Parkinson's and Driving

Does Parkinson’s affect your ability to drive?

The symptoms of Parkinson’s and the side effects of the medications used to treat Parkinson’s can affect your ability to drive. Your age plays a role as well since Parkinson’s is more common in the elderly people. In   a study done in 1999 by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, it was found that motor vehicle injuries were the most common cause of injury-related deaths in the age group of 65 – 74. For those aged from 75 – 84, it was the second most common cause after falls.

Of course, having Parkinson’s does not necessarily mean that you will not be able to drive. However, people with fairly severe Parkinson’s are at a greater risk of being involved in a traffic accident. Therefore, it is important to judge yourself whether or not you are fit enough to drive. Unsafe driver on the roads not only pose a risk to themselves, but also to others.

How does Parkinson’s influence your driving skills?

As Parkinson’s progresses, you may experience a decline in motor skills and reaction time. Due to a slower reaction time it takes a person with Parkinson’s much longer to react to a situation and take the necessary step. Attention, information processing and Visuospatial skills which help in differentiating between shapes and determining distances also decline in Parkinson’s. So, a person may have difficulty judging correctly  how far a traffic light is, have trouble keeping the car in the proper lane position, difficulty checking blind spot, handling the car smoothly, steering, proceeding forward when required, changing lanes and making turns. Additionally, a person may be more prone to mistakes if distracted while driving.

The medications used to treat Parkinson’s may cause side effects such as sudden onset of sleepiness, blurred vision, drowsiness, confusion and dizziness, hence affecting your driving skills.

When should you stop driving?
It is difficult to do a self-assessment and decide whether or not you are fit to drive. Many individuals are overconfident about their driving abilities and may not realize that they are unfit to drive. Driving is also a sign of independence which people cherish.

You should talk to your family members and friends, and ask them about your driving skills.  Listen to their concerns and determine how serious they are. You should avoid congested roads, driving at nighttime and during bad weather at all times.

If you’ve had a close call while driving, or if you don’t feel comfortable driving anymore, you should consider taking a defensive driving course. You could also contact your local driving centre and have a driving test to see if you should be on the road or not. Of course, your license would be cancelled if you were to fail the test. Some driving schools may do practice road tests and let you know whether you would pass in a real test or not.  For an off-road evaluation, some rehabilitation centers examine your reaction times and perform memory tests to see how these would affect your driving. Additionally, if you have advanced Parkinson’s, you should consider giving up driving. It is better to be extra careful when you move to higher dosage of antiparkinson’s medications or when a new medication is started.

How can a caregiver help?
One responsibility of a caregiver is to observe the driving of the person with Parkinson’s carefully and point out the driving faults in a manner which is respectful.

The caregiver may need to convince them that their driving is not safe. A driving test or input from a professional may help. The caregiver can also provide alternative options to driving that may help the person with Parkinson’s decide. These options can range from using the local public transit system, using taxis or the services city may provide. Although taxis may seem expensive, the cost of owning a car is very high as well. When the costs of the two are compared, they come out to be close. Family and friends can help by giving the rides.  The caretaker can also outline bus routes and note down phone numbers for taxis.

What is your responsibility?
Driving may be an important part of an individual’s life, and it can be hard to give up the keys. However, your safety as well as the safety of others on the road is very important. If you feel that your driving is not up to par with safety standards, you should consult your physician.

This information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician.

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