A diagnosis alone does not mean someone must stop immediately, but the illness progresses and the person's own judgement of their driving is affected. Warning signs include getting lost on familiar routes, slow reactions, new dents, and other drivers sounding horns.
Occupational therapy driving assessments give an independent verdict, which is often easier for a family than a personal one.
Why it matters
An independent assessment moves the decision off the family and onto a professional, which usually preserves the relationship.
Questions people ask
Can someone with dementia drive?
Some people in the early stages can keep driving for a while, but as memory and decision making get worse, it will at some point no longer be safe. The National Institute on Aging notes that state laws vary: some states revoke a license on diagnosis, others let the person take a driving test, and a few require doctors to report a dementia diagnosis to the DMV.
When should someone with dementia stop driving?
They should stop when they can no longer react quickly, think clearly and make good decisions on the road. The National Institute on Aging lists warning signs such as new dents or scrapes, near misses, two or more tickets or minor accidents, sudden lane changes, getting lost on simple errands, a doctor's advice to stop, or failing a driving evaluation. People with dementia often do not notice these problems themselves.
How do you get someone with dementia to stop driving?
Start the conversation early, with empathy, and bring in the doctor. The Alzheimer's Association suggests stressing the positive, offering other ways to get around, and asking the physician to advise the person not to drive, even in a letter or prescription you can show later. In the early stage, a signed driving contract can help. As a last resort, take the keys, disable the car or sell it.
What are the early signs of dementia when driving?
Early signs include getting lost on familiar routes, making slow or poor decisions in traffic, and becoming angry or confused while driving. The Alzheimer's Association also lists returning from a routine drive later than usual and forgetting the destination during the trip. Family and caregivers need to watch closely, because a person with dementia often does not realize they are having driving problems.
What does a dementia driving test involve?
One option is a comprehensive driving evaluation by an occupational therapy driving rehabilitation specialist, which gives an objective view of how the disease affects driving and ends with a plan of options. The Alzheimer's Association notes that the American Occupational Therapy Association keeps a national database of these specialists. The National Institute on Aging adds that many states can require a DMV retest, and that evaluations may carry fees.
Sources
Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.
- National Institute on Aging: Driving safety and Alzheimer's disease
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Alzheimer's Association: Dementia and driving
Driving and dementia where you live
The local guide on this, for each city we cover.
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Naples, FL
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tampa, FL
- Tucson, AZ