Warning Signs for Drivers (Checklist)

CAREGIVERS ARTICLE
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The family of a man who went missing in Minnesota warned Driving Safety officials about David Paulson's Alzheimer's, but not in time.

Learn these warning signs to keep this from happening to you or your family.

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Warning Signs for Older Drivers

Driving Behaviors That Could Cause Safety Problems

The driving behaviors listed below are ranked from minor to serious. Many of the less serious issues may be overcome with changes in driving behavior or physical fitness, while the more serious behaviors may require your immediate action. Since driving ability seldom changes drastically in a short time, you should be able to track changes over time to get a clear picture of overall driving ability.

Here’s How to Use This List:
  • Observe driving over time, keeping notes to help you understand changes in driving ability.
  • Look for a pattern of warning signs and for an increase in the frequency of occurrence.

Click here for a Printable Checklist

Driving Behavior Warning Signs
  1. Decrease in confidence while driving.
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  2. Difficulty turning to see when backing up.
  3. Riding the brake.
  4. Easily distracted while driving.
  5. Other drivers often honk horns.
  6. Incorrect signaling.
  7. Parking inappropriately.
  8. Hitting curbs.
  9. Scrapes or dents on the car, mailbox or garage.
  10. Increased agitation or irritation when driving.
  11. Failure to notice important activity on the side of the road.
  12. Failure to notice traffic signs.
  13. Trouble navigating turns.
  14. Driving at inappropriate speeds.
  15. Not anticipating potential dangerous situations.
  16. Uses a "copilot."
  17. Bad judgment on making left hand turns.
  18. Near misses.
  19. Delayed response to unexpected situations.
  20. Moving into wrong lane.
  21. Difficulty maintaining lane position.
  22. Confusion at exits.
  23. Ticketed moving violations or warnings.
  24. Getting lost in familiar places.
  25. Car accident.
  26. Failure to stop at stop sign or red light.
  27. Confusing the gas and brake pedals.
  28. Stopping in traffic for no apparent reason.

 

More info on this article

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To Drive or Not to Drive, That is My Question

Submitted by ClaudiaM on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 06:31

My mother-in-law has had progressive and ongoing short term memory loss. She forgets conversations, repeats herself, forgets to take her medicines..... We are both working, one of us works days and one of us works nights.  We are never sure if she is taking propercare of herself so  we arranged for Medicare funded home care services.  Yesterday, I got a call saying that home care has discharged her because she is still driving.  They said that Medicare doesn't provide Home Health if a person is still capable of driving.

Read more »

More Information

Source:

The Hartford Financial Services Group

Video: WDAY-6 News
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(Article thumbnail)
Published:
Most Recently Updated On:
December 26, 2011
First published on:
Week of September 18 - September 25, 2011

Permalink:
http://alzheimersweekly.com/node/1568
Copyright:
Copyright 2011 The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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