Sending special thoughts for you on upcoming tests.

You will be amazed at the difference in your eye sight after cataract surgery. I was shocked at how vivid and bright the colors were after having mine about 10 years ago.

I had worn glasses for over 40 years and haven't needed glasses until the past year I got some reading glasses from the dollar store to make it easier to read small print.

Joyful I feel so sad for you and what a stressful event to be facing. I do see some very good people in your company helping you out. Hope you get the eye surgery soon as this is probably most of your problems.

I would definitely take my next test in a different location. Good wishes for a good outcome
Jean

You have cataracts? You can't see very well?
Until you have better vision, then you should not be driving. You could very well be a menace on the road...a danger to yourself and others.
There's a reason they're flunking your driving test.

Joyful, I know it must be hard to think of not being able to hop into the car and go somewhere. But if it does not work out in your favour and you must give up driving, you will manage because you will have to. My neighbour never drove. When her husband passed away she kept the car and a retired neighbour drove it for her on weekends as a part time job. He took her shopping, did her banking with her etc. She in turn let him use the car when ever he needed it.
(He had an old classic that sat in the garage all winter)
Not saying this is what you should do, but there are options for non drivers.
I am hoping you get your eye surgery and all is well with driving. Wish I lived closer to you. I'd be happy to help you out from time to tiime.

And lindakathy, I think Joyful realizes that he has a problem with his vision. But it is hard to suddenly have that independance taken away from you. Chill a bit!

OJ,
I'm really sorry to hear this.
Is there any possible way to get on the surgery schedule sooner?
I think you plan to possibly test in another nearby city is a good idea, but I would also consider some more practice sessions with the instructor. It sounds like you made a few significant errors during your test and I suspect nerves are a big part of it.
Wishing you the best,
GardenSpice

Ed,

It does look like you should forego driving for now.

Sometimes, we have to take a hard look at our limitations...you don't want to harm someone on the road.

Please don't go looking for a tester who will pass you....instead, wait until the cataract surgery.

Then, re-take the test.

And think about it...it may well be time for you to leave the driving for others, for everyone's safety.

I don't want you to come to any harm, and I don't want to hear of you bearing the burden, forever, of harming another person in an accident.

Driving tests are to prove one's competency at the wheel and unfortunately you seem to be having some issues.

Have the surgery...I did and it is wonderful...no more glasses ...I wear one contact just so I don't have to wear reading glasses...

but until, remember your safety is at stake and I know you wouldn't want to be responsible for maiming or killing some child or another person.

I hope it works out that you can have the eye surgery and get your liscense back but I hope you consider others safety as important.

When I went for my road test (about 38 years ago), I heard that a city close by was "easier" than the one I was planning on taking my road test in. I told my parents that I would rather go to the easier city. Their reply was that I should go to the city that was harder because then I would be assured that if I passed it was because my driving skills were good, and I was ready to earn my license.
When my DS was going for his test, we basically had the same scenario. He went to the "harder" city. He failed the first time and passed the second. When he did pass it was because he deserved to pass, not because he took the test where safety and regulations were lax.
There's a reason you didn't pass and I hope for your sake, and possibly the safety of others, you realize why and understand that, even though it may not seem so, this may be a good thing.

I know it's got to be tough OJ, just having my car in the shop for a few days makes me realize how much we take being able to drive wherever and whenever we want for granted. Hope you can find a buddy to get you out of the house a couple days a week.

Try to move up the cateract surgery if you can, I think that will make a big diference.

Hang in there!

You really shouldn't be driving. With a couple of accidents under your belt and failing the practical driving test twice, I think you need to get the message.

I know you don't want to put yourself or anyone else at risk. Hopefully the cataract surgery will help, although you said you didn't think your vision was related to either accident.

I still remember the horror of the 86 year old man who lost control of his car at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market, killing 10 people and injuring 25 more. And ruined his own life in the process. Investigators found that he had struck his own garage twice while trying to park.

