She still has her license!

[alph]

Alright, some of you older people might disagree with me, but, in the spirit of safety, please hear me out.

My mother is 77 years old.  She suffers from Alzheimer’s and yet still has a valid Arizona driver’s license.  We were at a red light the other day, when she started questioning me why wasn’t I going, ‘cause the cost was clear.  I guess I safely could have went through the red light and not hit anyone.  But the fact of the matter is that if she were behind the wheel, she would have gone. 

At what point do we start questioning the ability of peoples sanity when it comes to operating a motor vehicle?  Often times it’s when it’s too late and some guy on a cycle is dead, or a pedestrian is run over. 

When I was younger I thought that it’s none of the governments right to retest drivers, not knowing that after a few decades, some people forget what their doing.  (some never learn!!)

[MP]

I would suggest contacting the State Drivers License Division, and asking them to retest her.  Or the Highway Patrol, depending on their laws.

That way, it is NOT YOU, it is THEM, she can get mad at.

In ND that way they never know a family member "turned them in".  Sounds like it is time she quits driving.  If you feel bad about turning her in, think how bad you will feel if she kills herself, or some young family!  How about the mother of 3 kids under 6?

THAT would ruin the rest of my life, knowing I could have prevented it.

Here, they will retest the person, to see if they can pass.  Out of your hands.

Good luck.  It is a tough deal.

MP

[SANDMAN5]

Another thing (although it might sound mean) make sure she doesn't have
access to a vehicle. She might forget she doesn't have a license. My Mom
is 87 and sometimes can't remember what day of the week it is.

[Lyn-Del]

In the meantime, can you "break" her car?  Just so the darned thing just won't start for her?

I've dealt with Alzheimers and security, and there are things you can do to help protect them from themselves, though it makes things a nuisance for the rest of the family.  Like disconnecting something under the hood when cars are parked, or having extra shut off valves put in on natural gas stoves, etc. 

[alph]

She doesn't drive at all; I’m just stating a fact that she still HAS a license, not that we would ever allow her to drive!! 
We’ve hidden the keys to her van just so that she doesn't try to drive.  We’ve taken the preventive measures, but the state should have a required retesting policy, that's my argument.

[Michvalk]

I lost my Dad to my inability to tell him he couldn't drive no more. State Police pulled his licence, and he kept on driving. One day my Mom was in the hospital, and no one was there to help him. So he took off in the car to see her in the hospital. 6 days later we found him in a snowey ditch, stuck. He had had a heart attack trying to get the car out and froze to death. He was almost 200 miles from home and nearly at his old place of work. Help her to make the right choice. You don't need to say that you could have done the right thing. She might be mad at you, but she will still be here to BE mad at you.

[Charlie]

She doesn't drive at all; I’m just stating a fact that she still HAS a license, not that we would ever allow her to drive!! 
We’ve hidden the keys to her van just so that she doesn't try to drive.  We’ve taken the preventive measures, but the state should have a required retesting policy, that's my argument.

I agree.  I have seen some of my elderly relatives deteriorate in just a couple of months to the point where they should have lost their license, but didn't.  Frankly, I think after certain diagnosis, such as Alzheimers or dimensia, there should be a 6 month retesting policy put on the individual.  Its not an age thing, its a conditional thing.

[Lyn-Del]

Unfortunately, today the old joke along the lines of "I can barely see, can't hear much of anything, forget what I'm doing or where I'm going most of the time, and I can't walk.  But I still have a driver's license!"   is frequently not a joke.  With modern medicine, people are outliving their ancestors, and many outlive their senses.

You can't put an automatic age on it either .... I know folks in their 80's who are as sharp as they ever were (and they were always sharp), and folks in their 40's who don't belong on the road.

But I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to at least require license renewal annually after a given age (65, 70, whatever).  It'll be a nuisance, but it might, just might, get some folks off the road in time.

[Big Rig]

If it were my Mom, I would let her drive along the border...

 

[R J]

You can't put an automatic age on it either .... I know folks in their 80's who are as sharp as they ever were (and they were always sharp), and folks in their 40's who don't belong on the road.

But I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to at least require license renewal annually after a given age (65, 70, whatever).  It'll be a nuisance, but it might, just might, get some folks off the road in time.

When I hit 70 they would only issue me a 2 year license, prior to that it was a 5 year.

I don't mind the having to go in every 2 years, but damn it, put a drivers test on ALL renewals..........    Especially the Blue hairs in California and Florida.....

OH yeah, this can be done with machines.   Machines no lie like paid off testing agents....    I helped nab a few of them in California, in my younger years.

[sheets]

Elderly parents and in-laws with questionable mental and physical abilities aside... but, from a guy who has spent all of his adult life working in the middle of, or along side of, the street/highway... I'd have to say... it's time.  Ymmv, sheets