Driving question

[Luvchefmic]

I am a cautious driver, but I can also be scatter-brained and inattentive. I think it comes from having PTSD, due to having a really bad wreck 3 years ago. We rolled our SUV and camper 3 times. It was really a terrible experience and I still have flashbacks regularly a few times per week, mostly when I am in traffic with 18-wheelers or going under bridges on the interstate. The flashbacks cause me to temporarily take my attention off the road. I have to make a conscious effort to keep my eyes on my surroundings when it happens, and it can be very hard to do that when you're visualizing scary stuff.

First let me say I'm glad that you and your family were okay. Now let me say something else, you are scaring the hell out of me as the wife of a truck driver that drives 18 wheelers all across this country

Is there nothing you can do to get a handle on this ? Therapy ? A defensive driving/education class, something ??

 

[Squirlz]

I'm a very defensive driver and a rule-follower. I was taught to drive by a police officer (my daddy!). He is very instinctive regarding what other drivers are likely to do based on their behavior. At 89, he can still spot a drunk or inattentive driver and predict their next move. He'll say, "Stay out of that lane because that guy is probably going to swerve into it." Sure enough, they do! If I see a person rushing up to a stop sign or red light and I need to cross in front of them, I hesitate a little to ensure they're actually going to stop. My husband always says, "Just go. They have a stop sign." It doesn't mean they're going to stop! I've had several instances where the person ran the sign and would have hit me if I hadn't hung back a little. I also don't let people bully me into doing something illegal. If the sign says "no right turn on red," I'm not going to turn no matter how many times you honk your horn.

More people need to learn as you did. That's something that I excel at; anticipating others actions. There are way too many inattentive drivers out there. A true "accident" is a very rare thing. Collisions come from somebody not paying enough attention.

 

[TifffanyD]

First let me say I'm glad that you and your family were okay. Now let me say something else, you are scaring the hell out of me as the wife of a truck driver that drives 18 wheelers all across this country

Is there nothing you can do to get a handle on this ? Therapy ? A defensive driving/education class, something ??

Really! Or a taxi service?

 

[NFLDERS]

You can get a driver's license if you're legally blind? That scares me a little

Yes, you can. I've been a licensed driver for 42 years. At one point driving 3 others to our place of employment we shared commutes. Dh & I at one time owned a raised roof camper van that was 14 feet in length. Driving with a sight impairment is more challenging that's all.

 

[SirDuff]

Yes you can. I've been a licensed driver for 42 years. At one point driving 3 others to our place of employment we shared commutes. We at one time owned a raisedroof camper van that was 14 in length. Driving with a sight impairment is more challenging that's all.

Sorry, misread the first time and thought it said SLIGHT impairment.

However, as I posted, if you are legally blind and driving, you are not doing so legally.

 

[Luvchefmic]

After reading this thread I wish everyone would have to take a written exam, a road test, an eye exam, and maybe even a physical for hand/eye coordination every so often before a DL can be renewed. I realize it will never happen but WISH it would because apparently we can't count on common sense and self awareness/responsibility to know when we no longer belong on the road.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I'm a very defensive driver and a rule-follower. I was taught to drive by a police officer (my daddy!). He is very instinctive regarding what other drivers are likely to do based on their behavior. At 89, he can still spot a drunk or inattentive driver and predict their next move. He'll say, "Stay out of that lane because that guy is probably going to swerve into it." Sure enough, they do! If I see a person rushing up to a stop sign or red light and I need to cross in front of them, I hesitate a little to ensure they're actually going to stop. My husband always says, "Just go. They have a stop sign." It doesn't mean they're going to stop! I've had several instances where the person ran the sign and would have hit me if I hadn't hung back a little. I also don't let people bully me into doing something illegal. If the sign says "no right turn on red," I'm not going to turn no matter how many times you honk your horn.

I Have got to keep that in mind don't let others bully me into doing something dangerous on the road

More people need to learn as you did. That's something that I excel at; anticipating others actions. There are way too many inattentive drivers out there. A true "accident" is a very rare thing. Collisions come from somebody not paying enough attention.

Yes I have to rember not only keep my eyes on the road but my mind as well

 

[SirDuff]

I Have got to keep that in mind don't let others bully me into doing something dangerous on the road

Are you actually driving on the road? I know around here carts are not driven on the road. I would find it really weird to see a golf cart on the road with cars (outside of the golf club).

But, good for you for not letting other people bully you. There is, of course, the flip side though, where people are so nervous and timid that they become dangerous (driving much slower than traffic, for example).

 

[minnie mum]

Yes you can. I've been a licensed driver for 42 years. At one point driving 3 others to our place of employment we shared commutes. Dh & I at one time owned a raised roof camper van that was 14 feet in length. Driving with a sight impairment is more challenging that's all.

How are you able to renew your drivers license if you are legally blind?? That is NOT, under any circumstance, a slight imppairment! And if, for some reason, the licensing office isn't aware of your impairment, how can you, in good conscience, continue to drive when you know that it is unsafe for you to do so? Just because you continue to drive doesn't mean that you should.

 

[SirDuff]

How are you able to renew your drivers license if you are legally blind?? That is NOT, under any circumstance, a slight imppairment! And if, for some reason, the licensing office isn't aware of your impairment, how can you, in good conscience, continue to drive when you know that it is unsafe for you to do so? Just because you continue to drive doesn't mean that you should.

