Driving Dilemmas: A Guide to Driving Assessment in Primary Care

Clin Geriatr Med. 2018 Feb;34(1):107-115. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2017.09.006.

Abstract

Clinical assessment of fitness to drive can be a challenging part of primary care of older adults. There are no guidelines on screening for driver safety, so it falls to provider judgment on when to assess older drivers. This review offers recommendations on when to assess for driver safety based on red flag conditions, medications, acute events, and patient or family concerns. It reviews how to assess for visual, cognitive, and neuromuscular impairments and what to do as next steps for at-risk drivers once they are identified. Laws regarding driver reporting are also reviewed.

Keywords: Assessment; Driving; Geriatrics; Mandatory reporting; Safety.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging* / physiology
  • Aging* / psychology
  • Automobile Driving* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Automobile Driving* / psychology
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Humans
  • Primary Health Care / ethics
  • Primary Health Care / methods*
  • Risk Assessment / methods*