Driving with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: Consensus guidelines for clinicians
The assessment of driving risk can be difficult for clinicians. These guidelines, endorsed by the BGS, set out the responsibilities of clinicians to their patients and provide a framework for thinking about the management of their driving safety.
The issue of driving with dementia or mild cognitive impairment is of vital importance to patients, their families and friends, and their clinicians. The loss of the ability to drive can be a source of enduring disappointment and frustration for people with dementia. On the other hand, continued driving by people with significant cognitive impairment can cause worry and stress for their loved-ones, can be a source of conflict between them, and may put the person concerned and others at risk. In this context, the assessment and management of driving safety forms an important part of a holistic assessment of a person with cognitive impairment.
The assessment of driving risk can be difficult for clinicians, not least because there is little evidence to guide our practice. These Guidelines, endorsed by the BGS, are the result of a collaboration between a diverse range of clinicians with involvement of carers. They set out the responsibilities of clinicians to their patients, and provide a framework for thinking about the management of their driving safety. They will be a useful tool for any clinician working in the assessment and management of people with cognitive impairment who drive.