Many people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) worry about how their diagnosis might affect their ability to drive. Their loved ones often share this concern. Symptoms such as slowed reaction time, drowsiness, and muscle tremors can all impair a person’s ability to drive and increase the risk of dangerous accidents.

Deciding whether to drive with Parkinson’s requires taking many factors into consideration including how severe your symptoms are, your comfort level with driving, and the advice of your family, friends, and healthcare team.

Here’s more on driving and PD, including how Parkinson’s affects driving abilities, when to discuss driving with a loved one who has Parkinson’s, and how to make the right decision for yourself and those you care about.

How Can Parkinson’s Affect Driving?

PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, meaning it causes a loss of neurons in the central nervous system and gets worse over time. Motor symptoms, visual problems, and cognitive impairment can make driving difficult or unsafe. Even in the early stages of Parkinson’s, driving safety can be affected.

Tremors

PD frequently causes tremors in the hands and legs, among other body parts. MyParkinsonsTeam members have shared how tremors can make their driving unsafe. “I have tremors in my right hand and foot. Sometimes, my foot goes tap-tapping on the accelerator or the brake pads,” a member wrote.

“I’m reluctant to give up driving because I want to hang on to the last bit of independence I have!”

— A MyParkinsonsTeam member

Another member said adjusting their hands on the steering wheel helped. “When I put my hands in the 5 and 8 position, tremors are eliminated.”

Dizziness

Dizziness and vertigo are common symptoms that can be related to problems with balance in people with PD and can make driving difficult. One MyParkinsonsTeam member shared, “My wife had to drive me to a doctor’s appointment because of the dizziness.”

Bradykinesia

Bradykinesia is a common symptom of Parkinson’s that refers to slowed movement. Slowed reaction time can be dangerous for driving, sometimes requiring quick reactions and decisions. One member said of their spouse with Parkinson’s, “He knows my concerns regarding hesitation moving his feet and quick decision-making.”

Drowsiness

Medication side effects can cause drowsiness or sleepiness. Research has found that the dangers of drowsy driving are almost as bad as driving while intoxicated. One member wrote, “I pull over every two hours, if on a long trip and have a nap or just rest away from the car. If I feel tired in between stops, then I pull over ASAP and rest/nap.”

Cognitive Changes

People with Parkinson’s can have cognitive problems that affect thinking, memory, and the ability to carry out complex tasks. Problems with cognitive function can cause distraction or confusion while driving. Problems with seeing and understanding how things are positioned in space can also occur when cognition is affected by PD. This affects the ability to judge distance or depth and can affect driving performance, such as safely changing lanes, parking a car, or understanding where other vehicles or objects are while driving.

In some cases, people with PD may develop psychosis in which they experience hallucinations or delusions, which can make driving particularly unsafe.

Vision Changes

Parkinson’s can cause vision problems such as double vision, blurry vision, reading problems, and difficulty keeping eyes open. All of these conditions can make driving risky.

Are There Laws Against Driving With Parkinson’s?

There are no laws in the United States that regulate driving with a Parkinson’s diagnosis specifically. However, the U.S. government recommends that people with PD be aware of changes that can interfere with driving.

“My wife and kids pleaded with me to give up my keys last fall for fear of me CAUSING an accident as much as getting in one.”

— A MyParkinsonsTeam member

Many states have laws that require healthcare providers to report drivers who are diagnosed with cognitive impairment and/or seizure disorders. Anyone who knowingly drives with impairment due to motor, visual, or cognitive problems, and causes an accident, could face legal consequences.

Deciding Whether To Drive With Parkinson’s

Deciding to stop driving is difficult for many people with Parkinson’s. One MyParkinsonsTeam member said, “I’m reluctant to give up driving because I want to hang on to the last bit of independence I have!” Another member said deciding not to drive was a “hard pill to swallow for a motorhead like me,” but it “took a motorcycle accident to put me straight.”

Someone else wrote, “The feeling you have over losing driving privileges is nothing compared to the feeling you would have if you were the cause of an accident that injured or killed someone else.”

One member shared their realization that it was not safe for them to drive. “Sometimes, my hands used to shake uncontrollably,” they said. “This caused undue stress on me and my life.”

Some members have changed their driving habits due to Parkinson’s. One said, “I avoid the highway and don’t drive at night.” Another said, “I had to purchase a new vehicle because I have always driven a stick shift. Now I have an automatic.”

Along with Parkinson’s symptoms, other factors should also be taken into account, including age. Older drivers often have decreased visual acuity and slower reflexes.

Driving Tests

A driving test can help you determine your driving ability. The Rookwood Driving Battery (RDB) is one driving test that is sometimes used to evaluate driving factors such as depth of vision and response time in people with Parkinson’s. Your doctor may recommend a specific driving test for you.

A MyParkinsonsTeam member said, “My occupational therapist referred me to a driver testing facility to have a test. They do not report the results to your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), so when you find out the results, you can decide whether or not to keep driving.”

The member explained their reasoning for taking the test. “In case I was ever in an accident, the other party would not be able to blame the accident on my PD because I’d been tested as a safe driver despite my PD.”

Each individual with Parkinson’s has a different level of driving risk. Although there’s no standard test for predicting driving risk in people living with Parkinson’s, researchers are working on developing better driving assessment aids to help older people and their doctors make more effective decisions about whether or not to drive.

Talk to your doctor, family, and friends about whether a driving evaluation or road driving test might be helpful for you. They may have noticed ways in which Parkinson’s could affect your ability to drive safely. If your driver’s license has expired, you may be required to take a driving test at your local DMV.

When To Talk to Your Loved One About Driving With PD

Friends and family members play an important role in deciding whether their loved one with PD should be driving. Your parent or another aging loved one may not notice that their driving skills are deteriorating.

If you have a loved one living with PD, it’s important to look for signs that a person’s driving skills have been compromised, including:

• Scratches or dents on the car
• Inability to remember where they are
• Memory or attention problems
• Noticeable times when they’re acting “off” or experience hallucinations or delusions
• Unsteady or irregular driving
• Car accidents or traffic tickets

If PD symptoms make it hard to drive safely, family members, caregivers, and friends may urge a loved one with Parkinson’s to stop driving. “My wife and kids pleaded with me to give up my keys last fall for fear of me CAUSING an accident as much as getting in one,” explained one member.

Discussing the subject can be difficult, but staying safe while driving is critical. It’s important to share your concerns with your loved one and their neurologist. There may be ways to help your loved one continue driving safely for a while longer. A neurologist can provide a referral to a driving rehabilitation specialist or occupational therapist who may be able to help them improve their driving skills.

Other Options for Getting Around With Parkinson’s

Fortunately, there are many options for getting around without having to drive yourself. Some alternative forms of transportation include carpooling, ride-share apps like Uber and Lyft, and public transportation. Some local and state government agencies provide transportation services for older people, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. One member even shared that they leased a Motability scooter as a mode of transport.

Giving up the keys can also mean saving money on car payments, car insurance, gas, car maintenance, toll roads, and parking fees.

If you’re living with Parkinson’s and still driving, take some time to talk to your doctor and loved ones about the risks. It’s important to reflect on the benefits of giving up driving, and how you can make the most of this transition.

Find Your Team

MyParkinsonsTeam is the social network for people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. On MyParkinsonsTeam, more than 106,000 members from around the world come together to discuss life with Parkinson’s, ask questions, share tips, and meet others who understand what they’re going through.

How has Parkinson’s affected the way you drive or get around? Did you have to stop driving? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below or by posting on your Activities page.