When to take the keys away

[janie1234]

I gotta ask. Why is it that there are no laws that retest elderly drivers? I ask this because my father in law 87 years old and my mother in law 76 both are just down right dangerous behind the wheel. Today my husband and I almost got hit by an elderly driver who was so oblivous to other drivers around them. Last week an elderly woman ran her car right through the front of a sewing maching store window. I've told my husband that he needs to have "The Talk" with them about possibly taking away the keys, but they are convinced that this is not necessary and that they are purely capable of driving. I wonder what the statistics are with regards to accidents and the elderly?

 

[Jaffas]

I got lucky with my Dad. It was to the point where he would get lost every time he went somewhere. He was living down the street from us and almost daily we would get a call and have to go get him. Sometimes it happened in the middle of the night because he was confused about the time too. Luckily about two weeks after this started happening his car totally died. We had to put a big note on the door to his carport explaining what had happened to the car and telling him to call us if he needed to go somewhere. I'm convinced that he got up every morning and went to get in his car only to have to read that darn note. From what I've heard from other people taking the keys away is one of the hardest things when dealing with elders. Maybe you could just sabotage their cars.

 

[sparrow13]

I don't know for sure but I'd bet that the AARP has a strong presence in why there are no laws requiring elderly drivers to be retested.

Cynical I am.

 

[Jaffas]

Oh yeah, I meant to answer your question too. Maybe the lack of laws has to do with the ages of the people who make them. Put me on that list of cynical people.

 

[diane57]

I'm in California and here elderly drivers do have to be tested periodically, and the tests are hard. I work in an eldercare law practice, and a lot of our clients have their licenses revoked. There's an appeal process but it's tough.

I just want to point out that not all elderly drivers are dangerous. As far as generalizations, I bet teenage boys are probably much more dangerous. I guess I feel for my clients, first they lose their spouses, their kids move out of state, their retirement plans dry up, they have mounting health problems, and then they lose the right to drive. Of course if they are a danger to themselves and others they should lose their licenses, but it's one of the many parts of old age I am not looking forward to and I feel very sorry for oldsters.

 

[janie1234]

I'm in California and here elderly drivers do have to be tested periodically, and the tests are hard. I work in an eldercare law practice, and a lot of our clients have their licenses revoked. There's an appeal process but it's tough.

I just want to point out that not all elderly drivers are dangerous. As far as generalizations, I bet teenage boys are probably much more dangerous. I guess I feel for my clients, first they lose their spouses, their kids move out of state, their retirement plans dry up, they have mounting health problems, and then they lose the right to drive. Of course if they are a danger to themselves and others they should lose their licenses, but it's one of the many parts of old age I am not looking forward to and I feel very sorry for oldsters.

I'm in California too, . . . my mother in law said that all she had to do was take a written test not a driving test. Do you know when they re-test and what they test? I hate to hope that they fail, . . but I sorta do.

 

[gettingfitmom]

My BFs father is 92, sharp as a tack, and still drives to the store, Drs. mostly local places and does just fine. I think it depends on the person. But yeah, everyone should be tesed yearly (both vision and driving) every year after the age of 70 (IMO)if you pass great! if not, hand them over

 

[gettingfitmom]

I'm in California too, . . . my mother in law said that all she had to do was take a written test not a driving test. Do you know when they re-test and what they test? I hate to hope that they fail, . . but I sorta do.

Don'tblameyou, you know what their like, maybe call the DMV and see what they say

 

[diane57]

Janie 1234, I do not know how often they test and my info. could be wrong - but the clients who have had their licenses removed said they had to take driving tests and they seemed to be saying that after a certain age the driving tests were mandatory. I don't know this for certain though - maybe they were having to take driving tests rather than written tests because they had had tickets or accidents. I do know that in California anyone who is concerned about an elderly driver can report them to the DMV and then the driver has to be tested, and doctors have to report certain conditions to the DMV if the condition would cause the person to be an impaired driver.

 

[kathryn]

...the clients who have had their licenses removed said they had to take driving tests and they seemed to be saying that after a certain age the driving tests were mandatory. I don't know this for certain though - maybe they were having to take driving tests rather than written tests because they had had tickets or accidents.

I'm pretty sure that driving tests (behind the wheel) are mandatory in Illinois as well after a certain age (but I'm not sure what age that is). I do know that I was in the DMV one year renewing my license, and the clerk seemed to give some leeway to an old coot who couldn't read the eye test out of one of his eyes. He was legally blind in one eye and didn't know it!

Anybody old enough (and with memory enough?) to remember the high school driver's ed movie about two older ladies who drive really slowly and cause all sorts of accidents, all the while never getting in one themselves? (According to a friend of mine, whose memory of this is perhaps a bit clearer, Dick Van Dyke was one of the actors!).

IMO, the most dangerous drivers are at both ends of the age spectrum: the young, inexperienced drivers, and the old drivers. (Let's just be thankful that the older ones (at least the ones I know) usually aren't talking on a cell phone! Since studies have shown that drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 (I think) have the same reaction speed as 70 year olds who are not on the phone. Just think of what the combination of age and phones would make for. Yikes!

