Worried about dad's fitness to drive

brat

jack_pott wrote: »

The police can't necessarily do anything either.

The police have some powers after a collision, or if they witness poor driving that they believe is related to physical, mental or vision issues.

If the person's eyesight has weakened so that they cannot see satisfactorily then we can do a check on a drivers vision. If the driver doesn't pass the test, we can contact DVLA immediately and have their licence revoked.

If the elderly driver is involved in a collision and it is believed that failing faculties were the cause of it, then we can inform DVLA who can make requirements of the driver to have a medical check.
If we witness careless driving by a driver caused in our belief by failing faculties, then we can attend the home address and ask them if they are prepared to voluntarily surrender their licence, usually in lieu of a prosecution for the driving offence.

AdrianC

DUTR wrote: »

I beleive you are considering the passenger as a total block of vision to the nearside, that is not what I'm saying.

It really is as simple as they're either blocking your line of sight, or their opinion is irrelevant, because you have line of sight. There is no shade of grey.

Likewise if I'm a passenger in the front, my driver is not going to take offence at me saying for example "it's clear after...."

Take offence? No. But I'll completely ignore you - and, if you continue doing it, I'll ask you to please stop.

DUTR

AdrianC wrote: »

It really is as simple as they're either blocking your line of sight, or their opinion is irrelevant, because you have line of sight. There is no shade of grey.



Take offence? No. But I'll completely ignore you - and, if you continue doing it, I'll ask you to please stop.

Well, we will have to agree to disagree, as I would ask you to sit in the rear or get out

JustinR1979

Can only trust a passenger so much.
Know one that says all clear, then is looking in the mirror exclaiming how that slowed the tw*t down.
Nice one.

sulphate

Thanks for the responses.

I am not convinced he is a safer driver because his insurance premium is low. My parents buy the cheapest car they can and keep it until it is written off, any cosmetic damage done to it they don't bother getting fixed because to them there is no incentive to do so. I am not saying that they do this because they are older but perhaps they care less for their car's appearance than a younger driver, but anyway the reason behind it doesn't really matter, but that's one reason why their insurance premium is low. They live in the centre of a city and don't travel long distances so not really comparable to a more regular driver i.e. someone like myself who does 30 miles a day in a car for work plus weekends.

However I am not saying he a *dangerous driver* necessarily. His sight is fine - well he seems to buy glasses regularly so I can only assume he is up to date with opticians' appointments. I think he can see at junctions, but he cannot look over his shoulder whilst parking. My point was that he isn't asking the passenger to look round simply to make it easier (if I'm a passenger in DH's car he will sometimes ask me to look round to see if there is a car coming etc) but because he finds it very difficult to do himself so what does he do when there is no passenger? Good suggestion about additional mirrors, will look into.

I think the scrape happened as he pulled into a left hand lane and didn't see someone coming up on the inside, due to a combination of him not being able to turn his neck and slow judgement (according to my mum who was a passenger). Again, I am not saying this makes him a dangerous driver, it's the cause of the accident that worried me more. There are other little things like mum says he is often hitting the kerb, takes awhile to react to things etc. The fact that she thinks I shouldn't get in the car with him worried me the most. Again not automatic signs his driving is bad just a combination of small things which make me question it. However I don't know enough about his driving to make a judgement, it is possible this is premature on my part.

Eventually he will have to give up driving no matter what but I don't think he will do it voluntarily, as someone said it is a loss of some independence. I would rather him give up of his own accord rather than being forced.

AdrianC

sulphate wrote: »

I think the scrape happened as he pulled into a left hand lane and didn't see someone coming up on the inside, due to a combination of him not being able to turn his neck and slow judgement (according to my mum who was a passenger).

Does he even use the mirrors he has? A lot of older drivers don't tend to ues the LH door mirror, simply because their early driving was in casrs without - they only became common in the '80s.

Eventually he will have to give up driving no matter what but I don't think he will do it voluntarily, as someone said it is a loss of some independence. I would rather him give up of his own accord rather than being forced.

But if the "own accord" is only prompted by a bigger accident? If that car he hit had been a motorcyclist...

DUTR

sulphate wrote: »

Thanks for the responses.



I think the scrape happened as he pulled into a left hand lane and didn't see someone coming up on the inside, due to a combination of him not being able to turn his neck and slow judgement (according to my mum who was a passenger). Again, I am not saying this makes him a dangerous driver, it's the cause of the accident that worried me more. There are other little things like mum says he is often hitting the kerb, takes awhile to react to things etc. The fact that she thinks I shouldn't get in the car with him worried me the most. Again not automatic signs his driving is bad just a combination of small things which make me question it. However I don't know enough about his driving to make a judgement, it is possible this is premature on my part.

Eventually he will have to give up driving no matter what but I don't think he will do it voluntarily, as someone said it is a loss of some independence. I would rather him give up of his own accord rather than being forced.

I notice it more in the car I have at present that drivers on both sides of the vehicle seem to position themselves in a blind spot.
I remember one of my colleagues participating in the IAM course, all it seemed to do was make him a nervous passenger rather than improve his presence on the road. The more recent cars have higher window lines and curved bonnet lines which take some getting used to for judging the end of the car (thank goodness for parking sensors) .
PS does your Mum drive?

brat

sulphate wrote: »

Eventually he will have to give up driving no matter what but I don't think he will do it voluntarily, as someone said it is a loss of some independence. I would rather him give up of his own accord rather than being forced.

Voluntarily is the best option, but his stubbornness may be a barrier to that.

Is there anything that can be done within the family to make it much easier for him not to drive, ie offer to take him places, or friends who might assist? Perhaps you could allude in conversation to friends who don't now drive, who perhaps use the bus. Perhaps they might be able to show him of the benefits of hanging up car keys - not having to find parking places, not having to worry when driving in the dark etc.

jc808

DUTR wrote: »

It's not about trusting their opinion over yours, it's additional information for you to make the descision. The final descision always rests with the driver in charge of the vehicle.

Roadcraft by commitee - 'Will that driver pull out?' - 'Guys can you put your answers on a postcard and slip them into my lap and we wi-' (blam!!!)
Youre the driver, passenger is the passenger

DUTR

jc808 wrote: »

Roadcraft by commitee - 'Will that driver pull out?' - 'Guys can you put your answers on a postcard and slip them into my lap and we wi-' (blam!!!)
Youre the driver, passenger is the passenger

Indeed, and in my car or when I'm driving the passenger can be a co driver, what you do in your car or a car you are in charge of is up to you.
I trust like me you have not been involved in a side accident.