As a doctor I often get asked whether a person with a specific medical condition is fit to drive. I think there are some clear cut medical conditions (e.g. epilepsy, stroke) which I can confidently comment on the person’s fitness to drive. However, there are some medical conditions which are not as clear cut and Parkinson’ disease is one of them. I think the difficulty for me is that medical doctors are not driving instructors and we never got taught how to assess someone’s driving at medical schools and in post-graduate courses.

For the past couple of years I have looked into this issue and certainly have made friends with occupational therapists who have the specialised skills and instruments for driving assessment.

The reduced mobility (e.g stiffness) and sometimes reduced reaction time can affect a person with Parkinson’s disease’s fitness to drive. However, fitness to drive in Parkinson disease is a complex issue which depends on a number of factors including the disease staging and the response to anti-Parkinson medications. We understand the importance of driving in maintaining a person’s independence and quality of life. I attended the Senior Drivers Seminar in Wellington recently and the focus now is not so much on the assessment of driving but how to modify internal car fittings to overcome the physical disabilities and to provide alternative transport options which are safe and affordable for older people.