Concerns are mounting over road safety for drivers with dementia as new research and a tragic case highlight the urgent need for better assessment systems.
A Surrey research project is testing a new decision aid to help those with dementia make safer choices about driving.
The 18-month research project in Surrey is a collaboration between the University of Surrey and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust.
The Road Safety Trust will fund the groundbreaking study to test a dementia driving decision aid (DDDA-UK).
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It is hoped the new study will help elderly motorists with dementia drive safely in the future
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This resource aims to help those living with dementia make informed decisions about driving and plan for alternative mobility options.
The project recognises that while many people with dementia can drive safely for some time, making decisions about when to stop becomes increasingly difficult as the condition progresses.
Ruth Purdie OBE, The Road Safety Trust’s chief executive, said: “Many people living with dementia continue to drive safely for some time, but, as the condition progresses, making decisions about when to stop driving can be incredibly difficult.”
She added that the project aims to provide guidance and support to families and healthcare professionals.
Dr Theopisti Chrysanthaki, Lecturer in Integrated Care at the University of Surrey, highlighted the importance of the study for motorists.
She added: “Our research will test the use of a dementia-specific decision aid, providing a structured framework for these vital conversations and ensuring people living with dementia are central to the decision-making process.”
It follows a Scottish fatal accident inquiry has called for mandatory cognitive assessments for elderly drivers following the death of a toddler in 2020, which sparked debate about the current self-certification system for older motorists.
In June 2020, 91-year-old Edith Duncan attempted a U-turn on a busy Edinburgh road when she lost control of her Kia Picanto. The vehicle mounted the pavement, killing three-year-old Xander Irvine and injuring his mother, Victoria.
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The report revealed that Duncan suffered from age-related dementia, ruling that she was “unfit to drive or hold a driving licence”.
The report states that the collision could have been avoided if Duncan’s licence had been revoked, which would have been “reasonable and required” given her cognitive impairment.
It noted her licence would have been taken away if she had undergone further assessment. The DVLA would have revoked it on the basis that she was unfit to drive.
Drivers are required to renew their licence every three years once they turn 70, compared to every 10 years for younger motorists.
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Sheriff Principal Ross, who wrote the determination report following the accident, said the current regime of self-certification was “significantly defective”.
A spokesperson for the DVLA said: “Road safety is our absolute priority and we are carefully considering the sheriff’s recommendations.
“All drivers must ensure that they meet the medical standards for driving and notify us of the onset or worsening of a medical condition affecting their ability to drive.”