Tell an ageing parent that it is time to call it a day with motoring? My father is 81 and I have just had the most frightening journey of my life with him....................................... but he will not admit that his driving is substandard, it's all the other drivers who are bad. He has had only one accident in nearly 60 years of driving and never had any points so is a safe bet in the eyes of the insurance industry. I am sure he is almost blind in his left eye but he says he can perfectly well. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

My mother in law went through this about 6 years ago

Her father had to give up driving due to a stroke, and her mother who could drive but wasn't the best at it, hit a brick wall, and instead of stopping, she just put the car in 1st and drove down the brick wall wrecking the whole side of the car instead of just the bumper.

so to solve this my MIL took the keys off her, and sold the car

Problem solved

Tim, Don't they have to do retest at that age? or apply for there licences again?

if you could intercept the new licence and stamp CANCELLED on it, he maybe non the wiser

Have a look on dvla web site, might be something on there.

Don't know if his GP can issue a not fit to drive certificate and get his licence revoked through dvla. Then sell the car. TDV6 - gone
TDV8 - gone
Audi Q5 3.0 Tdi Sline wef 6/11/10

its a tough one Tim - not quite there yet with my Father-in-Law, however went out for a walk on Christmas day and he drove over to where we started from - he drove there at 35mph in 3rd gear - I told him to change up twice, but everytime he changed down he forgot - he also seems to have to look at me to talk to me so I stopped the conversation in the car. On the way back I kid you not, he didn't go over 30mph - it was painful.

My concern really is his eyesight (which he insists is ok) and he lack of awareness of whats going on around him

Our problem will be the fact we are 25miles from him and he lives in the sticks so needs his car - I think he will resist stopping so I feel for your situation

Kaine

Tim

I thought there were mandatory medicals brought in for the older drivers amongst us after age 70. Cant remember the frequency of them though. Has he had a reminder to attend one of these lately? if he has and not attended then he may be driving without a licence!!

Edited: Just had a look. At age 70 the licence needs to be renewed every 3 years. This link maybe useful.


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Drive...DG_4022086 Current, M135i in Estoril Blue with more extras than the cast of Ben Hur.

535d m-sport Platinum grey and a few extras.... Gone

X5 3.0 sd in Space Grey, 20's, Dynamic Pack, Memory Pack, Media Pack, Tow Pack, Rear DVD, Panoramic Sunroof, Steps, 7 Seat Pack, Reversing Camera with moving lines, programmable park heat, etc etc etc - Gone

Range Rover Sport Santorini, privacy, dvd, towpack GONE!!!

Unfortunately for us he had his medical last year and sailed through it. He just seems to have drastically changed in the last 6 months - my youngest sister who we only see infrequently thought he was p*ssed on Christmas Eve when we had a family meal - she didn't realise that he hadn't had a drop to drink and was quite shocked when we told her!

Thanks for the link Phil 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Welcome mate. Im facing the same with my mother in just over a year when she hits 70. To be honest I dont think she has the awareness of whats around her to be driving still. That and arthritis in her hands makes gripping things hard. The handbrake is getting to be a none starter as pulling it on dislocates knuckles!!

Hope you get something sorted. Current, M135i in Estoril Blue with more extras than the cast of Ben Hur.

535d m-sport Platinum grey and a few extras.... Gone

X5 3.0 sd in Space Grey, 20's, Dynamic Pack, Memory Pack, Media Pack, Tow Pack, Rear DVD, Panoramic Sunroof, Steps, 7 Seat Pack, Reversing Camera with moving lines, programmable park heat, etc etc etc - Gone

Range Rover Sport Santorini, privacy, dvd, towpack GONE!!!

Always a difficult issue to deal with when a relative can no longer continue with an activity they are used too. If you write / email the DVLA informing them of your concerns they will probably suspend the license until a retest has taken place. Its probably a case of 'being cruel to be kind', we recently had an elderley driver travel along the A38 the wrong way, causing a double fatal accident.

You could mention the below to your relative in the hope they agree to a retest

Quote:

If you've had, or currently suffer from a medical condition or disability that may affect your driving you must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You'll also need to provide details if you develop a new condition or disability or one that has become worse since your licence was issued.
Failure to notify DVLA is a criminal offence and is punishable by a fine of up to £1000.

Thanks for that Landlord, it is probably the least "direct" route to take too! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Sorry to hear this Tim, it must be hard, I'm glad I never had to tell my father as he loved to drive so much sadly he past away before his driving began to suffer. My uncle stopped driving when he was 87 mentaly he was still alert but physicaly he was faltering and he knew it himself so stopped before being told. At 80 he was giving those "oldies" at 65 runs to the hospital clinic etc
Take care and hope it all goes well. Sons of dogs come hither and get flesh
Clan Cameron