Unsafe to drive?

janeainsworth, Ana, phoenix, Bellanonna, and Jalima thank you so much for your support as I was extremely upset about Granjura's nasty comments to me. I am sorry to hear that her mother had AMD but not everybody with this awful condition has the same outcome.

Please don't be upset Charleygirl.
Granjura's posts said a great deal about her, and nothing intelligent about you

Thank you

Charleygirl, you have done your utmost to continue driving safely. I'm quite sure that if you had any doubts about your safety you would make the decision to give it up and I'm glad you haven't had to make that decision yet, a car is a lifeline to many of us. I've always loved driving but, like many over 70s, I am also wary about night driving which I now find stressful. Charleygirl, just ignore ill-informed criticism. Some people just can't help their judgemental genes!

gj
Since when have you become an expert in ophthalmology?
You are quoting from various sources completely out of context.
To paraphrase a biblical quote ' look at the plank in your own eye rather than the speck in anothers!'

anno thanks again, all of this support is very much appreciated.

Granjura yoU quoted this from the DVLA
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.
Surely there is a similar requirement in Switzerland? (e.g.epilepsy?)
It is not enough to say a driver's insurance would bevr voted, as anyone who has ever been involved in an accident with an uninsured driver will know. Who would meet the bill for medical expenses in the event of injury?
If you know that a person is breaking the law by continuing to drive you are legally as well as morally obliged to take action.

That was meant to read "his insurance would be revoked" -sorry!

It's clear that granjura's comments were prompted by unhappy memories of her relatives and by underlying anxiety about this neighbour's situation.
gj, I hope you will take action concerning the neighbour, if only to find out whether he has been told to stop driving completely, or not.

I hope middleagespread will get back to let us know how things are with her/his friend.

i do apologise middleagedspread we went slightly off piste but are back on track again.

I am now seriously considering having a few lessons to give me confidence to drive further afield. Yes, it may be expensive but then I will get much more use out of my car. And stop telling myself off. I've got to go to a dentist on 18th May and I've been fretting how to get there. I get on my own nerves with my fears; when I was young I was a daredevil.

That's a good idea wot, having a few refresher lessons.

I think a lesson on how to drive safely on motorways should be compulsory before a new driver is granted a full licence.
(off piste again, sorry)

Crikey, motorways! I'll be lucky to go on a dual carriageway!! [joking aside, I do agree with you]

There is usually another way round - my BF would never drive on motorways but we managed to get out and about (if it was a motorway trip I usually drove).

Most older people lose some confidence in their driving as the years go on, at least everbody that I know.I haven't driven on the motorway for a few years now, and like some others, don't like driving at night ( although I have to.)
Hate to think of not being able to drive, but luckily live where there is a regular bus service.

I was silly and never learnt to drive until I was 49! Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway....is what we should do ?? I had to learn when I moved to the countryside.

I will be 75 at the end of the year, last summer I bought new car, I was then 73, I love my car and the freedom it gives me,we live on a bus route, buses running everfy half hour, but it is the waiting for buses, which are rarely on time, and the carrying of parcels shopping etc, which makes me grateful I can still drive, I dont go into Town as they are always changing traffic directions, and it is total chaos, I use my car mainly to shop locally or travel to my Grandchildren on non motorway roads.
In Winter I try to drive during daylight, occasionally when I really have to, I drive in the dark, but dont enjoy it, especially when it is raining.
I dont feel I am soon to be 75, but occasionally I have to remember, and realise people think I am going to do something stupid, when they see a little white haired lady behind the wheel!
I hope I have many years ahead to prove old ladies can still drive sensibly.

It is of course almost impossible to get the feeling behind posts, but I could swear I got the impression of a sort of Gallic shrug in GJ's post about her lovely epileptic neighbour..........

I agree, phoenix.

Diddy1 I hope that you have many years of driving your new car. It sounds as though you are very sensible re your driving. Like me your brain is probably 29 years old but your body has raced ahead. People make assumptions on what they see- ignore them and enjoy what you are doing.

You will be fine Diddy my H was 78 when I stopped him driving and he had bought a new car 3 years before but he developed Alzheimer's and that was the turning point. We have friends in their late 70s I would happily drive to the ends of the country with.

DH always drives on longer journeys (he will be 77 soon) and I feel he is much safer now than he was when he was younger; a bit slower and more careful!

I got the impression of a sort of Gallic shrug in GJ's post about her lovely epileptic neighbour..........
you mean 'c'est la vie', unless, of course, he has an accident and .....

Galen, my quotes were from the gov.uk website- as I am indeed no expert.

Nowhere did I say Charleygirl shouldn't drive- but that I was concerned that her post in a thread about driver safety, about not wanting to drive on unfamiliar roads due to macular degeneration (which is as it sounded to me in her original post- which was about driver safety) concerned me, and seemed to indicate it was because her sight is affected. After her explanation stating here sight and driving are NOT affected by MD- that I was delighted. I never ever said she should not be driving- just that I was concerned.

Not driving at night is an easy choice- but if your macular degenaration makes you feel uncomfortable to drive on non-familiar roads- but truly really, you should NOT be driving.

Your post, granjura.

The key word in your quote is

IF

Charleygirl later explained that it was not the case, and I replied that I was delighted.

My DH had 2 epileptic night time seizures 13 years ago he did everything by the book and informed the DVLA straight away. He takes regular medication and has not had another seizure since, so after a year he informed the DVLA and he was given his licence back.on the plus side it meant I had to learn to drive pretty quick as being without transport was a pain.