premiums are fully loaded. And a reason why insurance for a new driver is significantly more expensive than insurance for a learner driver.

Mojisola

Plenty of reading about the subject here - https://www.racfoundation.org/assets/rac_foundation/content/downloadables/driving_choices_for_the_older_motorist_lang_parkes_and_fernandez_medina_0213.pdf

angelil

I do of course agree that driving too slowly can be dangerous.

However, why do so many people on this thread seem insistent that one must be right up the ar5e of the speed limit at all times?! It's a maximum, not a minimum...

(PS I am a young driver!)

dibuzz

Strider590 wrote: »

I'm not sure if your suggesting that loss of car speeds up the onset of Alzheimers? There may be quite a few medical experts that would disagree......... The thing is, for as harsh as it may sound, if he'd caused an accident that cost the lives of several other people and his daughter had done nothing, she'd have to live with that for the rest of her life, long beyond his own natural death.

The fact is, if someone is medically unfit, they should not be driving around in a potentially lethal weapon. Whatever their age......

No, sorry, that's not what I meant.
The loss of his licence led to him becoming dependent on alcohol (as in at least a full bottle of whisky a day). This is what affected his wife as she was worn out looking after him. He could send her to the shop 5 times for a half bottle (easier to hide) and she wouldn't remember she had already been. He was falling over and she was having to deal with it all including going to hospital with him when he needed stitches and cleaning up after him.
Maybe it was all coincidence but she suddenly went from just seeming a bit forgetful to not knowing who any of us were and where she was but no I'm not blaming the loss of the car for that, it was stress and exhaustion. I'm just thinking aloud really and wondering "what if".
Who can say if he wouldn't have turned to drink anyway because of his condition?

I never saw him drive dangerously but his daughter had seen something and his consultant agreed so it was the right decision even if he didn't agree.

maggy50

I find it so sad to see elderly people struggling to walk from their car into a supermarket never mind having just driven there and parked.

Testing must be compulsory for drivers at 70 I for one would not object. (when I get to that age )

Tilt

I watched (in amazement) recently an old boy attempt to park in a high street between 2 other cars which were about 2 car lengths apart. It took him about 5 shunts to get in and during those attempts, he mounted the kerb at least twice. When he was 'satisfied' the car was still not parked straight the front o/s tyre being partially on the kerb.

I then watched as he got out and literally 'shuffled' his way along the side of the car steadying himself by holding onto the body work until he ran out of car. He then continued gingerly on his way using a walking stick making strides of no more than about a foot at a time.

How someone like that can be adequately in control of a car is totally beyond me.

photome

Tilt wrote: »

I watched (in amazement) recently an old boy attempt to park in a high street between 2 other cars which were about 2 car lengths apart. It took him about 5 shunts to get in and during those attempts, he mounted the kerb at least twice. When he was 'satisfied' the car was still not parked straight the front o/s tyre being partially on the kerb.

I then watched as he got out and literally 'shuffled' his way along the side of the car steadying himself by holding onto the body work until he ran out of car. He then continued gingerly on his way using a walking stick making strides of no more than about a foot at a time.

How someone like that can be adequately in control of a car is totally beyond me.

AlistairQ will tell you he is fine, he can just drive slowly to his own driving/road conditions

Guest101

alastairq wrote: »

Nothing 'wrong' with slow drivers..or slow vehicles.

What is 'wrong' is the inability of [faster???} drivers to cope with those slow vehicles.

And, in my jaundiced [and ageing] eyes, it is that inability to cope that is far more worrying as a risk, than any slow driver.

I think the recent events in Kent only go to hilite this inability amongst far too many drivers out there?

Being able to drive quickly is a luxury to be enjoyed, not a 'right'..on the Public Highway.

And as an oldie, I'm willing to bet everyone on this forum is more likely to get in MY way, than the other way around?

So, if anyone reading this has issues with 'slow' vehicles, try looking to your own driver abilities first?

Because, in those 'abilities' may lie the solution..and the 'slow' vehicle will cease to be a problem?

Of course, if those abilities are in reality quite inadequate..then the answer isn't to vilify the slow vehicle driver...but to seek help in improving one's own capabilities?


Or..maybe take a pop at the inadequate ability of het driver right behind that slow vehicle..because it is often they who make matters worse for you....not the slow vehicle.

I must say that slow vehicles can cause serious problems. Where i live, near j34 of the M6. The northbound slip road is so short that drivers really need to accelarate early, there is no hard shoulder after the sliproad, and its far too dangerous to stop at the top. But time and again I see driving going up the slip road at 30-35 mph. Its crazy.

Partly i blame the lack of signage, there should be warnings, but the drivers dont help themselves either, its careless not to notice.

and puts me and my family in danger