8 ways to stop an elderly person from driving

1. Anonymously report them to the DMV.
2. Use Alzheimer’s or dementia forgetfulness to your advantage.
3. Have a relative or close friend “borrow” the car.
4. Hide or “lose” the car keys.
5. Take the car for repairs.
6. Disable the car.
7. Sell the car.
8. Hide your own car and car keys.

How do I report an elderly driver to the DVLA?

If you’re seriously concerned about an older person’s driving, you should write in confidence to the DVLA. They may then follow up with the local police. Think carefully about how this would affect your relationship with the person and whether there is another way for you to get them to think about giving up.

What to do if you think someone is unfit to drive?

If the person in your care flatly refuses to stop driving and you believe he or she poses a significant safety risk, you can file an unsafe driver report with your state DMV. A DMV representative will then contact your loved one and request a medical evaluation; a driving test may also be required.

How do you convince someone with dementia to stop driving?

To help a person with decisions about driving:

1. Begin the conversation as soon as possible and involve the doctor.
2. Involve the person with dementia in the planning and decision-making.
3. Talk about the safety of the driver and others.
4. Appeal to the person’s sense of responsibility.

How do you know when an elderly person should stop driving?

Signs It May Be Time to Hang Up the Keys

1. Driving too fast or too slow for road conditions.
2. Frequent dings, dents and scrapes on the vehicle.
3. Delayed response to unexpected situations.
4. Getting lost, especially in familiar locations.
5. Becoming easily distracted or difficulty concentrating.

What is a Section 88 DVLA?

Section 88 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 may allow you to continue driving even though you do not hold a current driving licence. In practice, this will be when you have applied to the DVLA to renew your licence, but the licence expires (runs out) while we are processing the application.

Can a doctor report you to the DVLA?

Confidentiality: patients’ fitness to drive and reporting concerns to the DVLA or DVA. If a patient has a condition that could affect their fitness to drive, it’s their duty to report it. But as their doctor you have responsibilities as well.

What illnesses stop you driving?

They can include:

• diabetes or taking insulin.
• syncope (fainting)
• heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and pacemakers)
• sleep apnoea.
• epilepsy.
• strokes.
• glaucoma.

Should a 90 year old be driving?

Conclusion: Drivers age 90 and above were at no greater driving risk than those one decade younger. MMSE orientation questions may be useful to assist in identifying which oldest old drivers could benefit from a comprehensive driving evaluation including an on-road test.

Should my elderly parent be driving?

Being able to see well is essential to safe driving. If your parent has a vision problem like macular degeneration or glaucoma, they definitely won’t be safe behind the wheel no matter what they say. Other issues could also interfere with their ability to see.

Can a person with dementia still drive a car?

Deciding When to Stop As a general rule, individuals with early stage or mild dementia who wish to continue driving should have their driving skills evaluated immediately (see “Arrange for an Independent Driving Evaluation” below). Individuals with moderate or severe dementia should not drive.

What is Sundowning behavior?

Answer From Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D. The term “sundowning” refers to a state of confusion occurring in the late afternoon and spanning into the night. Sundowning can cause a variety of behaviors, such as confusion, anxiety, aggression or ignoring directions.

Should an 87 year old drive?

In New South Wales, drivers from the age of 75 must start annual medical assessments to retain a licence. When you reach 85, in addition to the annual medical examination, you must pass a practical driving test every second year to keep your unrestricted drivers licence.

At what age are you considered elderly?

Some authors define the age from 65 to 74 as pre-old age, while those aged over 75 are considered old. Similarly, one study differentiates the young-old from 60 to 69, the middle old from 70 to 79, and very old 80 years of age and older.