Jane Bates: Keep unfit drivers off the road

GPs can now raise concerns about drivers without telling them – and about time too, says Jane Bates

‘He’d be better off on a horse,’ the patient’s son told me. ‘At least the horse can see where it’s going.’

A group of relatives had issued an impassioned plea to us in the eye department to convince their elderly dad that he was unfit to drive. Although his visual acuity was way below the required standard, he continued to take his vehicle out on the road.

Our hospital covers a large rural area, where people rely heavily on their cars. So telling people they are unfit to drive is a bitter blow.

Duty to protect

They see it as a violation of their personal liberty. Some become angry and take