{"id":119016,"date":"2023-09-17T03:21:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T03:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=119016"},"modified":"2023-09-17T03:21:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T03:21:40","slug":"families-of-elderly-drivers-are-put-in-a-difficult-position-over-licence-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/auto-news\/families-of-elderly-drivers-are-put-in-a-difficult-position-over-licence-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Families of elderly drivers are put in a ‘difficult position\u2019 over licence rules"},"content":{"rendered":"
Family members of elderly drivers with dementia are being put into a \u201cdifficult position\u201d over driving licence rules, according to an expert.<\/p>\n
The law states motorists who develop medical conditions such as dementia must report their condition to the DVLA as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
The governing body will then consider medical evidence before deciding whether to revoke a photocard and ban the driver from the roads.<\/p>\n
However, there are some elderly drivers who refuse to tell the DVLA about conditions and continue driving regardless.<\/p>\n
This then leaves it down to the family of elderly drivers to hold \u201cemotional\u201d conversations with loved ones to hand over their keys.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Elderly driver blasts new ULEZ fees which have \u2018hit him in the pocket\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking to Express.co.uk, Admiral Nurse Stuart Kennedy said: \u201cIt can be a very upsetting time for a person with dementia to acknowledge that something they’ve held onto for so many years of their life is no longer something that they can do.<\/p>\n \u201cThe frustration and the loss of independence and that palpable sense of loss for that person is something we often support people with but it’s the family that are affected by that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may be the family is aware of the concern but the person with dementia is not and that puts them in a very difficult position for them to try and navigate that.<\/p>\n \u201cA sense of how to manage that and how to have those conversations with the person who is being encouraged to give up driving. The reporting system does require the person themselves to report to DVLA as it does with other medical conditions.<\/p>\n DON’T MISS <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n \u201cIf that person doesn\u2019t then that responsibility, by default, often falls to family members and that\u2019s where coming through to talk to us, we support them through that, as it can be a very emotional and difficult time for people.\u201d<\/p>\n Dementia UK has previously warned elderly drivers might \u201cblame the person who cares for them for taking away their car\u201d.<\/p>\n This could put family relationships under strain at a crucial stage of a medical diagnosis.<\/p>\n Without a licence, the elderly driver may struggle to live an independent life such as being able to go to the shops and socialising.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, family and friends may be hesitant to intervene as they will be \u201ccalled upon more often to drive them around\u201d.<\/p>\n But, Mr Kennedy is adamant motorists must intervene if they feel it is necessary.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt is ultimately a conversation that has to be had with those most affected and safety has to be the primary concern.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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