Drivers with Medical Conditions

[buggyone]

There have recently been some threads about accidents or near-accidents which have most likely been caused by drivers with medical conditions.

I was under the false impression that once someone got their license, they could keep it as long as they kept renewing it. In Florida, there are procedures that can be implemented by family, a doctor, or a friend of a person who knows their medical history that can get a review of that person's driving license.

I am copying from the State of Florida information: It is in the Q&A format:

"I am very concerned about an elderly family member's ability to drive safely. He lives alone in Florida and we live in another state. We have received numerous calls from concerned neighbors advising us of near accidents when he's been driving. Who can help us?"

The Division of Motorist Services is very interested in your concern. Any physician, person or agency who knows of any licensed driver's or applicant's mental or physical disability to drive or need to obtain or to wear a medical identification bracelet is authorized to report this to the DHSMV. The report should be made in writing giving the full name, date of birth, address and a description of the alleged physical or mental disability of any person over 15 years of age that could affect the driving ability. See more detailed information on the Medical Conditions & Driver Safety brochure.

Form #72190 may be used to report these concerns. These reports are confidential and shall be used only to determine the qualifications of the individual to operate a motor vehicle on Florida's highways. No civil or criminal action may be brought against any physician, person or agency for providing this information.

This should be kept in mind for future use if we see any friends who probably should not be driving anymore. It may save lives.

[graciegirl]

This is a very difficult thing to think about. As we age we all want to do the right thing.


Driving with Type 1 Diabetes – Driving Safely with Type 1 Diabetes (http://type1diabetes.about.com/od/adultswithtype1/a/Driving-With-Type-1-Diabetes.htm)


http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/35/Supplement_1/S81.long


http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_a_CDL_driver_in_Florida_still_drive_if_he_is_a _diabetic_using_insulin

[Cobh521]

I worked in a doctors office and believe me it was very difficult to tell someone that they can no longer drive. They feel that their independence is being taken away from them. Some people do not think they have a problem or state they only drive around the neighborhood. Accidents do happen in the neighborhood. We had a patient once who had loss of vision and was disoriented. I asked if he was driving and he said yes. I informed the wife that he should not drive. When the doctor came into the room, he ordered tests and specifically told the patient and the wife that he cannot drive. Neither listened to us. The wife let him drive and he failed to stop at the stop sign pulling out of the parking lot. While running outside, his wife was trying to put him in the passenger side of the car and act like she was driving. When I asked why he was driving, she simply replied because he wanted to and said he was fine. We notified the Dept of Transportation to revoke his license.

[rubicon]

There is a real delicate balance here. At first blush one would not think so but there is room for manipulation intentionally or unintentionally. My mother had Alzhemier's . I did live away however, before I approached her about surrendering her car keys I had medical documentation.

Consider further that there are millions of people with disabilities that work and drive daily.

I personally am more concerned about those drivers who are distracted because of their cell phone alcohol or drugs or behave like cowboys

[PTennismom0202]

I was a physical therapist and many of my patients had strokes, brain tumors, head injuries, etc. Some lost parts of their visual field. Some lost other brain functions, like the ability to make sound decisions. Some lost the use of am arm or leg. I would tell them and family members that they should not be driving, and I wrote that in the medical records. The doctors would give the same advice, but we could not make the patients accept it. Most continued to drive. When people have physical impairments their old self images don't change. Few people can accept that serious health changes may persist for the long term or may even be permanent, or are likely to be followed by further decline. Hope is a very strong thing. Family has the responsibility to listen to doctors objectively and take away the keys.

[TheVillageChicken]

When it became apparent that my late Aunt should no longer be driving and we suggested she stop, she objected, using every argument under the sun. We finally reached an agreement. She would retake the driver's exam. If she passes we acquiesce. If she fails, driving days are over. She failed to pass the exam, and honored her part of the bargain. This was not a win/win for us as she was the worst backseat driver ever.

