When to stop driving autos

[Denwa]

.....What sometimes scares me more then older drivers is when I see people who can barely walk get in behind the wheel.

You know, the ones who use a cane or a walker or shuffle their feet to walk. When they get into the car, they can barely pick up their feet or have to use their hands to put their legs into the vehicle.

Then, they drive - WITH THEIR FEET - .....It is true, they can rest their foot on the gas pedal, but can they really lift either foot fast enough to hit the brake in an emergency?

This goes beyond any age, as people of all ages have leg, feet and back problems making it difficult to use their feet or lift their legs.

You've got valid concerns here, BUT good driving practice would have
the driver keep their heel in contact with the floor at all times and apply pedal pressure to gas or brake WITHOUT lifting the foot or leg.

Two advantages at least: The application of control pressure to the pedals will be smoother and better modulated. If the foot IS lifted,
it is much more likely to come back down in the wrong place than if
the heel is left on the floorboard and the foot just pivoted sideways one way or the other.

So, actually being able to lift a leg is not necessary in itself. Lots of other possible factors to be considered here of course.

Dennis

 

['Bota Fan]

It's difficult to know how to begin this post, but I can't imagine not relating our sad story. In fact, I am possessed of a strong ethical obligation to do so.

Dad was in his eighties, he was growing physically weaker, and his driving had become erratic and jerky. There were the telltale signs of scrapes and dents on his car, and when I would ask what had happened, he would offer lame excuses that never included any major culpability on his part. Whenever I suggested he should become a full-time passenger, I was always met with total resistance, even though I solemnly promised I would take him anywhere he would like to go. I was worrying for nothing, he would say. Unfortunately, my mother would side with him, so I was left to fly the flag of sensibility alone.

Suffice it to say Dad was in an automobile accident resulting in a fatality, and a young man with a wife and two children was taken from them far too soon. Every year, I mark my calendar to remember to pray for that family on the anniversary of the accident, at Thanksgiving, and at Christmas. Had I exhibited the fortitude and courage to press the issue more forcefully with Dad, that man might still be taking his place at the Thanksgiving table and passing out gifts from under the Christmas tree.

Dad is gone now, too, but the regrets still linger. My fervent hope is that others may benefit from our experience.

 

[Denwa]

It's difficult to know how to begin this post, but I can't imagine not relating our sad story. In fact, I am possessed of a strong ethical obligation to do so. ......

Thank you for sharing your story and pain. It is very instructional. Your telling of one tragedy may prevent many more from occurring.

Peace brother, and don't to so hard on yourself. As with raising children, aging parents don't come with an instruction manual. You did what seemed best at the time.

Dennis

 

[Bird]

This topic has long been a tough one to resolve. Texas regular drivers licenses are good for 6 years, and if you have a clean record you can renew on the Internet. But about 3 years ago, our legislature, in their infinite wisdom, passed some new laws. If you are 79 or older, you must appear in person, take the eye exam, etc. to renew your license. And once you turn 85, you must renew every 2 years. Of course if you renew when you are 84, you still get the 6 year license. In either case, they can require taking the written and driving tests, but I don't know whether they are doing it or not.

My paternal grandfather would never quit driving, even when he had a couple of accidents and the state revoked his license. Alzheimers kept him from knowing when to quit. Fortunately, where he lived, even in his earlier days, he rarely drove faster than 20 mph so the accidents were minor ones with no injuries. So, I think Dad's sisters did the only reasonable thing. They took his car and one of them drove it to her home in another state. He knew someone from Texas took his car, but he could never remember who so he wasn't mad at anyone.

This topic is of concern to me, too, of course. Nearly 25 years as a police officer, part of that time in charge of the safety section. I've taught driving, I've driven high speed pursuits, and I have a 20 consecutive year safe driving award from the department. I've done some racing, and before becoming a police officer, two of my part time jobs were driving a school bus one year and driving a taxi cab in Dallas; probably have as wide a variety of experience as almost anyone. However, I'm now 70 years old and know I'm not as capable a driver as I used to be. I used to like working nights. Now I try to avoid driving during the hours of darkness. And I know I need to be especially careful when driving, but I do acclerate briskly getting onto freeways and I do drive the speed limit. I still hate to see old folks poking along slowly tying up other traffic.

So when will I quit? Well, right now I'd be glad to let someone else do the driving and/or I'd have no objection at all to being retested. But if Alzheimers gets me, who knows?

Some have mentioned the AARP publication on persuading drivers to quit. AARP also has their own online defensive driving program designed especially for older drivers. Both my wife and I take that program every 3 years for the insurance discount we get as a result. And of course it's a good refresher anyway. AAA also has one, but it costs more than the AARP course.

What sometimes scares me more then older drivers is when I see people who can barely walk get in behind the wheel.

You know, the ones who use a cane or a walker or shuffle their feet to walk. When they get into the car, they can barely pick up their feet or have to use their hands to put their legs into the vehicle.

Then, they drive - WITH THEIR FEET - not with hand controls.

Hey, are you talking about me?:laughing: I had my right knee replaced August 30; didn't get out or drive while I was using the walker, but did while I was still using my cane.:laughing:

You've got valid concerns here, BUT good driving practice would have
the driver keep their heel in contact with the floor at all times and apply pedal pressure to gas or brake WITHOUT lifting the foot or leg.

Exactly!

 

[chopped]

I really appreciate the posts here it is helping me alot to deal with it.I sure dont want to be the one to hijack my own thread lol But the renewal of licence online Id like to ask and or add how do they check your eyes?No eye exam I assume its almost like they are admitting they are only really interested in the almight buck??

