Driving and community mobility are activities of daily living which allow us to move about our respective environments with a high degree of independence. When this ability becomes threatened, so does our independence. At Virginia Mason, we believe it's important to maintain safe levels of community mobility and to maximize the sense of independence our patients feel.

We also offer in-clinic screening measures completed by trained occupational therapy practitioners.  These measures help you or your loved one determine whether independent driving is still safe as a form of community mobility. There may be alternatives available to driving. Your medical team in the Neuroscience Institute at Virginia Mason can help determine safe ways to continue navigating your community as independently as possible. For more information about community mobility resources, call (206) 223-6746.

Below are resources and frequently asked questions regarding driving independence.

Safety First

If my doctor tells me I am no longer medically safe to drive and must retire from driving, what happens if I don’t stop driving?

Your doctor is required by law to notify the Department of Licensing in writing if you are assessed to be medically unsafe to drive, and are a danger to yourself or others.

What are the consequences of driving while medically unsafe to do so?

  • Your insurance can deny your claim if you are in an accident and not cleared by a doctor to be driving.
  • You or those around you may have significant to catastrophic property damage due to driving with an impairment.
  • You or others may be injured or killed because of your impairment on the road. 

What is my liability if I don’t retire from driving?

If you are in a car accident you are responsible for the full cost of:

  • Property damage
  • Medical costs — yours and others injured
  • Legal costs
  • Legal consequences

Please speak with your provider team about developing a driving retirement plan that keeps you safe. 

Driver Rehab Programs

Generally a physician must make referral to the program of your choosing with the following information:

  • Client's phone number and address
  • Full medical history
  • Funding information
  • Physician's prescription
  • Psychological history

Adaptive Driving Equipment

Adaptive Contracting

Alternate Transportation

King County Caregiver Support Network

Senior Driver Education

AARP Smart Driver

Fitness to Drive Screening Measure

University of Michigan Drive-ability Program