 

[farmgirl]

Maybe inquire with your health care provider if a driver simulation station is nearby. I have referred families with elderly loved ones whose driving concerns them to geriatric centers where they have a physician/geriatrician who tests response times, agility, vision, and strength in a simulator. This protects their loved ones and those they may meet out on the road...and also takes the decision out of the family's hands and provides concrete reasons why driving is no longer advisable.
Best of luck!
julie

 

[lkl]

my uncle was a poor driver as he aged. to his daughter's shock, the dmv renewed his license after an eyesight test. he had many little accidents which he could not account for. eventually, my cousin just took his keys away. it was very traumatic for her and her father. he was extremely angry and this loss of independence really started a downward spiral for him. it was the best thing for him and the public at large, but sad nonetheless. i have an aunt who decided on her own to stop driving at 75, god bless her, she just said she was too old to drive now! i wish it was that easy for everyone.

 

[JoanC]

My mother is 83 and in Missouri we renewed her license with an eye exam and sign test.

She decided for herself that she would not drive anymore even though I thought she would be ok in local traffic.

However, she has me to drive her anywhere she wants to go.

 

[mrsmel]

I agree with Julie (farmgirl), at least in my state there is a place I can take my parents to have their driving evaluated and then it's up to that agency whether or not my dad can renew his license. The DMV did renew my dad's license a few months ago (he's 80 and has had a stroke), but if he lost his license he and my mom would have to go into care. He only drives during the daylight hours, doesn't drive on the highway, and doesn't go over 45. They live in a very rural area where he knows the roads well, so I don't worry *too* much.

But, I would find a way to take the decision out of the family's hands.

anne

 

[janie1234]

IMO, the most dangerous drivers are at both ends of the age spectrum: the young, inexperienced drivers, and the old drivers. (Let's just be thankful that the older ones (at least the ones I know) usually aren't talking on a cell phone! Since studies have shown that drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 (I think) have the same reaction speed as 70 year olds who are not on the phone. Just think of what the combination of age and phones would make for. Yikes!

I totally agree. I hope that testing and standards change for both ends of the spectrum. Thankfully cell phones and driving are illegal in CA, . . .they're starting to change that to include texting.

My mother and father in law both love their independence, . . even though both of them have cancer (my mother in law is terminal and undergoing chemo) and live over an hour away from the rest of the family. They like their ahem, . . afluent lifestyle and refuse to move let alone accept the fact that they should not drive. I hate that they drive on the freeway and I really hate being a passenger in their car esp having them drive my kids around. My husband sorta lets it go but my mother in law has already had a few fender benders, . . hitting poles and such that I just don't agree. I just don't think it is safe. Thanks everyone. Now I have to decide if I rat fink them out to the DMV or leave well enough alone.

 

[My2girls]

My mother and I were just talking about this issue in regards to her parents who are both 90. Thank you for the advice of getting an outside agency involved to take the decision away from her and her siblings!

 

[violinga1]

Today my husband and I almost got hit by an elderly driver who was so oblivous to other drivers around them.

Ugh!!! I was almost hit by an elderly woman and I honked at her. Another half mile down the road I got pulled over and given a ticket for "unlawful use of horn." The officer went on to chew me out, saying I should be considerate of the other driver since she was an elderly woman and probably lost and confused. What the?!?!?!?!?! I felt like I was in the twilight zone.

 

[janie1234]

Ugh!!! I was almost hit by an elderly woman and I honked at her. Another half mile down the road I got pulled over and given a ticket for "unlawful use of horn." The officer went on to chew me out, saying I should be considerate of the other driver since she was an elderly woman and probably lost and confused. What the?!?!?!?!?! I felt like I was in the twilight zone.

You have to be joking!!! That is a new one "unlawful use of horn?" What's next?, . . .picking your nose in the car and offending people? I'll have to ask my brother about that one (he's a cop) I'' have to yell at him if he actually tickets people for that. I was upset at my husband since he wouldn't honk her. I told him that he should so she would know she needs to be more careful. I would be really mad if I got a ticket for that. I can't even tell you how many times people honk at my father in-law for changing lanes without using his blinker, . . .or for driving to slow and I mean slow.

 

[violinga1]

You have to be joking!!! That is a new one "unlawful use of horn?" What's next?, . . .picking your nose in the car and offending people? I'll have to ask my brother about that one (he's a cop) I'' have to yell at him if he actually tickets people for that. I was upset at my husband since he wouldn't honk her. I told him that he should so she would know she needs to be more careful. I would be really mad if I got a ticket for that. I can't even tell you how many times people honk at my father in-law for changing lanes without using his blinker, . . .or for driving to slow and I mean slow.

No joke. I'm a pretty easy going driver, not aggressive at all - so this wasn't a case of road rage and abusing the use of my horn. The cop said it wasn't an emergency. Hello - me being in an accident is kind of an emergency to me at the time!!! So I am actually going to trial over this because I refuse to plead guilty and pay the stupid fine. And because the cop was a royal you know what. Ugh.

And there is also an elderly woman in my neighborhood we see driving around quite frequently. She rolls through stop signs, has her AM radio blasting, all windows rolled down, hazards flashing, windshield wipes going all out as fast as they can, can hardly see over the wheel and drives at about 10 mph - all at once!!!! I am tempted to call her in!

 

[andtckrtoo]

Now I have to decide if I rat fink them out to the DMV or leave well enough alone.

Unfortunately, think about what would happen if you don't say anything and something major happens. If you're that concerned to write this post, then I would seriously sit down and think about it at least.