Dangerous to drive?
What should you do if you think your elderly parent cannot drive safely? This is a sensitive issue. You don’t want them to lose their independence. You also don’t want them to be involved in an accident and hurt themselves or someone else.
DVLA
It’s a difficult situation and you might feel torn. If you can’t address the issue personally with your parents, family member, or friend, there is an alternative. Provided you know enough about the person, you can contact the DVLA anonymously online and send a ‘third party notification’. This is only suitable if the person you are reporting has a health condition. If their driving is dangerous for no obvious reason, they should be reported to the police. This is also the case if they drive while drunk or under the influence of drugs that make them dangerous.
Third party notification
A third party notification is easy to complete, but you will need the personal information of the person you are reporting to complete the online form. DVLA will not provide you with feedback due to the sensitive nature of the process.
They will contact the “reported” person by mail and send them a medical questionnaire. They are legally required to complete this procedure and give DVLA the authority to contact their GP.
If they fail to do so, the DVLA can revoke their driving license. This leaves them without insurance and makes it illegal to drive.
Mobility scooters
A safer option than a car is a mobility scooter. With a maximum speed limit of 8mph in the UK, someone who has given up their car can still remain independent. There are many excellent road and sidewalk scooters available. It is always advisable to take out insurance when purchasing a scooter. This is mainly civil liability insurance in the event of an accident by the user. I always recommend Mark Bates for this as I have experience dealing with them.