Thread: Here's a bit of very important advice

Great advice but not as simple as it sounds. My (now passed) FIL was a nightmare on the road and insisted on keeping his licence despite years of family effort to the contrary. One of the biggest issues was that all he needed to renew it was an eye test which he had no issues with.

One other consideration was his perception of independence. We believe if he was forced to hand his licence in, he would have just given up on life and spent the rest of his time sitting on the couch watching TV. All we could do was to make sure someone was able to drive him where he wanted to go (mostly shopping and the RSL).

Are you and yours okay JC?

Yeah thanks Steve. Just discovered this morning that i am totally, totally over the pain. Had to try and focus on the root cause to gain perspective as over 30years ago i had a serious MVA caused by an elderly person who by their families admission ' shouldn't have been driving and maybe we should have insisted she hand her licence in'. Bit bloody late now.
I shan't dwell on all the ifs and what ifs but i can 100% say it was a life changing event that nearly took my life.

I'm allowed to be angry about this subject and i strongly suggest people weigh up whether or not someones indepence may be worth killing or worse maiming another road user who has to live with the results.

I cannot even begin to explain how it has impacted me personally and those around me, and sure i know there are far worse off than me and i do count myself 'lucky' however i wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Jc

Not disagreeing at all JC, just voicing another angle to the story. Our (Nan's really) solution was to not argue about his licence and just re-arrange his/our social schedule. We made sure we our shopping days lined up and there was always milk and bread in their house, which was probably the most common reason for him getting behind the wheel.

Misplaced car keys, another vehicle parking him in, etc. were all ways of stopping him driving. At the end of the day it was a win win situation as our efforts kept him off the road and it was finally his decision to stop driving.

Originally Posted by pop058

One other consideration was his perception of independence. We believe if he was forced to hand his licence in, he would have just given up on life and spent the rest of his time sitting on the couch watching TV.

this is the number 1 thing.

Mate, there are LOTS of stories about car accidents where the people that come off second best decide to curl up in a ball and die.

but thats not you.

never has been you.

never will be you.

Originally Posted by pop058

Not disagreeing at all JC, just voicing another angle to the story. Our (Nan's really) solution was to not argue about his licence and just re-arrange his/our social schedule. We made sure we our shopping days lined up and there was always milk and bread in their house, which was probably the most common reason for him getting behind the wheel.

Misplaced car keys, another vehicle parking him in, etc. were all ways of stopping him driving. At the end of the day it was a win win situation as our efforts kept him off the road and it was finally his decision to stop driving.

I'm just getting grumpier the more pain i get and the older i get. Had some bad news about pain relief that basically means injections and nerve blocks won't work for me. Had enough of oral meds and really fed up. I made the 'mistake' of 'reminiscing' about the original injury and just felt i had to say something about how these things can effect people.
Eevo yes it is a complex issue and i wouldn't want to push the elderly into a life of total boredom etc however if they WERE to cause a traffic accident or a fatality their twilight years would be frought with guilt.

Like i said a complex and very emotional issue.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Mate, there are LOTS of stories about car accidents where the people that come off second best decide to curl up in a ball and die.

but thats not you.

never has been you.

never will be you.

Thanks Pete, just feeling it today, more than usual, is all.