Why let a blind man drive?

Took the pushbike into work today. On the way back I passed a pub car park entrance on my left. Some t**t in a vectra coming the other way decides to pull into the pub when I am not even 5 yards away, doing about 20 mph. Swings right across the front of me- no indicator, nothing. Fook me I brake and swerve right to avoid planting myself in the side of his car. My bike is what's known as an audax type, kind of racing tourer, with pretty thin tyres and I'm sideways on skidding along a wet road with my shoes clipped to the pedals. How the hell I stayed upright I'll never know. Missed the back of his car by inches, just about managed to unclip a foot and get it down before I fell off. The tosser just carried on across to the back of the car park, not seeming to be bothered at all.

I saw red and chased him into the pub car park. "are you f***ing blind" I shouted at him. "what?" he says, with a confused look on his face. "Sh*t, you really are f***ing blind" I said. "How could you not see me?". "Sorry, I just turned in and never noticed you". Now I have a real bright front light and a high vis top on. its not just yellow, it's YELLOW !!!. I am a non-violent, calm person by nature but by god I was ready to plant him one. A little bit calmer, I left him with "You seriously need to look at your observation pal, before you kill someone".

I still can't believe the guys reaction. He seemed genuinely not to see someone in bright yellow clothing with bright light on not 5 yards in front of him. Shouldn't be let out on the road.

Rant over....

Cheers Keith

Take wing mirror revenge!

Oh dear, with people like that on the roads what are our chances eh?! Glad you were okay - anyway he's lucky you didn't take it further!

[ophic]

Tape some cardboard to the frame near your rear wheel so it protrudes into the spokes - sounds just like a loud exhaust, and everyone will hear you coming

Originally Posted by TazDaz

Take wing mirror revenge!

+1

My personal favorite too

[timwilky]

Come on lad you is ex Leyland

My mum was the site nurse at Farington Comet shop. After a small accident where one of the site drivers crashed his 3 wheel truck thing, she got out his medical record.

He was registered blind. Because he was only driving internally he thought it didn't matter.

Ironic then that 18 months ago, her GP told here that if she didn't surrender her licence he would write to the DVLA about her eyesight. She had been asked if anyone was with her, no she replied I drove myself. Until that point I had no idea that her eyesight was so bad. I knew she had a cataract op a few years ago and just thought she was a crap driver. I guess there are a lot out there who are slowly loosing their sight and because there is no sudden deterioration think they are still capable of driving.

glad to hear you ok. its one of these GRRRRR moments you wish you could take wing mirror revenge... or head him off to the local spec savers... its complacency on the part of the driver me thinks!

makes me think of a claim we have at the moment... 93 year old totalled his cage (hit the accelerator instead of the brakes ) and we trying to find out if he is actually fit to drive... one would think not. good thing he only put his car into a hedge and someone's rockery and not one of us etc.

I think it's disgusting that the three yearly medical relicencing that the over 70s go through is signed off by the driver themself, not a doctor or other medical professional.

My old man is hardly capable of driving, yet still has a licence - he renewed it last year at 79 years old by simply signing a form saying he was fit to drive (which he blatantly isn't) and sending it off with a cheque to DVLA. He can't lift his right arm because of muscle wasteage after an injury many years ago and his left shoulder is in huge difficulty because he dislocated it last year. He drives a manual Toyota Corrola which has the indicators on the right stalk, the same side as his totally useless arm. What bugs me is he drives my mum around, and she knows no better cos she suffers with alzheimers. I told my lil bruv, who has learning difficulties, to get buses and never to get in a car with him again.

I've told the old man that he should consider getting an adapted car, but he won't because he is too bloody stubborn and absolutely never takes advice from his kids because he always knows better. Never mind that I have probably driven three times the mileage in my life than he ever has, spent time working as a test driver on prototype and development vehicles and that I've got driving qualifications coming out of my earholes, some old duffer with two useless arms thinks he knows better.

It really does boil my p1ss

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

I think it's disgusting that the three yearly medical relicencing that the over 70s go through is signed off by the driver themself, not a doctor or other medical professional.

My old man is hardly capable of driving, yet still has a licence - he renewed it last year at 79 years old by simply signing a form saying he was fit to drive (which he blatantly isn't) and sending it off with a cheque to DVLA. He can't lift his right arm because of muscle wasteage after an injury many years ago and his left shoulder is in huge difficulty because he dislocated it last year. He drives a manual Toyota Corrola which has the indicators on the right stalk, the same side as his totally useless arm. What bugs me is he drives my mum around, and she knows no better cos she suffers with alzheimers. I told my lil bruv, who has learning difficulties, to get buses and never to get in a car with him again.

I've told the old man that he should consider getting an adapted car, but he won't because he is too bloody stubborn and absolutely never takes advice from his kids because he always knows better. Never mind that I have probably driven three times the mileage in my life than he ever has, spent time working as a test driver on prototype and development vehicles and that I've got driving qualifications coming out of my earholes, some old duffer with two useless arms thinks he knows better.

It really does boil my p1ss

Not a good place to be in, but time to report him to the DVLA yourself? Personally, I think everyone should have to renew their driving license every three years, and submit an eye test signed off by a qualified optician as part of that application. Won't solve other medical issues, but covers at least one.