[justjim]

Since you don't need a driver license to drive a golf cart, taking car keys helps but doesn't solve all driving problems. There have been several fatalities in TV in golf carts and many accidents causing serious injuries.

In some ways , driving a golf cart may be more dangerous.

[tippyclubb]

I believe its the families responsibility to take away car keys when a parent has become a menace on the road. When my father - in - law was no longer capable of driving the family got together and went over to Dads house and took his keys and car. He was livid, but eventually came to realize it was the right thing to do.

Once Dads wheels were gone we would take him shopping, run errands, doctors appointments, etc and he loved seeing us so much. We spent more time with him and that ended up being a great thing, which he loved.

[asianthree]

At least with new cars they warn you about wrong lane changes and can stop for you. Think about how many people in TV are on heart, blood pressure, insulin, nitro, and many others, could be up to 80%. I believe a defense driving class would help more. After all a 30 year old can have an MI and die at the wheel. Of course if you believe it's your time, it's your time no matter how prepared you are.

[Alaskarose]

What scares me is seeing a person driving a car that is way too large and is therefore too difficult to manage. If it seems that the automobile is too large, then why not go shopping for one that has better visability and is easier to steer. I was nearly hit by a person who was diriving a large car. She told me that she didn't even see me. Roads like Rio Grande with the way it is designed are also a hazzard. It is actually surprising that there aren't more accidents.

[Taltarzac725]

When it became apparent that my late Aunt should no longer be driving and we suggested she stop, she objected, using every argument under the sun. We finally reached an agreement. She would retake the driver's exam. If she passes we acquiesce. If she fails, driving days are over. She failed to pass the exam, and honored her part of the bargain. This was not a win/win for us as she was the worst backseat driver ever.

I know the type. My father's driver's license was taken away when his eye doctor reported him to the Department of Motor Vehicles. No notification to us first that she was doing this just a notice in the mail that the State pulled the license. He got a new eye doctor ASAP.

I do believe though that this must have a lot of checks and balances as family members, friends, co-workers, can get in feuds or rivalries in which no dirty trick is spared. Pulling someone's driving license could be one of these tactics. I tend to think of this as the show Survivor's impact on some but it seems that people have always done whatever it takes to win something they really wanted. David, Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite comes to mind.

[tucson]

People onprescrition pain meds like codeine, oxycodone,morphine, and even prescriptions like valium, xanax can be arrested for driving under the influence in Florida. So, knowing that, there are a LOT of people driving under the influence and can be arrested.

[VT2TV]

We thought my Dad was doing very well until the day he went through a stop sign without stopping, causing another car to hit him. It was his fault. He didn't even stop, but went to park, and the driver followed him. He had forgotten he needed to stop. My dad was always intelligent and very sharp-always did the right thing. But he had forgotten what the "right thing" was. We spent almost every day with him for hours, and he was still able to hide the fact that he was not safe to drive. MY Mom kinda didn't tell us everything either where he was concerned-not to cause problems, but I think she was in denial also. I admit, he fooled us, and both my hubby and I had jobs where you had to evaluate people and their action-both mentally and physically. But it is hard to see something you don't want to see, and of course I wanted my Dad to always be the way he had always been. He was driving well, getting around safely, or so we thought. We also discovered that he had let his car insurance run out. That was all it took. We took the keys away from him that day. Fortunately my Mom reminded us that he had another key hidden. She was supportive of us taking the car-she was still mentally sharp, but had emphysema, and couldn't get around very well. They both were in assistive living at this time. My Dad was furious at us, saying we were stealing his car, etc. We told him as soon as he got insurance on the car, he could have it back. He wasn't even able to figure out how to do that. He never got his car back. My point after all of this is that it was one of the hardest, but most loving thing I could do for him. He was mad, but quickly forgave/forgot about it, and I made sure that he would not be hurt, nor would he ever hurt someone else. If I had let him drive under those conditions, and something had happened, it would make me just as guilty as him. You might not agree with that, but as people age physically, but regress mentally, they are not qualified to make ration decisions, and if you have power of attorney, you agreed to make hard decisions that are in their best interest. It is hard to take the keys away, but sometimes you have to just do the right thing.

