Driving & Alzheimer’s

You have been a safe driver for years. For you, driving means freedom and control. As you get older, changes in your body and your mind can affect how safely you drive. Millions of people have Alzheimer’s disease. If you or someone you know has Alzheimer’s, talk with your family and your health care provider about it and how this disease can affect your driving safety.

 How Can Alzheimer’s Affect the Way I Drive? 

Below are early warning signs that Alzheimer’s may be affecting your driving safety. 

• Need more help with directions or with learning a new driving route. 

• Trouble remembering where you are going. 

• Forget where you parked your car. 

• Trouble making turns, especially left turns. 

• Misjudge gaps in traffic at street crossings and on highway ramps. 

• Trouble seeing or following traffic lights and road signs. 

• Get traffic citations or “warnings”. 

• Drivers often honk their horns at you. 

• Stop at a green light, or hit your brakes at the wrong time. 

• Trouble staying in your driving lane. 

• Less muscle control. Hard to push down on pedals or turn steering wheel. 

• Find dents and scrapes you cannot explain on your car, fences, mailboxes, garage doors, and curbs. 

• Other people question if you are driving safely. 

• Cannot control your anger, sadness, or other emotions that can affect your driving. 

What Can I Do If I Have To Limit or Stop Driving? 

Even if you have to limit or give up driving, you can stay active and do the things you like to do. 

First, plan ahead. Talk with family and friends about how you can shift from driver to passenger. Below are some ways to get where you want to go and see the people you want to see. 

• Rides with family and friends. 

• Taxis. 

• Shuttle buses or vans. 

• Public buses, trains, and subways. 

• Walking. 

• Para transit services (special transportation services for people with disabilities). Some offer door-to-door service. 

Take someone with you. You may want to have a family member or friend go with you when you use public transportation or when you walk. Having someone with you can help you get where you want to go without confusion. 

Pedestrian Safety Campaign

This grant is sponsored by the Washington State Traffic Commission. If you would like to be involved, contact Cynthia Tierney at (509) 758-8349 or by email.  Partner agencies for this campaign include City of Clarkston Police Department, Asotin County, Asotin County Community Services, Clarkston Public Works Department and the Lewis-Clark Metropolitan Planning Organization. Pedestrian Safety Activities & Free Resources