I won't drive with dad ever again

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

I last rode as a passenger with my grandmother when I was 12 years old - 29 years ago. She was a terrifying driver even then, when she was only in her mid-sixties. Today, she is 85, and without the cooperation of her doctor, state law doesn’t really let us take away her driving ability. We (mother, aunts, cousins, me) have tried having rational discussions with her, but even after she pulled out in front of a truck (and miraculously, didn’t hurt anyone seriously, including herself,) she wouldn’t concede that she can’t drive well and shouldn’t drive at all. Her doctor is more of a drug dealer than health-care professional: Grandmother has standing, open-ended scrips for Mepergam* (“I was feeling a little nervous this morning, so I took a Mepergam before going to the grocery store,”) Valium (“This makes me a little sleepy, so I only take one every six hours during the daytime,”) and Ambien (“I don’t even remember sleeping if I only take one or two of those!”) Her doctor seems to realize that no one in the family will take Grandmother to appointments with him, so he won’t cooperate with removing her license. If you drive in SE Georgia, USA, let me know, and I’ll let you know what car to look out for - we have no legal way of preventing the old battle ax from getting behind the wheel.

*I swear to whatever god/dess/es you believe in, these quotes are verbatim. Terrifying, right?

22

Sounds like Elvis doctor.

But yeah. I would not get any support from my crazy sister who would see it as my trying to restrict my mother rather than sparing a few other road users.

23

I was quoting the OP. But you probably knew that and were just being a bit difficult, right?

So my friend and I can’t go out driving in the country? We can’t go out for a drive?

24

I had a coworker who said she asked her local sheriff’s department to intervene and somehow take away her elderly father’s license, which they did, with the understanding that her dad would direct all his anger at the sheriff and not at her. But I’m not sure how they were able to do that without abrogating his constitutional right to drive or whatever.

25

talk to the police or his doctor and stop him from driving now. it is easier for the person who should not be driving to hear it from someone other than his children.

thankfully there is nothing in the constitution about driving. it is a priviledge not a right. the tough part is many people live in areas where you have to drive, there isn’t good public transit or safe areas to walk.