[kittygilchrist]

Never thought i would say we need more government. But I was backed out of my parking space by an incoming driver pulling thru her space into mine. I let the old girl have the space and then a piece of my mind.
She explained quite arrogantly that she drives a convertible and must pull thru parking spaces because she cannot see how to back up.
Mind you, she forced me to either stand ground in my parking space or risk having her front end my car. She did not know at all that she violated law and propriety...dementia city.
We need to inspect drivers more often, not cars.

[tucson]

Never thought i would say we need more government. But I was backed out of my parking space by an incoming driver pulling thru her space into mine. I let the old girl have the space and then a piece of my mind.
She explained quite arrogantly that she drives a convertible and must pull thru parking spaces because she cannot see how to back up.
Mind you, she forced me to either stand ground in my parking space or risk having her front end my car. She did not know at all that she violated law and propriety...dementia city.
We need to inspect drivers more often, not cars.

Agree, very scary ....

[rhsgypsylady]

Although I agree with all previous statements, one must be careful when pulling another person's license. Case in point - I felt my husband no longer needed to drive (and doctors agreed), yet he continued to argue with me on this and said he would drive no matter what I did. I talked with the DPS about this and they told me that if I pulled his license and he continued to drive, we could be in worse trouble (especially financially if there were an accident). If there were an accident, insurance would not pay once they discovered his license had been pulled but yet he continued to drive. DPS advised not pulling his license as long as he was determined to drive. Not long after the DPS discussion my husband decided maybe he shouldn't drive anymore. I planted the seed but he felt he was in control because he made the decision. Had I not talked with the DPS first and just pulled his license, the outcome could have been worse.

Point I'm trying to make is be careful when pulling a loved one's license (especially if they are determined to keep driving). Trust me, I've been there and done that and this topic is not an easy one to deal with. I would have much rather had my husband in an accident with his driver license and insurance than without.

[2BNTV]

This problem is more psychological rather than physical in some cases. Physical problems cannot be denied, but some people insists on their being able to drive, as it takes away what they perceive as their "freedom".

They feel as they have been driving all their lives and can do it without having to think. However, taking their independence, is something they will fight tooth and nail, with the loving family member.

When my father exhibited signs that he could no longer drive, we took the car keys away from him. "We won the battle but lost the war". He subsequently would have no desire to go out of the house, and went quickly downhill from there!!! He died a couple of years later, from losing his ability to be independent.

One must careful as evaluating this type of situation is different for each person affected.

Another family member was driving in his nineties. He really couldn't see well. He would stop at a traffic light and have to wait for someone to blow their horn, before he knew it was safe to go. Fortunately, he stopped driving on his own, as he knew he was not a safe driver. A smart man who knew enough is enough, and quit on his own.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

In this area you really need to drive Defensively at all times! You never know what might happen next. Fortunately in the Villages most people are driving fairly slow.

[CFrance]

Although I agree with all previous statements, one must be careful when pulling another person's license. Case in point - I felt my husband no longer needed to drive (and doctors agreed), yet he continued to argue with me on this and said he would drive no matter what I did. I talked with the DPS about this and they told me that if I pulled his license and he continued to drive, we could be in worse trouble (especially financially if there were an accident). If there were an accident, insurance would not pay once they discovered his license had been pulled but yet he continued to drive. DPS advised not pulling his license as long as he was determined to drive. Not long after the DPS discussion my husband decided maybe he shouldn't drive anymore. I planted the seed but he felt he was in control because he made the decision. Had I not talked with the DPS first and just pulled his license, the outcome could have been worse.

Point I'm trying to make is be careful when pulling a loved one's license (especially if they are determined to keep driving). Trust me, I've been there and done that and this topic is not an easy one to deal with. I would have much rather had my husband in an accident with his driver license and insurance than without.
Thanks for that information. I never would have thought of that.

Tal, what happened with your dad after the eye doctor had his license pulled?