What is dementia?

Dementia is not something which ‘just happens’ as you age. It is a disease which reduces a person’s brain function. The term dementia covers a range of diseases of the brain. Common symptoms include thinking, remembering and speaking. People suffering from dementia find it harder to do simple daily tasks, which are often the first symptoms that are noticed. Around 1 million people in the UK have dementia. There are a number of diseases which fall under the dementia umbrella. These include alzheimer’s, young onset dementia, vascular dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Frontotemporal dementia, Posterior cortical atrophy and primary progressive aphasia.

The demands of driving

Driving is a complex task. Think back to when you were learning to drive. The feeling of cognitive ‘overload’ was quite overwhelming. Busy junctions, road positioning, feeling the ‘bite’, trying to remember to use your mirrors, acceleration sense, feeling the brake pedal, judging how much steering input you need for a corner. That’s before the turn in the road, the parallel park and, of course, an emergency stop.

It’s complex….

Then you have years ahead to build up these learnt skills. It’s not surprising why many people question if they can drive when they have dementia. Or if indeed they are starting to show symptoms of dementia, the significant impact it may have on the complex task of driving.

Can I drive with dementia?

One in three people with dementia still drive. Having a dementia diagnosis does not automatically mean you need to stop driving. The key importance is that you can still drive safely. Many people booking our mature driving course do so as they have been diagnosed with dementia – but not all. Many simply want to have a review of their driving as their years advance. A safe driver must be one that is aware of their driving environment, has, at least, working basic visuospatial skills (keeping correct speed, road position and distance), are able to make sound judgements, such as understanding complex traffic situations, possess reaction skills which will help avoid a collision, and also a working memory so they will be able to remember routes and where they are and need to be.

Once a driver with dementia starts to experience a worsening of symptoms, which makes them less safe on the road, that is the point they need to consider stopping driving. There are many points to consider when deciding to stop driving. Everyone is different; dementia affects people in different ways at different times. People have varying driving abilities, experience and confidence, along with differing interests in driving; where they live and the roads they need to navigate all play a crucial role in how long they can drive.

Drivers with dementia often fall into one of these categories:

1. Accept they have dementia and want to stop driving right away
2. Accept they have dementia but want to continue driving. For now
3. Are in denial about having dementia and will continue to drive with no intention of stopping

Drivers in point 3 are the most problematic. They can become extremely dangerous if they remain in denial about their situation. Here are a few pointers if a loved one (or even yourself) identifies with point 3:

1. Invite friends over for a change – let them come to you for a change
2. Consider online shopping – avoid those dreaded supermarket queues
3. Walk more – it is a lot cheaper than driving and healthier
4. Using the bus or taxis – would this work out cheaper than paying to run a car?

These are a few simple points to consider – but if the point 3’er is being particularly stubborn, you may need to take more dramatic actions:

1. Tell them in no uncertain terms you’re concerned for their safety, and it’s causing you significant stress and worry
2. Call a helpline – Dementia UK: 0800 888 6678. Alzheimer’s Society: 0333 150 3456.
3. Hide their car keys
4. Inform the Police

The law on driving with dementia

A driver who is diagnosed with dementia must tell the DVLA immediately. If they don’t, they could be fined up to £1,000. They also need to tell your car insurance company. You can report a medical condition to DVLA here (opens new window).

Sometimes, a doctor will tell a driver to stop driving immediately. It’s imperative a driver follows the requests of a doctor. This is usually when the doctor considers them unsafe to drive. If the DVLA/DLA decide a driver should no longer drive the driver needs to stop driving and return their licence to the DVLA. The driver can appeal this decision. However, during this time they are not allowed to drive.

Taking driver training

Our Mature Driver Assessment Plus is designed for any mature driver who wants to have an assessment of their driving. It’s not exclusively a test to see if a driver with dementia is safe, but it provides a very useful insight into a driver’s ability. It is also beneficial as there is bespoke coaching and development included (this is the ‘Plus’ bit), which means the driver not only comes away with an assessment of their driving – they will also be tackling any ingrained bad habits and a launchbase to further improve their driving.

It’s not unusual for a driver to experience increased levels of confidence, driver skill, and driving enjoyment after taking this training. The course is delivered UK-wide by a range of highly experienced DVSA-registered driving tutors.

Ultimately, drivers must be guided by their doctor and/or DVLA regardless of what training they have had or how safe they may think they are. We can only provide an insight into a driver on a given day – we can most certainly not ‘authorise’ someone to drive.