Giving up your driving licence at any age can be difficult. It may feel like a loss of independence, which may tempt you to hold onto it for as long as possible. However, this can be dangerous and have severe consequences for yourself and others on the road. This National Road Victim Month, we are considering the importance of knowing when to surrender your licence, especially when living with a cognitive impairment.
What is dementia?
Dementia is the classification of a group of symptoms caused by several different diseases that damage the brain, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. It is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms may start relatively mild before becoming more severe and overt as the damage worsens. Dementia is characterised by:
- Memory loss, particularly in recalling things that happened recently
- Confusion, especially surrounding time and place
- Needing help with daily tasks, notably those that require concentration, planning and organisation, such as cooking a meal
- Difficulties with language and communication, for example following a conversation or finding the correct word when speaking may be challenging
- Changes in behaviour, both mild and extreme.
The damage to the brain that causes dementia does not naturally happen as we age. Diseases like Alzheimer’s damage the nerve cells that carry signals within the brain and to the body. As the number of damaged nerves increases, the brain becomes less able to function. There are many forms of dementia, such as vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, or frontotemporal dementia which may have subtly different symptoms depending on which area of the brain is affected1.
Dementia and driving
If you have been diagnosed with dementia, that does not necessarily mean that you have to stop driving, as one in three people with dementia drive2. The most critical thing to consider is whether you can drive safely. Driving is a complex task that entails quick thinking, controlled attention and concentration, and sensory and manual skills. As your dementia progresses, your reaction, spatial awareness, decision-making, and problem-solving skills will deteriorate, meaning that it could become dangerous for you to drive1. How quickly this happens varies on an individual basis.
You are legally required to inform your licensing agency and car insurer immediately upon receiving a dementia diagnosis3. Medical advisors at the DVLA/DVA will then decide whether you are capable enough to drive after reviewing your condition with your doctors. This assessment will result in one of the following:
- Your licence is renewed for one year, after which your condition is reassessed
- Your licence is revoked
- You are asked to provide more information, such as further medical details
- You are asked to take an on-road driving assessment before they make a decision.
When to surrender your licence
While a diagnosis of dementia does not mean that you have to stop driving immediately, it does mean that it will happen at some point. Most people tend to stop driving within three years of their diagnosis4. If your licence has been renewed, within that year-long period there are many reasons why it might be time for you to surrender your licence. You should stop driving if:
1. You have been told by your doctor to do so
If you have been advised by your doctor to give up your licence, then you should follow their instructions and immediately stop driving.
2. You do not feel safe driving
If you do not feel that you have control of yourself or your car when driving, or you feel that you are endangering yourself or others on the road, then you should surrender your licence to the DVLA/DVA. You may find yourself exhibiting some of the following behaviours:
- Getting easily and frequently annoyed when driving
- Getting regularly lost even on routes you know well
- Misjudging speeds or distances
- Hitting kerbs or veering between lanes
- Becoming very confused by roadworks or other road alterations
- Having minor accidents or near-misses5.
3. Your family and friends are concerned
Due to the nature of dementia, it can sometimes be difficult to notice that you are having driving problems, so it is important to listen to those closest to you. Your loved ones may have noticed concerning patterns of behaviour that you may have missed, for example, multiple near misses or crashes, confusing the brake and accelerator pedals, or forgetting how to reach familiar locations like the supermarket.
If you feel like it is time to give up your licence, it is important to remember that it does not have to mean a loss of independence. There are many alternative travel options for you to take advantage of that will allow you to continue as normal, such as community or public transport. You can also reach out to your support network for assistance and support.
Concerned about your memory?
Some of the earliest signs of dementia can seem like the natural effects of ageing. Did you know that MAC Clinical Research proudly provides free memory tests for over 50s to the local communities in Lancashire, Merseyside, South Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Teesside, and West Yorkshire?
When attending the memory clinic you can benefit from:
- An appointment within four weeks with the specialist team who are registered Dementia Friends
- An assessment and discussion of memory concerns in a relaxed and friendly environment
- An explanation of the results of the assessment
- Liaison with your GP
- Ongoing memory reviews where needed
- The opportunity to access potential new treatments via clinical trials.
If you are over 50 years old and have concerns about your memory, visit our Memory Assessment Research Clinic webpage for more information and to register for a free memory test.
1 What is dementia? | Alzheimer’s Society
2 Driving and dementia | Alzheimer’s Society
3 The law on driving and dementia | Alzheimer’s Society
4 Can I still drive with dementia? – The Alzheimer’s & Dementia Show 2024
5 Giving up driving after a dementia diagnosis | Alzheimer’s Society