I think there comes a time when we just don't have the same skills we had when we were younger. Some warning signs shouldn't be ignored.

But, hopefully the cataract surgery will help. My father in law said it was like seeing for the first time after he had his surgery.

But in the meantime, I think these restrictions are for your own safety and that of others.

that is hard, isn't it?

And you live sort of out in the boonies, don't you?

Maybe this is a time to seriously consider whether you should be living somewhere that lets you walk to the things you need most, and lets you call a taxi, puts the doctors a bus ride away, etc.

My folks lived for nearly all my life in a small town. Once we'd all moved out, my mom started agitating to move to a city.

That's because she didn't want to have to impose on her neighbors to take her to the doctors. She wanted to be taxi distance from a major medical center.

I know living close to the land seems very romantic, and independent.

But maybe it's time to think about how to create some of that in a place that's healthier for you and offers you more *actual* freedom.

I know you've been a fan of saving & investing. If you have any investments at all, NOW is the time to tap them. THIS TIME OF YOUR LIFE is what you have been saving for.

This will sound harsh, but you have no business driving.

You ran a red light (did you hit someone?).
You failed the first test (driving too slowly, didn't give nearby car enough space in multiple lane turn, not check blind spot enough, etc.).
You failed another test (ran a yellow light, didn't check intersection when going through green-lighted intersection, ran into snowbank when turning).
And now you want to take an easier test?

Sorry, but you should focus your energy on finding alternative transportation. I've watched my folks gradually have to give up driving in their mid- to late 70s, and YES - it's hard. But almost everyone here can probably relate a story of an older person in their community who has injured or killed someone (or themselves) by driving when they shouldn't.

I'm NOT saying all people over a certain age should give up driving. But in your case, it sounds inevitable.

lindakathy I don't think you were too harsh either ...

Mush I agree that Joyful does realize he has a problem just as you mentioned but for the same reason that you mentioned about it being very hard to give up driving,...

I wanted to add that my Dad (before he passed) had some driving issues...and he just refused to quit driving.....he could always think of a reason to run into town... After one trip when he had to slam on the brakes and my Mother hit the windshield and got a huge goose egg on the forehead, my brothers conveniently "fixed" it so that his truck never moved again from the spot where it was parked. ...The benefit of all that was two fold....he had to quit driving and from that day until he died, he spent a little while each day working on his Truck...It was good for him...kept him busy...(and out of my Mother's hair)...

OJ - I have had a couple close relatives that had cataract surgery. They really didn't think their vision was that bad until AFTER they had the surgery.

They just couldn't believe what they hadn't been seeing. There were amazed. It had been so gradual of a decline, that they really didn't feel it was so bad. One even said she should have NEVER driven.

The improvement in vision was so dramatic - I hope you can get the surgery soon.

Why are posts being pulled from this thread? I don't understand??

OJ i hope you get the surgery soon.My sister is getting it done very soon as well.She has cataracts in both eyes and a few months ago had shingles in one of them making it even worse.She's had to depend on her DD and DH to take her where she needs to go,and said she won't drive til she has a clean bill of health.She'll be 78 next monday,but still has good driving abilities.However she won't drive at night,her choice,as she knows the oncoming headlight affect her .

Please listen to what others have said,"the life you save may be your own". !! In the meantime find something to tinker with to help pass the time.Good luck to ya.
Kathi

In Ontario, the doctors can only do so many of these surgeries per year. So they take the most serious cataract patients first and the others have to wait. My father had his done almost immediately, but my mil had to wait over two years.

I have to agree with the others. You should not be driving at this time. Hopefully you can get the surgery soon and when your vision is clearer perhaps you will be able to drive again. Then again maybe not. It will depend onyour reflexes.

I know giving up driving is one of the hardest things one can do a we get older. I don't look forward to it myself. But as we age we must adjust our lifestyles to suit.

