Driving demands good judgment, quick reaction times and split-second decision making. For a person with Alzheimer’s, driving inevitably becomes difficult, and he or she may become unsafe on the roads.
Families struggle with the decision to limit or stop the person from driving. The person may be upset by the loss of independence and the need to rely on others for going places. This sense of dependence may prevent people with dementia from giving up the car keys.
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease alone is not a reason to take away driving privileges. However, caregivers are not always best at determining if it is safe for a person with dementia to continue driving. They may be in denial about the person’s impairment or may not be comfortable assessing the person’s driving skills.
According to the Quality Standard Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, driving evaluations should be conducted every six months. Some state agencies have special drive tests to determine how well a person sees, judges distance and responds to traffic.
If your state does not offer special testing, private assessments (generally fee-for-service) may be available. Your local Alzheimer’s Association may be able to provide a list of these programs.
Warning signs of unsafe driving
Keep a written record of your observations to share with the person, family
members and health care professionals.
Forgetting how to locate familiar places
Failing to observe traffic signals
Making slow or poor decisions
Driving at inappropriate speeds
Becoming angry and confused while driving
Hitting curbs
Poor lane control
Confusing the brake and gas pedals
Returning from a routine drive later than usual. The person may be wandering
and getting lost in the car.
Learn about your state’s driving regulations
In some states, such as California, the physician must report a diagnosis
of Alzheimer’s to the health department, which then reports it to
the department of motor vehicles. That agency then may revoke the person’s
license. Check with your local Alzheimer’s Association for information
on driving regulations in your state.
Tips to limit driving
Once it’s clear the person with dementia can no longer drive safely,
you’ll need to get him or her out from behind the wheel as soon
as possible. If possible, involve the person with dementia in the decision
to stop driving.
Explain your concerns about his or her unsafe driving, giving specific
examples, and ask the person to voluntarily stop driving. Assure the person
that a ride will be available if he or she needs to go somewhere.
Transition driving responsibilities to others. Tell the person you can
drive, arrange for someone else to drive, or arrange a taxi service or
special transportation services for older adults.
Find ways to reduce the person’s need to drive. Have prescription
medicines, groceries or meals delivered.
Ask your doctor to advise the person with dementia not to drive. Involving
your doctor in a family conference on driving is probably more effective
than trying by yourself to persuade the person not to drive. Ask the doctor
to write a letter stating that the person with Alzheimer’s must
not drive or a prescription that says, “No driving.” You can
then use the letter or prescription to tell your family member what’s
been decided.
Ask a respected family authority figure or your attorney to reinforce
the message about not driving. Also ask your insurance agent to provide
documentation that the person with dementia will no longer be provided
with insurance coverage.
Experiment with ways to distract the person from driving. Mention that
someone else should drive because you’re taking a new route, because
driving conditions are dangerous, or because he or she is tired and needs
to rest. You may also want to arrange for another person to sit in the
back seat to distract the person while someone else drives.
If the person with dementia wanders, he or she can also wander and get
lost by car. Be prepared for a wandering incident and enroll the person
in MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return.
In the later stages, when the person is no longer able to make decisions,
substitute his or her driver’s license with a photo identification
card. Take no chances. Don’t assume that taking away a driver’s
license will discourage driving. The person may not remember that he or
she no longer has a license to drive or even that he or she needs a license.
What if the person won’t stop driving?
If the person insists on driving, take these steps as a last resort:
Control access to the car keys. Designate one person who will do all the
driving and give that individual exclusive access to the car keys.
Disable the car. Remove the distributor cap or the battery or starter
wire. Ask a mechanic to install a “kill wire” that will prevent
the car from starting unless the switch is thrown. Or give the person
a set of keys that looks like his or her old set, but that don’t
work to start the car.
Consider selling the car. By selling the car, you may be able to save
enough in insurance premiums, gas and oil, and maintenance costs to pay
for public transportation, including taxicab rides.
In some states, it might be best to alert the department of motor vehicles.
Write a letter directly to the authority and express your concerns, or
request that the person’s license be revoked. The letter should
state that “(the person’s full name) is a hazard on the road,”
and offer the reason (Alzheimer’s disease). The state may require
a statement form your physician that certifies the person is no longer
able to drive.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association National Office 225 N. Michigan
Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 Alzheimer’s Association is a not-for-profit
501(c)(3) organization