big decision today.

I'd definitely suggest surrendering your license. If you can't properly lift your foot, that's potentially VERY dangerous.

Keep in mind that while public transit is expensive, vehicles require maintenance, gas, road tax, inspections, insurance, etc. That's not cheap. I suspect that if you compare costs you may find that it's pretty comparable.

Unfortunately the discussion of when to stop driving is never an easy one to have. It's never an easy decision to make, either. Fortunately in my grandparents' cases it didn't go too badly. Dad's mother never drove so she had no license to give up. His dad decided on his own that it was time to stop driving. Mum's dad had to stop as his vision was too poor (diabetic retinopathy). Mum's mother had to undergo a driving ability assessment because she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. (She failed the exam.) She was convinced for months that some of her kids had set it up so she failed the assessment - Mum explained to her repeatedly that it's a computer exam and there's no way anyone could manipulate it. Sadly, but perhaps fortunately, Grandma has now reached a stage where she's moved into a care facility and no longer asks about her car, likely because she doesn't need it and because she probably doesn't remember having a car.

8maryeliza* I have thought about the othe driver - he/she must have been terrified.
My foot/leg problem comes from a hip replacement 12 years ago. Never really got the strength back in that leg, and what makes it worse now is I've had a few falls on that side.
The driving license situation is complicated as I still have a french one, valid here for another 2 years.
I really don't want to drive again.

Fennel
You say you have problems lifting your right foot. How would you be able to react in a real emergency stop: ie a child running out into the road?

Fennel if I were in your shoes I would stick to the first resolve and stop driving . If you can't lift your foot properly you are not in control of the vehicle . I hid OHs keys when he had a few near misses and said to him that killing hinself was one thing , it was who he would take with him , it could be a parent with a baby , or school children or a much loved Grandmother , think about it

I wonder how frightened the other driver was? When I was the totally innocent victim in an RTC it took me ages to get my confidence back

That must have been frightening Fennel but don't be too hasty. Could you go out for a little drive on quiet mornings, like Sundays for instance? It may restore your confidence. If not so be it and as you say public transport is good so the decision is yours, obviously.

83 - and you haven’t informed DVLA of your foot problem. Well let’s hope you don’t put anyone else’s life in grave danger next time you drive. It would be interesting if this were a reverse thread wouldn’t ?

Thanks for the replies, which have made me rethink.
I was so shocked this morning as to what the consequences could have been. As Dontaskme said there could have been pedestrians on the pavement.
I won't hand in my license yet, in case there's an emergency.
We can't afford another car, or an adaption to this one. It's a decision we all have to make eventually, if we drive. I'm 83 btw. Husband is younger.

I knew someone whose car was adapted so that all the controls were manipulated by hand. It was an easy adaptation to an automatic car and meant that legs were not required. I’ve no idea what the cost was but this might be something worth investigating.

Good point - mobility scheme wouldn’t kick in I don’t think but there will be specialist garages who could give a quote.

Nobody has mentioned having a specially adapted car with only hand controls. I know several people who have this problem and have continued to be able to drive. You may be able to get a mobility payment for it.

I’m not being critical,of you Fennel as I said you sound very sensible. I still think you need professional independent advice re your fitness to drive which none of us can give you. Driving a huge and lethal chunk of steel on our crowded roads is a grave responsibility not a convenience.

Maybe not the majority....it’s a big decision.

You have certainly made the correct decision. I frequently see people driving who are a danger to themselves and others.

I don’t think catching a zip and having to turn left instead of right can be compared to a physical problem in lifting a foot which sounds ongoing and nearly led to a head on crash. The person in the other car was someone’s dc/dp/ dgc etc - decisions about continuing to drive aren’t just about the convenience or otherwise of the person with the issue are they?

I would agree with the majority who say just stop driving for now, leave it and have a go in a quiet area / time to see how you feel. There really isn’t any need to give your licence up, just stop driving.
I have had personal experience of trying to get licence back after giving it up for health reasons some years ago, and it was a nightmare dealing with DVLA.

I once caught a decorative zip on the sleeve of my cardigan in a groove on the centre steering wheel and found I couldn’t turn right. Had to turn left instead, park and remove cardi from wheel. These things happen and if you haven’t had any issues driving previously I would hang onto your licence in event of an emergency.

Needless to say I no longer wear said cardi when driving.

Sorry to say but I think giving up is the right thing to do, especially as you can't lift your foot properly so to continue to drive, imho, is just dangerous.

Imagine if you HAD gone head on into the other car, or if there had been a pedestrian on the footpath you swerved onto.

Time to hang up your driving gloves Fennel and make use of your DH, public transport and the local taxi service

Fennel I understand that you're shaken by your near miss and admire your decision not to continue driving. It's my opinion that many people continue to drive long after it's really safe for them to continue to do so, but choosing the 'right' time to stop is a near impossibility. Better to stop too soon than risk accidents by continuing for too long.

My mother had a motorcyclist crash into her car when she was in her mid sixties, and although it wasn't her fault she decided to stop driving immediately because she acknowledged that she could have saved the young man serious injury if her reflexes had been quicker.

You say you have a problem with lifting your right foot - if this is a permanent problem then you should have informed the DVLA anyway. You sound very sensible and you should get proper medical advice now and not listen to anyone on here about continuing whatever. You’re the one that could have to live with the consequences of ignoring this issue.

Don't give it up fennel and keep driving! Could you have a few lessons in a dual control car to help you get your confidence back?

Being able to drive could be such a boon if anything happens to your husband's ability to drive.

Oh dear, you really don't have to give up your licence for this, a probable one-off situation in which nobody was hurt in any way, just shaken. It can and probably does happen to anyone occasionally.
Get back in your car and just drive where there is less traffic to get your senses and confidence back, then perhaps drive only when necessary until you're well over your scare.

You'll be glad of your 4 wheels one day I'm sure.

Yes I might have second thoughts.
I told husband about it and he said " That happened to me once". He's got bigger feet, so I'm not quite so confident in his driving now.

Oh dear Fennel I bet you were really shook up.

Tell me to shut up and go away but....is there any point to you giving up your licence? Can you just not stop driving but keep your licence just in case of an emergency situation where you might need to drive? Obviously if you have been advised not to drive by a medical professional then that's different.

Fennel you are being very brave but it appears to be the correct decision before something major occurs