 

[Bird]

I really appreciate the posts here it is helping me alot to deal with it.I sure dont want to be the one to hijack my own thread lol But the renewal of licence online Id like to ask and or add how do they check your eyes?No eye exam I assume its almost like they are admitting they are only really interested in the almight buck??

You can only renew online every second renewal; i.e., can renew online if you renewed in person last time. For some of the requirements, read here. If you have a clean record, they'll take your word for vision being OK once.:laughing: My wife renewed online last time, so she'll have to go in person next time.

I must be getting old and forgetful, or maybe they changed something, but I thought you couldn't renew your license until 90 days before it expired, and now I see you can renew up to one year before expiration.:laughing: Mine is due to expire in January, so I intended to renew it next month. However, I went ahead and did it just now. Of course, it does cost an extra dollar "convenience" fee over the $24 renewal fee to do it online, but I'd burn more than a dollar's worth of gas to drive to their office.

 

[teg]

Wanted to add that my grandmother-in-law (?) at 95 years old finally stopped driving when she said about her drive home from church that: "God, got me home!!!".

She was a tiny lady, she could either press the gas pedal or see where to steer...:shocked:

 

['Bota Fan]

Your telling of one tragedy may prevent many more from occurring.

I truly hope so. Thanks for your comforting words.

Like I've heard many times, "once a man, twice a child."

 

[texbaylea]

I am 79 and still driving and try to be extra attentive above what I was before. I broke my hip, actually broke the "ball" off the head of the left femur. Started driving 5 mos after surgery. I still use canes because of my knees but will have the left one replaced after Christmas. Bird, how long was it before you were driving again?

My wife was hit head-on by a drunk in 1990 and nearly killed. She gradually stopped driving because she tended to flinch when someone in her peripheral vision moved suddenly.

We have a large shop building that I don't use as much anymore so our son is making plans to build an apartment in there. The plumbing rough-in is already there as this was a long time plan. Our son is self employed and says he only needs a computer and an internet connection so moving here is not a burden.

I think that I will find a used limosine and make him wear a chauffer's cap :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:.

Vernon

 

[Bird]

Vernon, I drove about 5 miles (actually 4.8), and back, to have lunch with friends 13 days after the surgery. I had already quit using the walker, but did carry along a cane. Incidentally, I had my last outpatient therapy session a week ago yesterday; Oct. 22.

 

[rd_macgregor]

And I always thought this was a JOKE!

The Senior Driver

As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I
just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on 280.
Please be careful!"

"****," said Herman, "It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!"


BOB

 

[ultrarunner]

Not a day goes by without someone blasting through stop signs near an apartment building I take care of.

I know it's about to happen because most cars slow down when approaching a stop sign and these teens and 20 somethings speed up.

The corner Barber Shop has had cars plow into his building many times and a child walking his bike in the crosswalk was hit a few years ago.

Law Enforcement has a real problem with unlicensed, no insurance drivers with beater cars without tags running wild.

Seniors really are the least of their trouble...

My truck was tapped by one a few years ago and the police and DMV refused to do anything... they said they could impound the car if the contract tow company choose to pick it up... they don't like to pick-up rolling wrecks and they could suspend the vehicle driver license if they had one.

 

[dcyrilc]

Read this story:

Police: Charges pending in wrong-way I-95 crash | 6abc.com

What I find amazing in this story is that the driver who filmed it had lots of time to video with his phone, but doesn't seem to have had the sense to call 911 and report the issue. He could have easily led police quickly to the scene.

 

[chad22]

My dad is 63 and I truly dread the day he can't drive anymore. He is already sorta losing his mind.

Awhile back he was stubborn enough to want to drive himself to the hospital while hacking up lots of blood. I was in the passenger seat trying to persuade him to let me drive him. I finally got him to pull over and was able to drive.

Though it was getting so bad. I just turned around and mom called an ambulance. The paramedic was actually thinking of calling a helicopter.

It was that bad.

I had an uncle who was 72 that was driving and jumping curbs and running stop signs and almost got his wife and daughter killed. They finally got the doctors involved to take his license away. And then he was put into a nursing home where he later died of a brain tumor 3 years later.

I promise to hand my keys over once I get to the point I can no longer drive safely. I hope I keep to my promise. :thumbsup:

Chad

 

[Reverend Blair]

We had to pretty much rip the keys out of the hands of both my mother's father and my father. Both had Alzheimer's, neither could understand why we didn't want them driving, since both had been excellent drivers for most of their lives and knew it. It's hard.

After my father was no longer allowed to drive anything but an MTD lawn tractor, he'd spend most days mowing the yard. Very nicely trimmed grass, since most of it got a mowing 2 or 3 times a week. One day he decided to go to town and took his little red tractor. My stepmother found him about 3/4's of a mile down the road.

My grandfather took off from town one day and walked out to the farm (about a mile), took the truck with the water tank on it, got water, and drove back to the farm. All the while my mother was frantically searching for him, called the cops and the whole bit. This is in a very small town where everybody know each other, but nobody had seen him. He came home himself in time for dinner (in the truck) and declared proudly that he'd hauled water, but that they'd raised the rates so he couldn't get a full tank. Where he got the money for any water is still a mystery.

The thing is that he'd heard my mother talking about company coming, so he knew the house on the farm would need water (there's no well on the property). Of course one of my brothers had already hauled water, that's why the water tank was already in the truck, so what he'd done was dump about 50 gallons of water into the basement.