An 87 year old impaired man???????

[fuzzybuddy]

I was leaving the dentist's this morning. Another patient was leaving. He was extremely elderly (turns out he is 87). He obviously had multiple strokes. He barely was able to shuffle , he wasn't abled to lift his feet off the floor. And he appeared to be ready to topple over at any second. The receptionist had to give him directions to get to the parking lot. But that didn't work, so she had to escort him to the lot. I followed them. That's when I found out HE WAS DRIVING. He slowly got in, and S L O W L Y backed out. Then he S L O W L Y drove away. I truly doubt he could have stopped his car in time to avoid an accident. Hey, I'm disabled and 76, but this guy should never be on the road. I made sure this guy was long one before I drove out on the same road as him. It presented me with a dilemma- should I do something to get this obviously impaired driver off the road. And what If someone thought I was an impaired driver? I need my car.

 

[Knight]

Quote from post
so she had to escort him to the lot.

Doubtful this was the 1st. time he needed assistance. Or that others have knowledge of what you describe. Good to be concerned but your concern for you being reported as unfit should guide you

 

[Jeni]

It varies by area i believe but when my someone i know tried to turn her grandmother in ....
it was quite a process and the clerk at DMV basically said taking a license away does nothing....... IF they have access to a car many still will venture out. some folks have no one to take them to appointments etc.
I too when seeing something like this avoid the driver and wait to get out there on the road although that is no guarantee as someone else just as impaired could have left a neighboring parking lot at same time.....

 

[Gaer]

Where I live, there is no Uber, no Lyft. There was a Dollar Cab years ago. The only thing that exists to transport anyone is a shuttle service
with a $185. minimum charge. The elderly has no way to get anywhere unless they know someone who will drive them.
The seniors have no alternative but to drive themselves and take their chances.

 

[Pepper]

Where I live, there is no Uber, no Lyft. There was a Dollar Cab years ago. The only thing that exists to transport anyone is a shuttle service
with a $185. minimum charge. The elderly has no way to get anywhere unless they know someone who will drive them.
The seniors have no alternative but to drive themselves and take their chances.

It's not THEIR chances that concern me, it is everybody else's.

 

[caroln]

You could be providing a valuable service to the rest of the drivers on the road! I think at most DMV's you can anonymously report an unsafe driver which results in the driver having to take a driving test. At that point, I think he/she will lose their driving privileges. You need to get the license plate number of course. But I feel for the elderly who have no recourse except to drive themselves or be housebound. Another reason I'm terrified of getting "old" (referring to a different post).

I wonder if there might be a senior center or senior help/care type place that drive seniors to doctor appointments, etc.

 

[Sliverfox]

Most of hubby's siblings & mother shared the same doctor.
I had been in for a check up.
When I mentioned she was still driving,, doctor was "WHAT? You mean she is still driving?"

He was all set to notify the DMV.
Told him family has discussed waiting for her license to expire,, won't renew it.

Went home told hubby , his siblings what happened at doctor 's office.

Mother in law was very upset that she couldn't drive.
Wanted to know who told on her,,,,,,, don't know if they told her who did it.

And ,, yes she still would sneak out to drive but the guys disconnected the battery.
Finally, Sister in law took ownership of the car.

 

[mrstime]

In recent months DH has found walking a problem, he looks like he is drunk, two steps forward and one back. He has fallen several times and he is always stone cold sober! Activities he used to enjoy he no longer does because of his fear of falling in public.

 

[RadishRose]

The insurance can order an independent medical exam (IME). If the person is found unfit to drive, DMV will be notified, license revoked and insurance cancelled..

What happens to the vehicle after that is still a problem if no one can take it away.

 

[officerripley]

Around here, doctors--according to what my stepdad's doctor told me anyway--can't get involved in a patient's license being revoked. When I mentioned that stepdad shouldn't be driving and could he help, the doc says, "What the heck can I do about it?" When I said I thought doctors could help, he said no, where'd you hear that? That's been about 15 years ago so it might be different now; I hope so: I don't drive much at all anymore and Huzz's driving seems to be okay but he's older than I so I know the time's coming. This is the main reason why I'd like to move closer to stuff to walk to but he says no and when I said "Wouldn't you like to live somewhere close enough to stores, etc. to walk to?, he got a scowl on his face and said, "I don't wanna walk anywhere!" and stomped out of the room. He thinks that walking anywhere that you have to, no matter how pleasant and easy the walk is, means you're poor. He didn't get his first car 'till he was about 18 and usually kids out in the country like he was learn how to drive and either get their 1st car or can borrow one at about 16 unless they're dirt poor (which is what he was); so it brings back bad memories for him. Sigh.