Parkinson’s driving dilemma

kittylester

Baggytrazzas

Hi, there seems to be an awful tendency for lots of people on gransnet to want to report others, or encourage others to report. What is it that would be reported here?

As far as I am aware, it is not a crime to say that you want to drive again.

Ali23, would it be possible for you to download information from the DVLA site that covers the requirements for drivers in respect of age and illness related conditions, including the additional driving test that is sometimes required to establish fitness to drive, and pass this to the man? Or maybe fnd a leaflet at the gp surgery or library and pass that to him? I think that would be a really helpful thing for you to do.

I'm also not really in agreement with involving his wife at this point unless he has obvious mental incapacity issues and cannot follow a conversation on his own. In which case you could mention that he had told you this recently and thought it would be helpful to pass on the information/ leaflet.

I hope that this might help solve the current dilemma.

Because we all have a responsibility to stop people who are dangerous drivers.

Oh for goodness sake, this person IS NOT DRIVING. He has merely said that he is going to start driving again. So by reporting him at this point for THINKING about driving again is not going to stop people who are dangerous drivers. He might be perfectly capable, or may change his mind and not drive but at present there is no crime in only thinking about it.

FarNorth - yes, lots of GPs tend to avoid becoming involved in this.

If he look as though he was both going to drive and was incapable then Aggie and some of the others have got it spot on - lose the keys.

A question for anyone here - how would you feel if you received notification from DVLA advising that they were concerned about your ability to drive and that you had to complete forms/tests/provide medical records etc? You might not know WHO had reported you but would know it was someone close either family friend or neighbours. And no one had mentioned it to you previously that it might be an idea to stop driving?

If I believed I was still driving competently, I'd hope to demonstrate that in whatever way was asked.
If the fact was that I was unaware of driving badly, I might also have disregarded suggestions to stop.

I'm saying now that I'd want to be prevented from driving badly at a future time, if that became necessary.
My hurt feelings wouldn't be important.

25Avalon

How old is he? Over 70 and the licence has to be renewed each year. DVLA list a number of conditions that if you have you are not allowed to drive and you sign a declaration to that effect.

If you speak to the wife she can ask their GP to have a word with him as well.

The gov website mentions that over 70's licences are renewed ever 3 years not every year. Their backlog would be even worse if it was every year

My sister in law was reported by someone who saw her attempting to park in a small, local town. The police came and took her keys off her after they had assessed her mental state.

I am ashamed, in retrospect that no family members hid the keys and reported her. It is too easy ro take the easy option and let people who shouldn't keep driving.

Jaylou I corrected this in a slightly later post. It is every 3 Yeats.

Years

Thanks for all of your replies. It’s true that this dilemma is one that many people face for different reasons. I have 2 brothers in law with dementia. One gave up driving of his own accord. One had to have the keys hidden, the car sold and he still believes he could drive if he needed to. I suppose it’s all down to insight, or lack of it.
I must say that 3 years is a long time when you have PD. My neighbour has deteriorated so much in the last 3 years. So sad.

He is seriously trying to get his car MOTd so that he can resume driving. But you are right. He is only stating an intention at the moment.

I’ve decided to make sure that his relatives know what he’s saying, inform them of my worries, and let them handle it at this stage. But if he actually did drive, I would feel duty bound to go further. It’s not just his safety, it’s his wife and any unfortunate person who he collides with.

Ali23, I agree, its a difficult one. I hope things work out ok for everyone involved.

I asked my DH’s Parkinson’s consultant to assess his fitness to drive when I knew that he, an excellent driver, was no longer safe because he couldn’t make decisions quickly. She told him he could drive home but that was it, and he accepted it from her. It was a very sad day for him but he would have caused an accident and would have hated that. I told him I admired him for accepting the inevitable and was proud that he had an unblemished licence for over 60 years. Hope I will handle the situation as well when the time comes.