Parkinsons Disease
Discussion
Is it illegal to drive if you have Parkinsons disease ?
I followed an outside lane numpty this morning, reluctant to move over to the middle lane in order for me to pass.
At first, he drifted towards the middle lane but stayed straddling the seperating lines and then drifted back into the outside lane. I thought he was just being a typical lane hog idiot but he kept doing it and periodically dabbing his brakes.
It became apparent that he was a danger so I backed off to a safer distance and eventually ended up undertaking him as I approached my junction to turn off.
I glanced over and he was twitching as if he was break dancing. Looked like a pretty severe case of Parkinsons if you ask me.
What is the law on this as he really shouldn't have been driving a motor car on a public road IMO.
I followed an outside lane numpty this morning, reluctant to move over to the middle lane in order for me to pass.
At first, he drifted towards the middle lane but stayed straddling the seperating lines and then drifted back into the outside lane. I thought he was just being a typical lane hog idiot but he kept doing it and periodically dabbing his brakes.
It became apparent that he was a danger so I backed off to a safer distance and eventually ended up undertaking him as I approached my junction to turn off.
I glanced over and he was twitching as if he was break dancing. Looked like a pretty severe case of Parkinsons if you ask me.
What is the law on this as he really shouldn't have been driving a motor car on a public road IMO.
While having sympathy for sufferers of such a nasty illness, habing been seriously T-boned by an elderly gentleman who was seriously lacking in physical faculty I have to say that my sympathy stops way short of thinking its OK for them to put everyone else at risk by getting behind the wheel. He has a doctor presumably who is aware of his condition, and that doctor should have the power to take away his licence on medical grounds. Any why does his family let him do it? (no euthenaia jibes please)
I'd have taken his reg number and reported the erratic driving, and hoped that his condition was noted by the BiB who pull him and they do the right thing and put him on a bus before he hurts himself and others.
I'd have taken his reg number and reported the erratic driving, and hoped that his condition was noted by the BiB who pull him and they do the right thing and put him on a bus before he hurts himself and others.
percy flage said:
Very interesting, thanks PF.
COME ON UNITED!
victormeldrew said:
I'd have taken his reg number and reported the erratic driving, and hoped that his condition was noted by the BiB who pull him and they do the right thing and put him on a bus before he hurts himself and others.
I wanted to take his reg but to be fair, I couldn't remember it and couldn't write it down.
This seemed a logical thing to do. But then I recalled my incident of seeing a drink driver commiting a hit and run and I followed them whilst phoning for the police to tell them I was in sight of said driver. They weren't interested, just wanted to give me another number to call.
I have no faith in the traffic police and their phone 'helpers' in certain circumstances, unfortunately. It is illegal to drive if you can't safely and adequately control your vehicle, with or without driver aids or adaptations.
Bloke could also have been mid-stroke or having an epileptic fit... also both good reasons to not drive.
It's usually the doctors responsibility to action the DVLA stuff if someone is becoming unable to drive safely, as I understand it.
So... if someone has parkinson tremors but uses whatever appropriate tools to still enable them to drive safely then that's fine. If they are unable to maintain basic lane discipline etc... then clearly not able to drive safely, goodbye driving license
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Bloke could also have been mid-stroke or having an epileptic fit... also both good reasons to not drive.
It's usually the doctors responsibility to action the DVLA stuff if someone is becoming unable to drive safely, as I understand it.
So... if someone has parkinson tremors but uses whatever appropriate tools to still enable them to drive safely then that's fine. If they are unable to maintain basic lane discipline etc... then clearly not able to drive safely, goodbye driving license
.I've driven behind a goodly number of drivers who were twitching and jerking behind the wheel, all of them so badly that the vehicle itself was vibrating severely. Most of them were young and a large proportion of them were ethnic minorities. It appeared dangerous to approach the vehicle without ear-defenders - Streaky
streaky said:
I've driven behind a goodly number of drivers who were twitching and jerking behind the wheel, all of them so badly that the vehicle itself was vibrating severely. Most of them were young and a large proportion of them were ethnic minorities. It appeared dangerous to approach the vehicle without ear-defenders - Streaky
streaky said:
I've driven behind a goodly number of drivers who were twitching and jerking behind the wheel, all of them so badly that the vehicle itself was vibrating severely. Most of them were young and a large proportion of them were ethnic minorities. It appeared dangerous to approach the vehicle without ear-defenders - Streaky
If the drivers were really as you say, then I'm not sure you'd be able to see them. Their seatbacks would be so far reclined that their heads would be below the windowline. So I think you're just making this up
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