When should someone with dementia stop driving? My 83-year-old father has some dementia issues but still drives himself around town pretty well.
A: Most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel, but in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, driving performance should be the determining factor, not the disease itself.
With that said, it’s also important to realize that as your dad’s driving skills deteriorate over time from the disease, he might not recognize he has a problem. So, it’s very important that you work closely with his doctor to monitor his driving and help him stop when it is no longer safe for him to drive. Here are some additional considerations that can help.
Watch for Warning Signs
The best way to keep tabs on your dad’s driving abilities is to take frequent rides with him and watch out for warning signs: Does he have trouble remembering routes to familiar places? Does he drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgates, drifts between lanes or fails to observe traffic signs? Does he react slowly or make poor driving decisions? Also, has your dad had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on his vehicle? All of these are red flags.
If you need some assessment help, Burke Rehabilitation offers a driver evaluation program. They can be reached at 914-597-2187.
Transition Tips
Through your assessments, if you believe it’s still safe for your dad to drive, you should start recommending some simple adjustments to ensure his safety, like driving only in daylight and on familiar routes, and avoiding busy roads and bad weather. Also, get him to sign a dementia “driving contract” that designates someone to tell him when it’s no longer safe to drive. Go to Alz.org/driving and click on the “Download” button to print one.
You may also want to consider getting a GPS car tracking device (like Bouncie.com or MotoSafety.com) to help you monitor him. These devices will let you track where he’s driving and allow you to set up zones and speed limits that will send alerts to your smartphone when he exits an area, or if he’s driving too fast or braking harshly.
Time to Quit
When your dad’s driving gets to the point that he can no longer drive safely, you’ll need to talk to him. It’s best to start having these conversations in the early stages of the disease, before he needs to quit driving so he can prepare himself.
You also need to have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help him get around after he stops driving.
The Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services publishes the “Older and Wiser Driver” brochure to help families with driving concerns. Call 914-813-6188 for more information and to receive a brochure.
Refuses to Quit
If your dad refuses to quit, you have several options. First, suggest a visit to his doctor who can give him a medical evaluation, and prescribe that he stops driving. People will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family.
If he still refuses, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if they can help. In New York State, if a physician, family member, police officer, friend, neighbor, or anyone else is concerned that a driver may pose a danger to themselves or others on the road, the concerned party can request that the driver be given a driver re-evaluation from the DMV.
If these options fail to produce the desired result, consider hiding his keys or taking them away altogether. You could also disable his vehicle by disconnecting the battery, park it in another location so he can’t see it or have access to it, or sell it.
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
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30 Sep 2025
0 Commentsdriving with dementia
When should someone with dementia stop driving? My 83-year-old father has some dementia issues but still drives himself around town pretty well.
A: Most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel, but in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, driving performance should be the determining factor, not the disease itself.
With that said, it’s also important to realize that as your dad’s driving skills deteriorate over time from the disease, he might not recognize he has a problem. So, it’s very important that you work closely with his doctor to monitor his driving and help him stop when it is no longer safe for him to drive. Here are some additional considerations that can help.
Watch for Warning Signs
The best way to keep tabs on your dad’s driving abilities is to take frequent rides with him and watch out for warning signs: Does he have trouble remembering routes to familiar places? Does he drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgates, drifts between lanes or fails to observe traffic signs? Does he react slowly or make poor driving decisions? Also, has your dad had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on his vehicle? All of these are red flags.
If you need some assessment help, Burke Rehabilitation offers a driver evaluation program. They can be reached at 914-597-2187.
Transition Tips
Through your assessments, if you believe it’s still safe for your dad to drive, you should start recommending some simple adjustments to ensure his safety, like driving only in daylight and on familiar routes, and avoiding busy roads and bad weather. Also, get him to sign a dementia “driving contract” that designates someone to tell him when it’s no longer safe to drive. Go to Alz.org/driving and click on the “Download” button to print one.
You may also want to consider getting a GPS car tracking device (like Bouncie.com or MotoSafety.com) to help you monitor him. These devices will let you track where he’s driving and allow you to set up zones and speed limits that will send alerts to your smartphone when he exits an area, or if he’s driving too fast or braking harshly.
Time to Quit
When your dad’s driving gets to the point that he can no longer drive safely, you’ll need to talk to him. It’s best to start having these conversations in the early stages of the disease, before he needs to quit driving so he can prepare himself.
You also need to have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help him get around after he stops driving.
The Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services publishes the “Older and Wiser Driver” brochure to help families with driving concerns. Call 914-813-6188 for more information and to receive a brochure.
Refuses to Quit
If your dad refuses to quit, you have several options. First, suggest a visit to his doctor who can give him a medical evaluation, and prescribe that he stops driving. People will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family.
If he still refuses, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if they can help. In New York State, if a physician, family member, police officer, friend, neighbor, or anyone else is concerned that a driver may pose a danger to themselves or others on the road, the concerned party can request that the driver be given a driver re-evaluation from the DMV.
If these options fail to produce the desired result, consider hiding his keys or taking them away altogether. You could also disable his vehicle by disconnecting the battery, park it in another location so he can’t see it or have access to it, or sell it.