My 79 Year-old MIL Passed her Driver's License Test Today!

[Bonny]

I was afraid this was going to happen. But I gotta give credit where credit is due. She's been working on getting it back over these last four or so months and she did. You may remember her story whereby DH and a number of others were deeply concerned about her driving. He finally called her doctor when he heard that she had driven through a construction site after telling the flagger to "F" off when he told her she couldn't pass. Her caregiver was with her (because MIL won't let anyone drive her car) and reported the incident. Thereafter the caregiving agency prohibited anyone from driving with her. DH was under the impression that the DMV was only going to test her but in fact they suspended her license. I think she failed three driving tests. Then at SIL's suggestion she applied for her learner's permit and hired a driving instructor (who was a former DMV tester). She had been failing the mock tests up until this week.

I pity the poor folks of greater Portland

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Note to self:  Stay off the streets of Portland....

[mmhmm]

Oh, dear.  I'm sorry to hear that, Bonny.  Now, you and the DH will be on pins and needles wondering what might happen, I imagine.

[milee]

Everyone please remember this when the subject of whether google cars should be legal comes up. So far, it sounds like the government is not very receptive to the idea of self-driving cars and is sending signals that they will prohibit or greatly curtail them. People like Bonny's MIL would benefit hugely from a self-driving car.... and as a terrible driver myself, I can't wait until they're available. Trust me, you want Bonny's MIL and me in one of those things.

[resolution]

I would love a Google car! I have read some estimates that the luxury versions of them may be available for retail sale as soon as 2020! It will be longer for peons like me, but I am hopeful.

[Bonny]

Feb 26, 2014 18:04:23 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Oh, dear.  I'm sorry to hear that, Bonny.  Now, you and the DH will be on pins and needles wondering what might happen, I imagine.

Yup. It's just a matter of time...

[sunshinegal1981]

Does she need to be re-tested, after some interval of time?  Or does this license stick until new problems arise?

(One can only hope that the driving instructor was able to instill some safe habits....)

[Bonny]

Feb 26, 2014 20:09:36 GMT -5 sunshinegal1981 said:

Does she need to be re-tested, after some interval of time?  Or does this license stick until new problems arise?

(One can only hope that the driving instructor was able to instill some safe habits....)

Sticks until there are other problems.

[Cass]

I can relate.  I am a caregiver for an elderly man.  I was to drive him to the city for an appointment but at the last minute someone commented about it and hurt his pride.  He insisted on driving. 

I'm not going to Google the conversion just now, but the speed limit here is 100 km/ hr and we hit speeds of over 160 km/hour.  What should normally have been an over 2 hour drive took and hour and 10 minutes of seeing my life flash before my eyes.

[Bonny]

My MIL has had numerous small accidents over the last year including one she had to go to court for. Everyone is afraid to be in the car with her. She doesn't drive properly in her lane, speeds, goes through stop signs and is continuously distracted.

If you drive her car she starts trying to shift (automatic) and will have melt-downs if you don't drive the exact route she prescribes (multiple ways to get to market et cetera) or make a turn (and she can be wrong). It's a scary experience. We taken to putting her in the back seat or better yet running the errand ourselves without her in the car.

Mentally she's better than when she was on Wellbutrin last summer. But she really has no business behind the wheel.

[grits]

Feb 26, 2014 20:33:23 GMT -5 Cass said:

I can relate.  I am a caregiver for an elderly man.  I was to drive him to the city for an appointment but at the last minute someone commented about it and hurt his pride.  He insisted on driving. 

I'm not going to Google the conversion just now, but the speed limit here is 100 km/ hr and we hit speeds of over 160 km/hour.  What should normally have been an over 2 hour drive took and hour and 10 minutes of seeing my life flash before my eyes.

[grits]

You better not drive 100 km/hr on the highways here unless you are in the right hand lane.

I must confess that on an open flat stretch of road, I did drive 145 km/hr for quite some distance.

[Cass]

I generally drive 120 (in the right hand lane).  I'm apparently more granny than he is

The rest of the story:  I threatened to take a bus home.  I drove, and he took me out for dinner on the way back 

[grits]

The life flashing before the eyes is an expression a lot of us use. I said that about peoples driving for years. Thanks for sharing the laugh. lol

[tskeeter]

Feb 26, 2014 17:56:00 GMT -5 Bonny said:

I was afraid this was going to happen. But I gotta give credit where credit is due. She's been working on getting it back over these last four or so months and she did. You may remember her story whereby DH and a number of others were deeply concerned about her driving. He finally called her doctor when he heard that she had driven through a construction site after telling the flagger to "F" off when he told her she couldn't pass. Her caregiver was with her (because MIL won't let anyone drive her car) and reported the incident. Thereafter the caregiving agency prohibited anyone from driving with her. DH was under the impression that the DMV was only going to test her but in fact they suspended her license. I think she failed three driving tests. Then at SIL's suggestion she applied for her learner's permit and hired a driving instructor (who was a former DMV tester). She had been failing the mock tests up until this week.

I pity the poor folks of greater Portland

Damn SIL!  Damn driving instructor!

What part of Portland?  Maybe I shouldn't go up to visit Dad after he gets to Portland for the summer.  I'm not sure my reflexes are quick enough any more to stay our of your MIL's way.  Or, should I just weld some gas pipe onto the car, go looking for her, and play demo derby?  I'd lend her a helmet.  It kind of sounds like passing the driver's test was just luck.  So maybe she ought to be wearing a helmet anyway.  

[Works4me]

Oh, Bonny!
They renewed my father's license at age 79 and he had not been competent for some time.
He had not driven since 2010 but his license is good until 20015!
At least we can look forward to more MIL stories?

[Deleted]

Oh man , I'm sorry.

 Grandpa used to steal the car and drive away while  grandma was in the shower.

[Bonny]

Feb 28, 2014 0:33:15 GMT -5 Works4me said:

Oh, Bonny!
They renewed my father's license at age 79 and he had not been competent for some time.
He had not driven since 2010 but his license is good until 20015!
At least we can look forward to more MIL stories?

I promise not to disappoint!

[Gardening Grandma]

Feb 26, 2014 18:01:21 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

Note to self:  Stay off the streets of Portland....