Totally agree with you. Though it looks like we both did the same misread - NFLDERS said SIGHT impairment, not SLIGHT impairment in the post we both quoted (I didn't realize until re-reading the quote in your post).

 

[ICF]

I Have got to keep that in mind don't let others bully me into doing something dangerous on the road

I'd guess there's not a lot of other gulf cart traffic on the road.....at least I'd hope not.

 

[minnie mum]

I Have got to keep that in mind don't let others bully me into doing something dangerous on the road


Yes I have to rember not only keep my eyes on the road but my mind as well

How many people do you usually have in that golf cart of yours? Do you often have a problem with them trying to force you into doing dangerous things? And are you really driving the cart on public roads?

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

How many people do you usually have in that golf cart of yours? Do you often have a problem with them trying to force you into doing dangerous things? And are you really driving the cart on public roads?

It was just dh only because he was teaching me and my mom today because she wanted to make sure I was ready to drive solo and I am.

 

[NFLDERS]

Not legally.

The PP is in Ontario and the rules for a normal liscence (note that Class G is a normal licence for a car and M is for a motorcycle) are:



http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/medical-review/standards.shtml

And the definition of legally blind (from the Canadian National Institute for Blindness) is:

http://www.cnib.ca/en/your-eyes/eye-conditions/amd/resources/glossary/Pages/default.aspx

My Standard (Rating) of vision falls within both of those definitions.
Ontario Ministry of Transportation being "Not Poorer than."
Legal Blindness - Institute for the Blind "Not Worse than."

I can assure you I am a Licensed Driver; And I am termed Legally Blind. However, not so much that I can't see that with the passing of time "Regulations" change.

For example when I got my license there were no restrictions. There were no Graduated Licenses.

 

[minkydog]

First let me say I'm glad that you and your family were okay. Now let me say something else, you are scaring the hell out of me as the wife of a truck driver that drives 18 wheelers all across this country

Is there nothing you can do to get a handle on this ? Therapy ? A defensive driving/education class, something ??

I actually am in therapy for this, among other things. Our wreck happened when an 18-wheeler who blew past us at about 80mph while going under a bridge. The suction of the draft pulled the back of the trailer toward him, which started us into the fatal sway. The whole thing was over in about 7 seconds and the trucker was loooooong gone by the time we stopped.

After trying to get back in the saddle for 3 years, we finally threw in the towel on towing the camper. It's permanently parked in North Georgia at our favorite campground. Now we take the Prius and I'm a LOT less antsy.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Are you actually driving on the road? I know around here carts are not driven on the road. I would find it really weird to see a golf cart on the road with cars (outside of the golf club).

But, good for you for not letting other people bully you. There is, of course, the flip side though, where people are so nervous and timid that they become dangerous (driving much slower than traffic, for example).

Where I am golf carts are allowed on sidewalks and yes we have to cross sometimes to get from point a to

 

[SirDuff]

My Standard (Rating) of vision falls within both of those definitions.
Ontario Ministry of Transportation being "Not Poorer than."
Legal Blindness - Institute for the Blind "Not Worse than."

I can assure you I am a Licensed Driver; And I am termed Legally Blind. However, not so much that I can't see that with the passing of time "Regulations" change.

For example when I got my license there were no restrictions. There were no Graduated Licenses.

No, the CNIB does NOT say "Not Worse than" it says:

Legal blindness is defined as worse than or equal to 20/200 with best correction in the better eye or a visual field extent of less than 20 degrees in diameter.

How would "Not Worse than" make any sense? Then someone with perfect vision (or better than perfect vision) would qualify as legally blind. But someone with 20/500 vision would not.

If you truly have vision that is worse than 20/200 when corrected you should not be driving. Not according to (or anyone on this thread) as that doesn't matter, but according to the laws of the province in which you live and drive.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Are you actually driving on the road? I know around here carts are not driven on the road. I would find it really weird to see a golf cart on the road with cars (outside of the golf.

If I remember right, I am nowher near the OP, but Golf carts are street legal in my (small) town. They have to be able to go at least 25 mph, which is the town speed limit, and they are driven in the street with the rest of the traffic. The are not allowed on the sidewalks. It was odd to see them at first, but I don't think anything about them now; they are just another vehicle on the street.

ETA: they have to be registered and have license plates, etc.

 

[phorsenuf]

Where I am golf carts are allowed on sidewalks and yes we have to cross sometimes to get from point a to

I'd be pissed if golf carts were allowed on sidewalks. The last thing some mother needs while talking her kids out for a walk is someone tooling along in a golf cart, especially if they were not experienced or unsure of themselves.

 

[SirDuff]

If I remember right, I am nowher near the OP, but Golf carts are street legal in my (small) town. They have to be able to go at least 25 mph, which is the town speed limit, and they are driven in the street with the rest of the traffic. The are not allowed on the sidewalks. It was odd to see them at first, but I don't think anything about them now; they are just another vehicle on the street.

Interesting. Not something you'd see here. Of course, much of the year I imagine it would be too cold and I live downtown where the speed limit is generally more than 25 mph. Even when I lived in the suburbs though (speed limit on our streets would probably be around 25 mph) I never saw a golf cart driving down the street or sidewalk (though my street didn't actually have a sidewalk).