Hey, this is as good a place an any to chew on this topic, and being as this list is populated by inquiring vehicle related minds, better than many other forums.
As I was relating previously, for a person to decide they should not be driving and actually hang up the keys is almost never going to happen on it's own. It's usually going to require either family or legal intervention. Family or friends intervention can be gentler. Legal usually comes after the overripe driver gets into trouble on the road. Sometimes with tragic consequences.
Brings to mind the old drivers ed joke: One older person conversing with another says "I hope I die peacefully in my sleep, as my Uncle Jed did.
Not screaming in terror as passengers in his car did." Oy! Funny unless it's you.
So, generally, family and friends of a failing driver are going to be the first to become cognizant of the issue. When this occurs, it almost as hard for loved ones to admit to themselves that Uncle Jed ought to be off the road.
With that admission come their responsibility to general population and particularly other drivers, to try to make that happen.
How this can work depends on many circumstance, and the state in which the driver resides. To actively work at getting someone's license pulled has many pitfalls. I can guarantee doing so will not put you at the top of that person favorite people. In the state of WA you can contact the DOL and tell them that you think Uncle Jed is no longer competent to drive. If they get such a report they will likely investigate and may require the Jed retake the drivers test, both written and behind the wheel. The "problem" with the situation here, and I can see the reason for it, the DOL is legally obligated to inform Jed who turned him in. So, to turn in a relative in this way takes some courage in that it will likely put the whistle blower on Jed's and perhaps other peoples ka-ka list. Responsibility can be a heavy burden.
A kinder way is to just work at convincing Jed to quit while he's ahead.
I pulled my fathers keys when he was 87. He was not happy, complained about it to anyone who would listen for a couple of years. But basically went with the program. However, at that point I became his chauffeur as needed.
AARP has a very good publication on ways to approach to this issue, available in print or as a PDF file on their website.
An easier out is the have the family doctor make the call to the DOL, as doctors are obligated by law to do so if they find a patient unfit to drive.
Some doctors are also reluctant to make this call for the same reasons family members are, plus business reasons. However, iff pressed by family members, they will likely comply and make the call.
Another route, particularly if you know a LEO is to have them follow Jed and they make the call based on what they observe of his driving. Many times
a failing driver will get stopped for a traffic infraction, or will have a fender bender and come to the attention of the police who should then send Jed's name to the DOL for a license review. Hopefully the situation that brings Jed to the attention of the police does not involve injury or death to others.
In my work as a driving instructor I get calls from older folks who have come up against the system for whatever reason, and have had to retake the drive test. In WA they get three tries at it. If they don't pass in three tries their license is permanently revoked. I don't usually get called until they have already flunked the test a time or two. It is more usual for them to continue to fail the test than to pass, despite several hours of behind the wheel work addressing the specific problem that caused them to fail the test in the first place. It seems to generally boil down to mental impairment as the main issue.
Not pretty, but we all have an expiration date. Getting oneself or others off the road before they cause others to expire is the nut of the issue. If your old and really have your wits about you, self regulate before it's too late.
If you KNOW someone else should be off the road, you've go an obligation and a nasty job ahead.
Now, when should one give up driving a tractor?
Regards,
Dennis
