Driving Safety
If the person with AD keeps driving when it is no longer safe, someone could get seriously hurt or even killed. Speak candidly with a medical professional if he or she continues to drive with cognitive impairment.
Good drivers are alert, think clearly, and make good decisions. When the person with AD (Alzheimer's Disease) is not able to do these things, he or she should stop driving. If only this could be so simple. Driving symbolizes independence and your loved one may not want to
relinquish their right to operate a motorized vehicle. At times, your loved one does not want to acknowlege this issue. Eventually, as the primary caregiver, you will need to have the "talk" with your loved one about why he or she needs to stop driving. Please know that this should be handled in a diplomatic yet caring manner. Take a walk in their shoes and try to understand how unhappy they may be to admit that he or she has reached this stage. Prepare yourself to find other ways that your loved one can travel on his or her own, for as long as possible.
Here are some things you need to know about driving and memory loss:
- A person with some memory loss may be able to drive safely sometimes. But, he or she may not be able to react quickly when faced with a surprise on the road. This can lead to dangerous results. If the person's reaction time slows, then you need to stop the person from driving.
- The person may be able to drive short distances on local streets during the the day, but may not be able to drive safely at night or on a freeway. If this is the case, then limit the times and places that the person can drive.
- Some people with memory problems decide on their own not to drive. Others don't want to stop driving and may deny that they have a problem.
Here are some signs that the person should stop driving:
- New dents and scratches on the car.
- Taking a long time to do a simple errand and not being able to explain why, which may indicate that the person got lost.
Also, consider asking a friend or family member to follow the person. What he or she sees can give you a better sense of how well the person with memory impairment is driving.
Here are some ways to stop people with AD (Alzheimer's Disease) from driving:
- Try talking about your concerns with the person.
- Ask your doctor to tell him or her to stop driving. The doctor can write, "Do not drive" on a prescription pad and you can show this to your loved one. The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles requires physicians to inform the person with AD and their caregiver they should no longer drive.
- Reach out to the community groups, family and/or friends to drive the person.
- Take him or her to get a driving test. (Provided on the campus at FAU in Boca Raton, Florida)
- Hide the car keys, remove the car from the garage, sell the car, if the person won't stop driving.
Source: National Institute of Health
