Driving

[Jo-]

Good morning. I’m new to this and wondered if anyone could advise me how the DVLA respond to a diagnosis of Alzheimers? The form declaring it has been sent.

 

[northumbrian_k]

Hi @Jo- and welcome to Dementia Support Forum our friendly and helpful community. This guidance may be useful:

Driving and dementia

A diagnosis of dementia is not in itself a reason to stop driving. One in three people with dementia still drives. However, over time, dementia affects the skills needed for safe driving.

www.alzheimers.org.uk

 

[Harky]

Hi Jo- , sometimes it's obvious when you sit beside someone with dementia is driving. My wife started slowing down when she read signs saying SLOW other things were that occasionally select the wrong gear. Not wanting to accept she was struggling I bought her an automatic car. It was obvious it was the wrong decision, I think we tend to keep them driving as long as possible both for her and my convenience, but in the end, decided to stop her before anything serious happened.

 

[LynSH]

my oh took a driving assessment. There are centres around the country. My oh passed the assessment , to my complete astonishment. He has to have another assessment in a few months. I'm hoping he fails because I think his driving is dangerous sometimes. Good luck

 

[Jo-]

Hi Jo- , sometimes it's obvious when you sit beside someone with dementia is driving. My wife started slowing down when she read signs saying SLOW other things were that occasionally select the wrong gear. Not wanting to accept she was struggling I bought her an automatic car. It was obvious it was the wrong decision, I think we tend to keep them driving as long as possible both for her and my convenience, but in the end, decided to stop her before anything serious happened.

Thank you that’s helpful. Do you know if there any help available for people living rurally without public transport if their driving license is removed?

 

[Jo-]

my oh took a driving assessment. There are centres around the country. My oh passed the assessment , to my complete astonishment. He has to have another assessment in a few months. I'm hoping he fails because I think his driving is dangerous sometimes. Good luck

Thank you that’s helpful. I didn’t know there was a possibility of a test. Do you know if there any help available for people living rurally without public transport if their driving license is removed?

 

[SharoH]

Thank you that’s helpful. I didn’t know there was a possibility of a test. Do you know if there any help available for people living rurally without public transport if their driving license is removed?

Hi @Jo-
I think the availability of transport depends where you live and your local authority. I used to work for AgeUk supporting elderly socially isolated people and we had a service called “dial a ride” which was funded by our local authority. Each individual had to be registered and if they needed transport they rang dial a ride to arrange. The drivers were all volunteers and the system was on a not for profit basis so people were charged a nominal fee which was paid directly to the volunteer to cover petrol/diesel costs.
I live in a semi rural place and there is a small bus that again is funded by the local council and it does pick people up and take them into our local town, often dropping people off at the end of their road.
It may be worth looking online or contacting your local council to see if they have anything similar.

 

[John 356]

I (71 year old) have been recently diagnosed with "mild vascular dementia" via the NHS. I informed DVLA who now say my licence will be renewed on a yearly basis. What happens when the renewal is due - ask for new medical report, a test ... what?

 

[John 356]

my oh took a driving assessment. There are centres around the country. My oh passed the assessment , to my complete astonishment. He has to have another assessment in a few months. I'm hoping he fails because I think his driving is dangerous sometimes. Good luck

Lyn very sorry about your partner. I have recently been diagnosed with mild vascular dementia and DLVA has reduced my licence to yearly renewal. I feel confident to drive (and my partner agrees) and as well as a car use a motorbike in summer months. The opportunity for a test is on Alzheimers site's help page. I did call the DVLA who just recorded my request to have a test but person just wrote a note in my file. How did you arrange the test? Thanks

 

[Jaded'n'faded]

Don't forget your insurance is impacted by a dementia diagnosis so you should contact your insurers.

Actually, it scares me silly that you are still driving, even though your partner agrees. Vascular dementia often progresses in steps and the day before a person with dementia has a bad accident, misinterprets signs, misjudges speed/distance, gets lost or - god forbid - kills someone, they were perfectly OK to drive...

Please don't drive anymore.

 

[oldtiredcyclist]

One of my uncles (who passed away a few years ago), was a very keen motorist, but developed dementia in his seventies. It got to the point, where he had a very bad accident, due to travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway. Fortunately nobody had serious injuries and shortly after that he was admitted to a specialist care home.

 

[LynSH]

Lyn very sorry about your partner. I have recently been diagnosed with mild vascular dementia and DLVA has reduced my licence to yearly renewal. I feel confident to drive (and my partner agrees) and as well as a car use a motorbike in summer months. The opportunity for a test is on Alzheimers site's help page. I did call the DVLA who just recorded my request to have a test but person just wrote a note in my file. How did you arrange the test? Thanks

I rang the test centre, you can find your local one on line, driving assessment centre. Or ask your dementia support nurse/ worker. Good luck