Driving capacity

• Raise the issue of driving with all patients with cognitive impairment^[1]
• Avoid an over reliance on MMSE scores
• Acknowledge that some spouses are unreliable judges of driving skills. They may be afraid to raise their concerns with you in view of the potential consequences
• Aim to provide an early diagnosis of dementia (if possible) as this enables individuals and their families to plan for the transition to not driving
• Remind your patient of their obligation to report their diagnosis to the driver licensing authority
• Refer patient and family to Vic Roads website Fitness to Drive FAQ
• Download VicRoads Medical Report
• Direct your patient and their family to reliable sources of additional information such as Alzheimer’s Australia Vic
• Discuss alternative forms of transport (eg. public transport, family members)
• Consider discussing the potential impact an accident would have on others
• Inform patients that should an accident occur they may face civil or criminal prosecution if they are driving when advised not to or after licence has been withdrawn
• Explain that car or life insurance policies may be void if driving when deemed medically unfit to do so
• Document your discussions
• Re-assess dementia severity and fitness to drive every 8-12 months for those patients with mild dementia who are deemed safe to continue driving
• Consider an occupational therapist driver assessment referral (limited by availability and cost) which can be repeated
• If unsure as to how to proceed, then refer the patient to a geriatrician or neurologist

Patients rely on their GP to advise them if dementia will affect their safe driving ability, and whether it should be reported to the driver licensing authority. As a GP, there is an ethical obligation, and potentially a legal one, to give clear advice to the patient in cases where an illness or injury may affect safe driving ability. The nature of advice given on driving issues should be made on the patient medical record.

Download the Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines for further advice on confidentiality and reporting to the driver licencing authority (Section 2.3.1)

This web page provides information on how to meet legal obligations for driving and licencing when dementia is diagnosed. Dementia is a medical condition that must be disclosed to VicRoads because it will affect the patient's ability to drive safely. VicRoads will provide the patient or family with accredited Occupational Therapy driving assessors who will undertake a driver assessment.

Medical Report

send medical report to: medicalreview@roads.vic.gov.au