When to take the keys away

[Gerry]

Good Luck with "the talk"! I had one with my dad when he got to that point but it didn't do any good. But when he personally felt it was time to stop driving, he stopped by himself without announcing his decision to anyone.

My husband had "the talk" with his dad too. Again, he didn't listen. However, after a while, he wouldn't allow anyone else to drive with him because he knew he wasn't driving safe anymore. He stopped driving when he was ready too.

I imagine it must be really hard to give up our independence as we age!

 

[kathryn]

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.

Oh, joy, "lost and confused" older drivers...sounds really safe!

(In a similar vein, I once went to my car parked on campus, and some #)@!*$ had parked his van next to my car at an angle (back side closer than front). I could barely get into the drivers side, and didn't dare attempt to back out. Luckily, I went accross to the campus police and an officer helped me get out. But when he noticed there was a handicapped permit on the van, he asked another officer if he should give the driver a ticket. I said he'd better, because if someone is handicapped in a way that makes them an unsafe driver, they maybe shouldn't be driviing, and noone has the right to park the way he did.)

 

[syzygy314]

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.

Yep. Give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile as they say! If we start regulating one group of people for their risk, then they'll start regulating at the other end of the spectrum. So, I say, be careful what you wish for!

Of course, that said, I have to agree that some are very dangerous on the roads and really shouldn't have a license. I have a friend who's grandparents still drive. Her grandmother has some senility or undiagnosed alzheimer's (maybe). She forgets where she is, where she's going, etc. She once almost burned down the house because she forgot she put something on the stove and it boiled out and started a fire!! Yet, the kids still let her drive her young grandchildren around!

A couple of months ago, she was following her husband to take his car to their grandson's shop for service, mind you, she was RIGHT BEHIND HIM. He turned around because he missed the shop and she just kept going! She was lost for a few hours before they found her! I blame the children for not just taking the keys and cars away! She's going to get herself or someone else injured or worse one day!

Tricia