What to expect when you take a driving assessment

If you’re living with dementia and still driving, you may be asked to take a formal driving assessment. This personal account, shared by one of our members, describes what the experience was like from start to finish - including what to bring, how it felt on the day, and what to expect from the process. It includes some helpful reflections and top tips, and has been kindly approved by the team at Southeast DriveAbility.

When I was diagnosed with Mild Alzheimer’s two years ago, I had to inform the DVLA of my diagnosis. This resulted in me having to have my driving assessed so that I could renew my driving licence. We contacted Southeast DriveAbility and we found this link on their website helpful.

On the day of the assessment, I drove to the assessment centre with my wife. The Test Centre recommended that I be accompanied by someone capable of driving me home. If I failed the assessment then I would not be legally able to drive home.

The Advanced Driving Instructor and the Occupational Therapist, both made me feel very welcome and put me at my ease. My wife sat in with me for the initial chat with them in the office. 

Before booking the assessment, I was told that I would be driving a car provided by the Test Centre. You can choose to use either a manual or automatic car.

I brought with me:

• The letter from Southeast Drivability which contained useful information regarding the assessment process.

• My National Insurance number  

• My Driving Licence

• Payment for the assessment, as detailed in their letter, which could be by cash or card. My first assessment was paid for by the DVLA. You are required to pay for any subsequent assessments. This was my third assessment. 

I filled in a short form about how long I had been driving etc, followed by a brief cognitive assessment and general health questionnaire.

We then went out to the car park, and I was asked to read a number plate at 20 metres. I'd had my eyesight tested shortly before the assessment, so I was confident that my vision was OK for driving.

I then spent a few minutes sitting in the test car getting comfortable and familiar with the controls. I had the Advanced Driving Instructor next to me and the Occupational Therapist sitting in the back of the car.

I drove around a housing estate then we went down the main road to a big roundabout and back to the town. We didn’t drive on the motorway, but we did go along some sections of dual carriageway.

The actual driving part of the assessment usually takes about 3/4 of an hour but we got stuck behind a tractor so the whole process took a little longer!

Back in the office with my wife, they said that I had passed the driving assessment.  They recommended that I had another one in a year’s time. I must renew my driving licence ever year so we booked the driving assessment a couple of months before the renewal in order that we would have the paperwork to show the licensing authority confirming I had passed. 

The assessment is not a formal driving test. I enjoyed it and it was very useful to hear their feedback and suggestions to help me continue to drive safely.

Top Tips:

• Be very aware of changing Speed Limits. The route I drove included sections @ 20, 30, 40, & 60 m.p.h.
  

• Expect the Unexpected! I found myself driving along a fast section of carriageway which had a limit of 50 m.p.h. but I was stuck right behind a farm tractor traveling at 20 m.p.h.  I judged it too dangerous to pull out into the stream of oncoming traffic to overtake, so it was 20 mph for the next 10 mins with a long line of traffic building up behind me!

Enjoy the driving experience!!

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This blog is shared with permission from a couple of our members and Southeast DriveAbility. It reflects one individual’s experience and may differ depending on your location or assessment provider. For more information, visit Southeast DriveAbility.