Senior Citizens and Driving: How Driving Skills are are Assessed for the Elderly

Assessing Driving Skills of Senior Citizens

How Driving Skills are are Assessed for the Elderly

Are you worried that your elderly parent can no longer drive safely?  This series of articles tells you what you can do, including:

1. What the law says about elderly drivers.
2. The process and implications of reporting an unsafe elderly driver.
3. How driving skills are assessed for senior citizens.
4. Can my loved one improve their skills and regain their driver’s license?
5. How to talk to your elderly parent about driving.
6. Dementia – what if my parent forgets they can’t drive?
7. Life after driving.

If someone has reported your loved one to the DMV for assessment of their driving skills, the DMV will probably refer your loved one to a professional driver assessment clinic, which will perform the types of tests listed below.   (Note:  the DMV does not assess hearing skills when doing its assessments.)

In the State of Virginia, the results of the tests are discussed with the driver and given to the referring doctor (if any) but are not reported to the DMV.  Check with your local DMV to determine procedures in other states.

Tests Typically Performed:

1. Vision screening

2. Physical functioning screening

3. Reaction time studies

4. Driving skills test, either on the road or in a simulator.  The test is meant to assess the driver’s ability to:

• Steer
• Change lanes
• Control speed
• Negotiate intersections
• Avoid road hazards
• Obey the law

3. Psychological assessments, which could include:

o Trail Making Test Part A and B

o   Mini Mental Status Exam

o   Clock Drawing Test

o   Screening for Geriatric Depression

Where Can We Go to Have an Assessment of my Elderly Parent’s Driving Skills?

AAA has developed an on-line, confidential self-screening program featuring a series of computer-based exercises that can be completed in 30 to 45 minutes and help you identify steps to reduce risk in eight key areas. Check it out at www.SeniorDriving.AAA.com.

Virginia has several driver assessment providers, many of which use simulators to identify driving deficiencies and to help improve them.  Right here in Charlottesville we have the Virginia Driving Safety Laboratory.  You can contact them by calling 434-924-5913.

Also, see this news story about the Virginia Driving Safety Laboratory.

Next article in this series on Elderly Parents and Driving:  “Can myLoved One Improve their Driving Skills and Regain their Driver’s License?”

Entire series on Elderly Parents and Driving:

1. What the law says about elderly drivers.
2. The process and implications of reporting an unsafe elderly driver.
3. How driving skills are assessed for senior citizens.
4. Can my loved one improve their skills and regain their driver’s license?
5. How to talk to your elderly parent about driving.
6. Dementia – what if my parent forgets they can’t drive?
7. Life after driving.