DEMETIA AND DRIVING
WOW!! This is such a divisive subject but I feel it’s something we need to chat about.
QUESTION? After receiving a diagnosis of dementia should they, with the diagnosis, give up Driving?
Ans? (My own personal answer only and in my humble opinion) is a straight YES without a doubt.
The reason in my eyes is simple, as a person living with dementia I could not, would not and should not be allowed anywhere near sitting behind the wheel of a car as my reactions, my spatial awareness, my confusions and so much more would be an incredible danger to all on the road. As a family man myself just the thought of hurting a child or anyone else with a car and the damage it can do abhors me and frightens me to death and it should others.
Question ? if your given a diagnosis or dementia does your Dr automatically contact the DVLA and tell them ??
Answer is ?? Incredibly NO?? I find this absolutely disgusting because, say, if you have an epileptic fit you are banned automatically from driving for 12 months, please will somebody tell me what the difference is? Either way you are a danger not only to yourself but also the general public. Dementia, after all is just another illness and needs to be treated as such. I know a lot will come back and say what about their independence, their way of life, confidence, it’s something they have always done, and I do appreciate that, but what about the consequences? What about those, who get a visit at the door from our wonderful police force to give you the bad news that a loved one has just been killed, or is in hospital with life changing injuries? How can anybody justify that when it could have been so easily avoided?
I have heard so many reasons in the past why they should be allowed to drive after diagnosis and I have listened to all of them, but at the end of the day they are still in charge of a huge machine which can do so much damage to many when the confusion descends, it really is as simple as that. One of the most incredible reason’s I heard of and is sadly still used today is..
“They only have a touch of dementia” “A touch of dementia? Is that the same as being a TOUCH PREGNANT?
I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life, how can you have a Touch of dementia when it’s a terminal disease, do people get a Touch of Cancer?? No, they don’t so I find it absolutely incredible some people still think like this in this day and age. Nobody is saying is not hard to adjust to not driving when you have done it most of your life, especially when there is only one in the relationship that drives but it really is something that has to be done. You wouldn’t, or shouldn`t knowingly get in a car with someone who has been drinking would you? So again, please explain to me what the difference is? Giving up driving is extremely hard and that’s so appreciated but so is being told you have a terminal disease of dementia and there is no cure. There shouldn’t be any choice in this, it applies to many other illnesses and so it should regarding dementia. Maybe something our local MPs should be lobbying the government about to Save lives?
Till next time
WOW!! This is such a divisive subject but I feel it’s something we need to chat about.
QUESTION? After receiving a diagnosis of dementia should they, with the diagnosis, give up Driving?
Ans? (My own personal answer only and in my humble opinion) is a straight YES without a doubt.
The reason in my eyes is simple, as a person living with dementia I could not, would not and should not be allowed anywhere near sitting behind the wheel of a car as my reactions, my spatial awareness, my confusions and so much more would be an incredible danger to all on the road. As a family man myself just the thought of hurting a child or anyone else with a car and the damage it can do abhors me and frightens me to death and it should others.
Question ? if your given a diagnosis or dementia does your Dr automatically contact the DVLA and tell them ??
Answer is ?? Incredibly NO?? I find this absolutely disgusting because, say, if you have an epileptic fit you are banned automatically from driving for 12 months, please will somebody tell me what the difference is? Either way you are a danger not only to yourself but also the general public. Dementia, after all is just another illness and needs to be treated as such. I know a lot will come back and say what about their independence, their way of life, confidence, it’s something they have always done, and I do appreciate that, but what about the consequences? What about those, who get a visit at the door from our wonderful police force to give you the bad news that a loved one has just been killed, or is in hospital with life changing injuries? How can anybody justify that when it could have been so easily avoided?
I have heard so many reasons in the past why they should be allowed to drive after diagnosis and I have listened to all of them, but at the end of the day they are still in charge of a huge machine which can do so much damage to many when the confusion descends, it really is as simple as that. One of the most incredible reason’s I heard of and is sadly still used today is..
“They only have a touch of dementia” “A touch of dementia? Is that the same as being a TOUCH PREGNANT?
I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life, how can you have a Touch of dementia when it’s a terminal disease, do people get a Touch of Cancer?? No, they don’t so I find it absolutely incredible some people still think like this in this day and age. Nobody is saying is not hard to adjust to not driving when you have done it most of your life, especially when there is only one in the relationship that drives but it really is something that has to be done. You wouldn’t, or shouldn`t knowingly get in a car with someone who has been drinking would you? So again, please explain to me what the difference is? Giving up driving is extremely hard and that’s so appreciated but so is being told you have a terminal disease of dementia and there is no cure. There shouldn’t be any choice in this, it applies to many other illnesses and so it should regarding dementia. Maybe something our local MPs should be lobbying the government about to Save lives?
Till next time