Thread: Here's a bit of very important advice

I feel for you JC. Nothing worse than being affected for the rest of your life by someones else's actions especially if they shouldn't have been behind the wheel in the first place. I acknowledge as others have said that it is a hard decision for them to give it up and most likely it is their only way of getting around but the overriding factor that has to come into the equation is whether they are safe on the road. Some oldies are and some aren't. A lot of the time the ones who think they are safe are not and actually a problem on the road due to being slow (driving safe in their mind) and holding up the traffic. Some years ago when I did a bit of a stint with the Transport Dept as a driving examiner I had to retest a couple of oldies who had been reported to the Police by members of the public for bad driving - one of them was fine, in fact better than most drivers and the other was downright dangerous - I had no option but to take her license off her. It caused a lot of tears and grief at the time but I put it to her that she would feel worse if she hit and killed someone especially a child. Hang in there old mate - as you say, there is always someone worse off.

I too was involved in a serious MVA 2 years ago, It was a high speed head on collision that took the life of my Mate and left me in hospital for 18 days with a smashed hand and arm along with broken ribs and foot.
My left arm and hand are now pretty much useless now as a result.
It was caused by an overseas tourist that wandered onto the wrong side of the road at the wrong time.
Blaming and banning Old people, tourists or simply the inexperienced drivers won't help you or myself in our recovery nor is banning them from the roads ever going to happen.
I DO know Exactly where you are coming from and when everything starts to get a bit too much for me I usually just go bush fishing for a few days/weeks and this seems to work for me.
Like Alian said "Go get the boat ready"

I know what you mean as I went through this with my father. Eventually just took his car keys off him. Not easy.
Loss of independence is the main issue I think.
We are about to have the same issue with the mother in law, who has Parkinson's.
Incidentally it may be possible to get the person's doctor to declare them unfit to drive.
Don't they have to sit annual driving tests in NSW from, is it 85?

Originally Posted by trout1105

Blaming and banning Old people, tourists or simply the inexperienced drivers

but having bi-annual driving test might help our driving standards if implemented right.

My sister in law`s mum was a danger on the road. Turned out she had dementia like condition. Took some doing to get her to give up her car as she was not that old. I took one fro the team as well and got a ninety year old of the road. Thankfully it was a low speed accident and it only cost me my vehicle. Problem with aged drivers is they start to drive by habit and any change to there routine is where the accidents occur. Should be some sort of cogitative testing after 70 years old to make sure drivers are up to the mental challenges of driving.
Cheers Hall

I feel for you JC.

The hardest bit is not getting sucked into the vortex of dark 'don't want to be here' type thoughts that excruciating pain tends to rouse.

I hope you can get some relief from it somehow.

Talking helps so it's good that you posted here. Beats suffering in silence.

Thanks everyone.

Strangely enough, just the act of typing it out and reading these responses has made me feel a lot more tolerant of the whole situation. Got a bit to do with getting on the boat tonight to Melbourne and then melrose road trip too i guess. A change in environmental stresses is a big help☺.
And Trout1105 what a terrible situation you have had to endure. Keep YOUR chin up too☺

I'm 100% certain that a 10 day break from work and the drive to Melrose and meeting some of you lot who so far have only been names to me will be a huge help!☺

Thankyou all.

JC

I know what you need to do JC! And how is that coming along?😉