Should i stop her from driving

[Drag70]

A family member of mine has been driving without a full license for many years she has insurance and free car tax and a blue badge. She's had 2 heart attacks, a major heart oparation. And this year she had a pacemaker/defid fitted. Though all of this she she has not notified DVLA or her insurance company. She knows she is doing wrong but uses her health problems as an excuse not to do somthing about it. What should i do?

[MarkRae]

Did she get her licence renewed on her 70th birthday...?

[Dris]

If she has a blue badge then im assuming its for the illnesses you have mentioned.If so and her health hasnt deteriorated then she should still be able to drive.

[woofgang]

either dob her in through crimestoppers or talk to her GP. If you feel brave, tell her what you are going to do first, if you don't feel brave (I'd probably stay anonymous) just do it.

[Prudie]

Just to add my mum learnt to drive in the war and never took a driving test. She had a full licence and drove until she was 89.

[marval]

She is breaking the law and is a danger to herself and other motorists. The sooner you report her the better, it is for her own good as well. At least you will know you have done the right thing.

[woofgang]

blue badges are nothing to do with whether or not you can drive. You can have one without even having a licence and use it in cars where you are a passenger.

[ummmm]

My sister drove without a license for years. She crashed into someone on a roundabout and the insurance company didn't even ask to see her license. She didn't get prosecuted either....Makes me sick.

[Dris]

Thanks woofgang -I have to say I wondered why no-one had mentioned it -i'll get my coat :)

[woofgang]

:-) dris

[dothawkes31]

I don't know, she was 70 in 1990, born 1920, later than I thought actually, when was the over 70s re-test introduced? She was disabled in her latter years and wouldn't have driven anyway as she had asbestosis from working in Mons mill before the war.

[Prudie]

My mother was born 1919 and certainly did get her licence renewed at 70 and then at every interval (can't recall exactly 3,4,5 years?) after that. Each time it required a letter from her GP confirming her ability to drive but she never had to take a test.

[jackthehat]

You may be reluctant to notify the DVLA, or her doctor, but I'll bet all the money I have that you would feel a whole lot worse if she were to kill or maim someone.........

[dothawkes31]

But it is interesting, and Drag70 may actually not be fully aware of the facts about the license this woman holds. My thought that maybe she had been upgraded due to the disruption of the war on driving license issue was valid,

[dothawkes31]

Yes I read that too but by that point the subject was already under discussion.

[society]

Maybe you should talk to her about it, threaten her you'll report her. She may not be very happy with you if she finds out you've reported her behind her back.

[askyourgran]

My father never had to pass a driving test. He drove vehicles in the Army in 1943-46 in Malaya and was licenced to drive from then on.

[Eve]

I'm sure she wouldn't be happy but she's hardly in a position to take the moral highground!

She is acting illegally and dangerously, would you rather leave it and live with the guilt of not stopping her if something bad happens?

Lets hope she never crashes into you, would be some interesting ramifications then!

You can report her anonymously, an anonymous tip off and all the police have to do is catch her driving then it's a matter of fact.

[twix123]

I know that I've entered this thread late, but your relation's insurance will be voided as soon as her insurers find out that she hasn't declared her health problems. Most insurers have the following, or similar, clause in their Terms of Business:

"Disclosure of Information
It is your responsibility to provide complete and accurate information to us when you take out your insurance policy, throughout the life of your policy, and when you renew your insurance. It is important to ensure that all statements you make on proposal forms, claim forms and other documents, are full and accurate. If a form is completed on your behalf, you should check that the answers shown to any questions are true and accurate before signing the document.
You are reminded that it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to make any false statements or withhold any relevant information to obtain an Insurance Certificate."

I would strongly advise you to ensure that her insurers are informed immediately, and if they are subsequently willing to cover her, OK. Otherwise get her off the road as soon as possible!