GB answers please. Reporting careless driving?

Question

My mother is becoming increasingly erratic with her driving and she is not concentrating, to the point that people are forever hooting at her, and waving her good day using a variety of obscene hand gestures - and with good reason - that she does not understand.  So much so, that she nearly caused a collision while trying to get onto a motorway yesterday with me as a passenger.  Someone nearly side swiped us and his bumper was literally 3 inches from my door when we stopped and had to manoeuvre to get ourselves facing in the right direction again!  She had taken me to hospital and she frightens the life out of me!  She is forever wandering around the road, looking at birds in the sky when she should be concentrating on the road, and yesterday of all things she turned off the main road in the carpark of the hospital which had an ambulance lane, and proceeded to drive several hundred meters down the wrong side of the road and could not understand why people were cross with her!

I have a feeling that I have a duty to report her somehow without her knowing it was me.  She will cause a fatality (if not hers, then someone else's) soon.  Recently she had her licence renewed.  She is an inveterate liar and can even convince me sometimes unless I am on my guard.

Could someone please tell me how I should go about reporting her bad driving and to whom?

david m · Accepted Answer

I admire your concern about your mother`s driving and the safety of other road users.
   As your mother has just had her licence renewed I`m guessing she is 75+ .
  If she is as confused as you say I would suggest you contact DVLA by phone and tell them of your concerns and ask if her licence can be withheld until she has had a medical/mental health check.
  A friend of mine had a similar problem and they disconnected the battery on their father`s car, purely for safety reasons, until the situation was resolved. This may seem drastic but it could mean the difference between a fatal accident and a safe outcome.
  I hope this works out OK .

Anonymous · Answer

Have a word with her doctor. If she is getting as bad as you say there is often a medical reason for this and the doctor has the power to write to the DVLA suggesting she is no longer capable of driving.

Sit her down and have a long talk with her. Explain your worries and suggest she gives up her licence voluntarily.

Last resort would be the police but I doubt they'd do anything other than suggest you see her doctor

G · Answer

You need not go to the Police. If you speak to her doctor as mentioned above then this can support the case. Then you simply return the license to the DVLA with said doctor note.

Timbo is here · Answer

Her GP will not discuss this with you and has no reason to have to act on your word. The next time she sees him he/she MIGHT look into it.

The Police are the only avenue for you and you need to start with an informal discussion with them to see what the best way to proceeed is.

The original Peter G · Answer

You need to contact DVLA about this. It is a problem they are capable of dealing with, as it is quite common.
I hope I realise when to stop.

Steven · Answer

Go to your local police station, tell them everthing, and state you wish to kept anonomous to your mum.

GB answers please. Reporting careless driving?

6 Answers