Need to get elderly stroke victim to quit driving

Technically Doctors are obligated to report certain people with head injuries to the Department of Motor Vehicles and their licenses are supposed to be removed. Not forever but until they take a simulated driving test, so that no actual living persons are at risk, and then they can drive again.

This is what my father did after he had a stroke, voluntarily, because the docs don't usually do this.


The fact of the matter is that stroke is a head injury and can cause all sorts of impairment, judging distance, slowed reflexes etc.., due to brain tissue death, and can include vision loss.

Is driving a right or a priviledge?
I know, its a hard thing to make a decision about if it is someone you know or love. Good luck.

Offering an alternative at the same time as removing the car-driving might help. One of those little battery-powered "Gophers" that the elderly zip about on is a very capable little vehicle. They aren't big, fast or heavy enough to be very dangerous; but the fact that they run to pedestrian rules rather than road-traffic rules means short-distance travel is nearly as fast - sometimes faster - than driving a full-sized vehicle.

Here in Florida if the driver license place finds out you had a stroke they auto take your license away. To get it back you have to have a letter from a doctor and go before a board that has to approve of you getting it back.
The reason I know about it is because the wife had a stroke. We was at the place to get a change of address for her license ( I had already done mine but she had not) Anyway when her number was called we headed up and they said to me that only the one person could go not both. I said well she just had a stroke 2 days ago and I do not trust her standing by herself (she was a little unsteady) They said really well in that case she looses her license. She is still mad at me about that lol.

if you have the authority you could just hide the keys or remove the car..my husband has a serious head injury but hadn't had an accident or ticket and the drs still want him to be as independent as possible so they still allow him to drive..and he passes the drivers licensing..but i am sometimes afraid to be in the car with him..myself..

i do drive him a lot but the law allows him to drive so i can't forbid it

Take the license away. If that doesn't work disable the car or take it away somehow.

There really should be some sort of national law regarding elderly drivers and drivers with disabilities that can potentially hinder their driving abilities. After all a license in one state allows you to drive in any state.

Hi Popeye,

I really sympathize with your situation. I live in Canada and when my sister

who had a terminal brain tumor began to have seizures, her license was immediatly suspended by the system here. I do not understand how a doctors reccommendation (where you are) doesn't have similar power.

Good Luck
Diane
http://www.frombeyondthegrid.com