Driving

[wizbang]

My husband has been seen in the memory clinic and had a ct scan. The memory clinic have sent a letter to our gp with a diagnosis of Dementia of alzheimets type. But we have not been seen by a doctor or a consultant. He still drives-very well -but I am at my wits end to know if it is still OK for him to drive. Is it up to us to inform dvla/ insurance when we have not been seen by a specialist to either explain the results or anything. He has been put on aricept and I think it is making him worse.

 

[Kevinl]

Hello and welcome to the site.
If anything did go wrong, accident and someone got hurt, would you ever to forgive yourself?
No secret I had my driving licence suspended as I caught something called Viral Encephalitis a viral infection of the brain, they found out when I had a car crash, fortunately no one got hurt.
I'm not applying for my licence back yet, yes it's a pain
no car and I've been home alone taking care of everything a few months now, but if I did get my licence back and anything did happen I'd never forgive myself if someone got hurt.
I know I'm not 100% better yet so I'm not asking for my license back might never inconvenience, yes but safer for the big wide world I think.
K

 

[BeeBeeDee]

My husband was diagnosed in July and we were told by the memory clinic that he must not drive until the DVLA said he could and that I should inform the DVLA of his diagnosis. I informed the DVLA and it took about 3 months, then we had a phone conversation with the Memory CLinic to fill in a form the DVLA had sent them, The questions were things like do you fall, do you have dizzy spells, do you feel drowsy, do you take drugs or drink. Every answer was No. Consequently the DVLA sent him a year long license. I was not comfortable with him driving and as he is unable to make phone calls or speak to people on the phone it would have been me informing his Insurance company. I spoke to friends and family and they all said they would not be comfortable in the car with him. I decided well he never goes anywhere on his own now anyway so somebody else would always drive. He seemed to forget that the DVLA had issued him a year long licence. His car insurance was up for renewal the week before Xmas so I told him the car would be going to our friends who have a garage and we would be selling it. He was not happy about this at all, then yesterday I said I wonder if there has been any one interested in buying your old car and he had no idea what I meant and said Oh I didnt know I used to have a car. I was quite shocked by that.

 

[Gosling]

Hello @wizbang and firstly welcome to this friendly and supportive forum. I am sorry to read of your husband's recent diagnosis. It's still a shock even if you were half expecting it.
I am attaching a link that you may find helpful with regards to driving and dementia.

The law on driving and dementia

Drivers with dementia must tell their licensing agency and car insurer straightaway. Find out more about UK law on driving and dementia, and what happens if these rules are not followed.

www.alzheimers.org.uk

 

[Chizz]

My husband was diagnosed in July and we were told by the memory clinic that he must not drive until the DVLA said he could and that I should inform the DVLA of his diagnosis. I informed the DVLA and it took about 3 months, then we had a phone conversation with the Memory CLinic to fill in a form the DVLA had sent them, The questions were things like do you fall, do you have dizzy spells, do you feel drowsy, do you take drugs or drink. Every answer was No. Consequently the DVLA sent him a year long license. I was not comfortable with him driving and as he is unable to make phone calls or speak to people on the phone it would have been me informing his Insurance company. I spoke to friends and family and they all said they would not be comfortable in the car with him. I decided well he never goes anywhere on his own now anyway so somebody else would always drive. He seemed to forget that the DVLA had issued him a year long licence. His car insurance was up for renewal the week before Xmas so I told him the car would be going to our friends who have a garage and we would be selling it. He was not happy about this at all, then yesterday I said I wonder if there has been any one interested in buying your old car and he had no idea what I meant and said Oh I didnt know I used to have a car. I was quite shocked by that.

Hi @BeeBeeDee
Sorry about your OH's memory failures (but par for the course), but great result from the non driving point of view - job done. Now you do need to sort the car out!
You were quite right. Once a PWD starts to lose coherent thinking and thus coherent speech, they would also forget to read road signs, if they still can read, or forget what they've read, their reactions are slower, and it is safer for everyone else that they cease to drive. If they can't handle speaking to the insurance company or broker on the phone, then that's the sign to stop. It may be harsh, or they may feel it limits their independence, but the safety and needs of all the other road users become more important, in my view.

 

[BeeBeeDee]

Hi @BeeBeeDee
Sorry about your OH's memory failures (but par for the course), but great result from the non driving point of view - job done. Now you do need to sort the car out!
You were quite right. Once a PWD starts to lose coherent thinking and thus coherent speech, they would also forget to read road signs, if they still can read, or forget what they've read, their reactions are slower, and it is safer for everyone else that they cease to drive. If they can't handle speaking to the insurance company or broker on the phone, then that's the sign to stop. It may be harsh, or they may feel it limits their independence, but the safety and needs of all the other road users become more important, in my view.

Absolutely, I wouldnt have been able to relax while he was out driving, and wasnt prepared to take the responsibility for him potentially causing an accident/injury. It is hard knowing that at 70 he won't ever drive again and its all down to me but after 6 months now we are getting used to it.

 

[maggie6445]

Hello and welcome to the site.
If anything did go wrong, accident and someone got hurt, would you ever to forgive yourself?
No secret I had my driving licence suspended as I caught something called Viral Encephalitis a viral infection of the brain, they found out when I had a car crash, fortunately no one got hurt.
I'm not applying for my licence back yet, yes it's a pain
no car and I've been home alone taking care of everything a few months now, but if I did get my licence back and anything did happen I'd never forgive myself if someone got hurt.
I know I'm not 100% better yet so I'm not asking for my license back might never inconvenience, yes but safer for the big wide world I think.
K

Thank you Kevinl. A sensible decision for now 🙂.I hope you continue to improve. Best wishes