Are you worried that your elderly parent is no longer safe to drive? This article will tell you what to do next, especially if your loved one lives in Virginia. First, collect information about the older adult’s current driving skills. The older driver’s friends, family, and neighbors may be willing to share their observations - but be sure to respect the driver’s privacy and dignity. Ride with the driver and make your own observations. And ask the driver to assess their own driving safety. There are many driving safety checklists for older adults. At Care is There we like to use the ones from the “Recognizing the Signs” and “Test Your Driver Safety” lists from Virginia GrandDriver program from the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and funded by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. If the information you collect causes concern, encourage the driver to obtain a driving safety evaluation. Driver safety evaluations differ based on the center. Some centers use driving simulators, and others use physical tests and actual driving tests. Some require a referral from a doctor. Fees are usually not covered by insurance. Driver safety evaluations result in a confidential report that is sent to the people you designate. Virginia testing centers can be found at this link. They include: If an older driver isn’t willing to register for a driving evaluation, you can request a medical review from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Any concerned citizen can file a request that the Department of Motor Vehicles perform a medical evaluation of a person’s ability to drive safely . The Medical Review Form from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is attached at the end of this article. In Virginia, the name of the person filing the form is confidential if it is a medical professional or a family member, but otherwise the driver can request the name of the person filing the report and the DMV must provide it. Many families choose to ask the older adult’s doctor to request the driving evaluation and/or the medical review by the DMV. Some older adults are more willing to accept concerns posed by their doctor than those posed by their families. How the DMV Conducts a Medical Review The DMV will take the following actions after receiving a Request for Medical Review: As part of the medical review process, the DMV may require your loved one to: Based on DMV's evaluation of the medical information and/or test results, the DMV will determine whether to: Your loved one may have a temporary or correctable condition that impairs their driving. Driver safety programs can sometimes recommend therapies or devices that will help your loved one drive more safely, and the DMV allows retesting to reinstate driving privileges. If you are concerned about your loved one’s ability to drive safely, Care is There can help. We can:Observe the Older Adult’s Driving Skills
Obtain a Driver Safety Evaluation
Request a Medical Review from the Department of Motor Vehicles
How Driving Evaluations Can Help Drivers Improve Their Skills
How Care is There can Help:
Resources for Safe Driving for Seniors in Virginia:
Next Steps
Concerned that your elderly loved one may not be safe to drive?
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