bit of a moral dilemma

It is a sad situation, The consultant asked them how they got to the appointment, they said, they had driven there, He then said "on no account should he drive home because of the severity of his condition". His wife decided he was safe to do so, so he drove them both home

newist I agree that's the way it should be. But being a member of Alzhimers Talking Point forum I know that not all demetia sufferers seek or indeed are even given a confirmed diagnosis.

I have had experience of this dilemma in the past 2 years.
It is an offence not to report it to the DVLA once a diagnoses is given, this carries a fine of £1000 as well as invalidating insurance. I know this because I had to look it all up, in light of a friend being diagnosed with dementia, the difference in this case is it was the wife who delayed her husband getting a diagnoses because she could not drive!!! Even when the doctor told him not to drive, she kept saying "as long as I am next to him he is safe", They continued to drive for 6 months after the diagnoses until the licence was physically removed, by the police

Perhaps it's time to have obligatory driving tests after ?70 .This wouldn't be popular but with people living longer, maybe necessary.
I'm over 70 and have thought of having a few driving lessons to correct careless habits.

My daughter's elderly neighbour, when backing his car off their shared driveway, careered into my daughter's conservatory at the back of her house, and demolished it (soon dealt with amicably). He was very distressed and decided there and then he would not drive again. Sadly, a week later, he died. All concerned were sure it was the shock of having this accident that caused his death.

I guess for this neighbour's sake, let alone any potential victims of an accident, his competence to continue driving needs to be addressed. How would he cope with being interviewed in a police station, or being arrested after an accident? It's sad to think that something so traumatic could happen in his last years of life.

If you read the link from the Alzheimer's Society it says clearly that family, friends and neighbours should contact the DVLA in these circumstances.

Ninathenana - having re-read my post I realise it's not much help to you. But I think you and other neighbours should report it to his GP and/or local police before something happens. A friend's elderly (in his 90s)FIL had promised to stop driving and said he would give the car to DGS, but managed to write it off, luckily injuring neither himself nor anyone else.

Our elderly neighbour reversed onto our front garden, pushing the council lamppost skewed. She had also been seen driving across roundabouts instead of round them. However, she had always been a terrible driver and probably never had to take a test.
Once I found her wandering around the supermarket car park looking for her car, when I pointed it out to her she assured me it wasn't hers, but then a couple of minutes later she said 'look, there it is' pointing at the same car. I could not forcibly stop her driving it and she got home OK. She always drove exceedingly slowly.
Just when we were all worrying about what to do about her, her son, who lived in another part of the country, took her to live in home near him.

nina as you've actually seen him driving dangerously I don't think there's a dilemma here. He needs to be reported.

nina, if this gentleman needs carers twice a day, they may be able to tell you who his GP is. Do they know he is still driving?

Driving with Dementia

All that matters nina is that you know he has dementia. His GP should know this too, though it's a fine call where mild dementia starts and where it gets to the point that it's a danger to himself and others. If he has not declared his condition to his insurance company then his driving insurance is invalid too.

I wouldn't hesitate nina

yes, before he kills a child, he also needs help before he burns down his house, or otherwise harms his self

If it was a relative I wouldn't think twice about reporting the person. It's just tricky when I hardly know the man.

report him talk to local community support officers about him in a way hat expresses concern. My friend has to "kidnap" her father's car keys to stop him driving, he was furious with her, but she did the right thing.

Due to a tragedy locally there is I believe a law whereby a driving licence can be revoked instantly. The elderly gentleman had been asked to give up his licence when he clipped a petrol pump and bashed around getting out of the filling station. Later that week he clipped a kerb, lost control of his car and killed a 16 year old girl who was standing on the pavement.Her parents campaigned for the change in the law. So, as you surely don't want that to happen you must go to the police, give them his car registration number and tell them.

We faced this situation a few years ago regarding a lady who had sadly had a stroke. We knew exactly how unsafe she was. DVLC told us to speak to her GP, which I did. He assured me that he would contact DVLC, but that he had to tell her that he planned to do this. I have no idea what he did or didn't do, but she is still on the road.

shysal I have no idea who his GP is.
I will have a chat to our other neighbour see if we put both our names to it.
He now has carers twice a day. Not sure how ling this will work for.

My f-i-l had to be run off the road by the police and his keys taken from him because he refused to accept he was a danger on the road. The poor policeman nearly had his head rammed in the car door, so furious was my f-i-l at the audacity of the man to think that he wasn't safe! But he'd got a reputation in the area for clipping the wing mirrors of cars and had nearly run his own granddaughter off the road. A year earlier he'd been told to get glasses, which he did but he refused to wear them, instead carried them in his pocket! When the police took his car keys and eventually his licence he was 93!

Just a couple of weeks ago an elderly woman suffering from dementia drove the wrong way along the A14 scaring the living daylights out of the drivers coming the other way. The police managed to stop her safely and she admitted she knew she was going the wrong way but didn't know how to get off. She must have been terrified as well.

Someone must have known she was still driving.

Many older drivers are cautious but fine to continue driving. If they're interested in improving their chances of avoiding an accident, the DVLA will ask them to be referred by their GP for a safer driving assessment, which can be free when sent from the GP. If they refuse, though, or insist on continuing to drive whilst unsafe, the police have a lot of experience in talking to elderly unsafe drivers, and a bit more clout.

Posted yesterday on another thread re this - i really think it is time to stop this thing about older drivers certifying themselves as fit to drive! If you have dementia how are you supposed to know? And the numbers of older drivers on the road are increasing with the demographics. But I agree yes you should report.

I would contact the local police station and explain what the concerns are. If you're keen to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers will pass on the information.

Yes, the DVLA and maybe a chat with the local police (if you have any!)
How would you feel if a child was killed or injured or your neighbour was hurt?