I agree with Geaton. My GFs father actually lost his keys and wallet. He usually put both in his pants and hung them over a chair. The pants went missing. So wife told him couldn't drive with no keys or license and he agreed. By the time she found the pants, which were stuffed under the mattress, he had excepted her driving because he couldn't. She hid the keys and wallet, sold the car, and bought herself a smaller one. My Mom was told by her neurologist she could no longer drive. She accepted that, not happy but accepted it.
If you haven't you need to get Mom to a doctor. The doctor can and should report her to DMV. My Gson's Dr. did when it was found medication didn't help his seizures. It took 3 months for NJ DMV to contact him but he had voluntarily stopped driving.
Maybe Mom could lose her purse. I would find a way to disable the car. And like said, once it is, tow it away. Its cruel to live it there. Our neighbor did this with her Mom. She saw that car every day and wondered why she couldn't drive it. We sold Moms.
I don't recommend taking the keys away as I've found this to be too confrontational and never ends well. It's too abrupt and shocking and makes you the bad guy.
As stated below by the others, disabling the car is the immediate solution required since she is a danger to others on the road. Then, have it "towed away" to your house or wherever. Out of sight, out of mind. It's in the "shop", very expensive to fix (wink)!! Then you can go online to her state's DMV and anonymously report her as a hazard on the road. If possible provide her license info. They will probably call her in to retake her test and she will probably fail. Do not take her to the test, she needs to get there on her own steam (without her car which is in the "shop"). I've had to do this for 4 people in my family and it works. I never needed a doctor's note. The docs don't know all the missing details of fender benders, near misses, etc. My uncle (94) should have had his license taken but family continued to let him drive. He went through a light and was broadsided. It killed his wife (who survived cancer and a heart problem) and his dog. Luckily the other victims weren't seriously hurt. Please act immediately to get her off the roads. Thank you!
Disable her car. My cousin did this, and it was such a good idea I did it with my Dad.
I know it was the cowards way out. Just scrambled the distributor wires and told Dad it had to be towed. Whenever I call the “garage” it was a friend. I had a car service come a couple times a week to take him and Mom where ever they wanted. After a couple weeks of no car, my Dad got the insurance bill.....he was so angry about the huge bill that he declared “I’ll sell the car before I pay that extortion”. Never had a fight with him. Never had him claim I stole his car or took away his license... he decided to stop driving. I think he realized that he could still go where he wanted, didn’t need to drive himself.
4 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
If you haven't you need to get Mom to a doctor. The doctor can and should report her to DMV. My Gson's Dr. did when it was found medication didn't help his seizures. It took 3 months for NJ DMV to contact him but he had voluntarily stopped driving.
Maybe Mom could lose her purse. I would find a way to disable the car. And like said, once it is, tow it away. Its cruel to live it there. Our neighbor did this with her Mom. She saw that car every day and wondered why she couldn't drive it. We sold Moms.
As stated below by the others, disabling the car is the immediate solution required since she is a danger to others on the road. Then, have it "towed away" to your house or wherever. Out of sight, out of mind. It's in the "shop", very expensive to fix (wink)!! Then you can go online to her state's DMV and anonymously report her as a hazard on the road. If possible provide her license info. They will probably call her in to retake her test and she will probably fail. Do not take her to the test, she needs to get there on her own steam (without her car which is in the "shop"). I've had to do this for 4 people in my family and it works. I never needed a doctor's note. The docs don't know all the missing details of fender benders, near misses, etc. My uncle (94) should have had his license taken but family continued to let him drive. He went through a light and was broadsided. It killed his wife (who survived cancer and a heart problem) and his dog. Luckily the other victims weren't seriously hurt. Please act immediately to get her off the roads. Thank you!
ADVERTISEMENT
I know it was the cowards way out. Just scrambled the distributor wires and told Dad it had to be towed. Whenever I call the “garage” it was a friend. I had a car service come a couple times a week to take him and Mom where ever they wanted. After a couple weeks of no car, my Dad got the insurance bill.....he was so angry about the huge bill that he declared “I’ll sell the car before I pay that extortion”. Never had a fight with him. Never had him claim I stole his car or took away his license... he decided to stop driving. I think he realized that he could still go where he wanted, didn’t need to drive himself.
You can also contact DMV anonymously in some states.
Can't you take away her keys or disable the car in some way?