You have had a full life with the ability to drive and see the world. To continue might take that same chance away from someone who is just starting their journey.

Would you wish to be responsible for depriving a child reaching the age whee they could drive? The young man or woman on the motorcycle who you didn't "see" who will never have the joy of marriage or family? The parent on their way to visit their first grandchild? The family traveling to their elder's deathbed? The young family crossing the parking lot on their child's birthday?

Is being able to drive yourself more important than lives of those above? I think not. You know you have a problem OJ. Please come out of denial and do the right thing.

Sorry about the driving, but if you can get the eye surgery, it will make a difference. Too bad you can't get down to Minot, as we have two of the greatest eye doc's here. Husband had that done about a year ago and boy what a difference!! No glasses for driving, except dark ones, and only reading glasses now. Hang in there and you will survive. Good luck.
Marie

I'm mostly a lurker here (I post at other forums a bit more).

I work as an insurance broker and I see many seniors in your shoes. It's tough.

Have you considered taking a refresher course for your driving skills after the cataract surgery? BEFORE you take the test again?

There are many out there specifically designed for seniors. There's a link to one below. I have no interest in promoting any particular program. Another one is DriveWise

Here is a link that might be useful: 55 Alive

Wildchild, that was so eloquent. It almost brought tears to my eyes. You have a way with words.

I thank you for your opinions.

Please re-read my original post.

I have passed the vision test regarding regular licence. It is the more demanding one required of truck drivers that I could not pass.

The driving instructor did not give me any suggestion that he felt that my driving was no longer adequate: he made some suggestions regarding improvements.

He is a responsible Christian person: I'm fairly confident that had he felt that my driving was seriously deficient, that he would have told me so. He drove with me for a much longer time than the examiners did.

It seems to me wise at this point to ask his opinion on that issue.

I do not wish to put others or myself at risk on the road ... any more than we all take on risk every time that we enter the road.

ole joyful

ole joyful - Maybe I missed something some where along the way. Do you drive a truck and that's why you need a truck driver's license?

I think one of the reasons so many have suggested that you might stop driving is that they care for you and are worried about you. You mentioned that you failed the test for the following reasons: "driving too slowly, didn't give nearby car enough space in multiple lane turn, not check blind spot enough, etc." These reasons seem valid reasons for failing the test. I understand that you passed the vision test for a regular license but my concern is the driving part.

When my Dad moved in with us at age 85 he was still driving. He had only had one minor accident in 20 years. One day I happened to be following him home and noticed he was driving very slowly, not coming to a complete stop at stop signs and when he turned he made such wide turns that he was in the other lane. So one afternoon my neighbor and I followed him so that I could have another opinion of his skills and unfortunately his driving was even more erratic. I was planning on talking with him about it that evening.

Unfortunately that afternoon he was parallel parking and thought the car was in reverse - it was in forward and he hit the car in front and pushed it 8 feet into the intersection. He came home and was so shaken up that he handed me his keys and said that it was time.

I apolozige if I've offended you. I certainly don't know how well you drive and if I am wrong I wish you many years of happy driving. But we are all concerned and I hope that when my time comes to give up the keys someone who loves me will tell me.

My landlord's truck was at the shop this morning, so I went out to ask him whether, when he rode with me on Sunday, he had any indication that he was concerned about my driving skills. It was his son that was there, who had driven behind us on the way to church to bring his Dad home. When I told him of my reason for wanting to talk to his Dad, he said that his Dad had commented favourably on Sunday about my driving.

I plan to ask the driving instructor for his opinion, whether he has any concerns about my driving.

I drove over the place where there was the double turning lane, which has been newly completed, with the driving instructor, and noted that there were no white lines to direct my travel into the outer lane of the road that we were entering. As we had been turning during the test, I was watching the other car and it was not close to me.

As I said in my earlier post, I do not want to be driving if I am putting others or myself in jeopardy on the highway.

ole joyful