[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-434470-105":59,"doc-detail-434470-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","capacity-and-fitness-to-drive-a-motor-vehicle-educational-handout-series","Capacity and Fitness to Drive a Motor Vehicle - Educational Handout Series","","Educational handout outlining how clinicians should distinguish driving capacity from driving fitness for older Veterans, emphasizing that states determine legal driving privileges while providers report factors that may contribute to unsafe driving. Guidance covers VA policy requirements for reporting and privacy considerations, how dementia can influence functional driving abilities, and practical supports such as vision/hearing optimization and assistive technologies. It also explains when caregiver support, referral to a specialist, or driver rehabilitation is appropriate, and identifies key functional domains, office-based tests, and states with mandated reporting.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/capacity-and-fitness-to-drive-a-motor-vehicle-educational-handout-series/434470/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/capacity-and-fitness-to-drive-a-motor-vehicle-educational-handout-series/434470.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"adawds","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-04","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What is the difference between driving capacity and driving fitness?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"The fact sheet explains that driving capacity and driving fitness are distinct, with the state deciding whether an older Veteran has the capacity to drive and retaining legal driving privileges. Clinicians focus on accurately reporting fitness-to-drive factors that could contribute to unsafe driving.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How does dementia influence fitness to drive?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Dementia does not necessarily mean a person lacks capacity for decision-making domains, and many patients with mild dementia can drive safely. Fitness opinions should rely on functional abilities (such as passing a road test) and may change as dementia progresses and related abilities are affected.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What should clinicians consider when assessing fitness to drive?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"The handout highlights three foundational functional areas: vision, cognition, and motor/somatosensory function. If impairment increases crash risk, clinicians may refer to specialists, including ophthalmologists, neuropsychologists, or driver rehabilitation specialists, for further evaluation.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},434470,1790764105,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":81,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":39,"preview_page_count":4},3985747872983,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_994ba38a5ba835b3df7d355c54d3ed8d","The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) differentiates driving capacity from driving fitness. This fact sheet is based on the AGS approach and uses that distinction. The state ultimately decides whether or not an older Veteran has the capacity to drive (e.g., driving test) and retains legal driving privileges (i.e., driver’s license). It is the clinician’s responsibility to fairly and accurately report factors that may contribute to unsafe driving – fitness to drive.  \nCapacity and Fitness to Drive a Motor Vehicle  \nEDUCATIONAL HANDOUT SERIES  \nWhat VA policies may apply?  \nVA Clinicians must follow VA laws, regulations and policies, in addition to clinical practices, when treating Veterans and sharing Veteran health information. The following information may assist in identifying relevant polices. Veterans with “neurological and brain disorders,” as well as Veterans with“disabilities associated with aging,” are among those eligible for theVA Driver Rehabilitation Program (VHA Handbook 1173.16) . Clinicians should make reports to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in accordance with VA privacy rules, state law and clinical ethics. In general, in order for a VA healthcare facility, upon its own initiative, to make a report to a State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), there must be a standing written request letter on file from the State agency that complies with VHA Directive 1605.01, Privacy and Release of Information.  \nTo view VA DMV privacy rules see also“Reporting to State Department of Motor Vehicles Privacy Fact Sheet” at [https://vaww.vets.vaco.portal.va.gov/sites/privacy/vhapo/Pages/FactSheets.aspx](https://vaww.vets.vaco.portal.va.gov/sites/privacy/vhapo/Pages/FactSheets.aspx). If you have further questions regarding law and policies for reporting within your state, please consult with your facility Privacy Officer or district counsel.  \nHow might dementia affect Fitness to Drive?  \nMost older adults do not have dementia, and the presence of dementia does not necessarily mean that an older adult lacks capacity for domains such as consent to treatment, choosing a healthcare agent, or other types of decisions. Patients with mild dementia can often drive safely. Opinions on fitness to drive for patients with mild dementia should be based on functional abilities (e.g. ability to pass a road test), and not solely on a diagnosis of dementia per se. As dementia progresses, different abilities and skills may be affected depending on the dementia subtype and individual factors, as well as comorbidities. For example, some individuals with dementia retain the basic ability to operate a motor vehicle, but may become lost when driving or feel challenged when a complex decision is required quickly.  \n What supports may help?  \nWhen assessing an older Veteran’s fitness to drive, clinicians should consider whether or not optimizing functional status could allow him or her to continue to drive safely. Identifying and addressing sensory deficits, including visual deficits and hearing loss, is critical. VA prosthetics may be able to assist with adaptive devices, and newer cars may include technologies to assist in safe driving, just as GPS devices may assist in location. Finally, your VA, your state, and/or private organizations and insurance companies may provide education and rehabilitation to improvedriver performance.  \nHow do I start?  \nWhen the older Veteran driver has significant cognitive impairment and/or lacks insight into their ability to drive (e.g., in certain cases of dementia, stroke, etc.), it is imperative to obtain the help of the caregiver, surrogate decision-maker, or guardian, if available. Caregivers play a crucial role in encouraging the older Veteran to retire from driving and to help the individual find alternative transportation options. Clinicians should inform caregivers that the clinical team will support and assist their efforts in any way possible. In rare instances, it may be necessary to appoint a legal guar","cbCaihl1qLZ7xyhE","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihl1qLZ7xyhE","pdf",431852,"English","# What VA policies may apply?\n# How might dementia affect Fitness to Drive?\n# What supports may help?\n# How do I start?\n# Most important areas to consider when assessing fitness to drive\n## Potential office-based tests to consider\n# Which states require mandatory reporting?\n# When should I refer to a Driving Rehabilitation Specialist (DRS)?","[{\"question\":\"What is the difference between driving capacity and driving fitness?\",\"answer\":\"The fact sheet explains that driving capacity and driving fitness are distinct, with the state deciding whether an older Veteran has the capacity to drive and retaining legal driving privileges. Clinicians focus on accurately reporting fitness-to-drive factors that could contribute to unsafe driving.\"},{\"question\":\"How does dementia influence fitness to drive?\",\"answer\":\"Dementia does not necessarily mean a person lacks capacity for decision-making domains, and many patients with mild dementia can drive safely. Fitness opinions should rely on functional abilities (such as passing a road test) and may change as dementia progresses and related abilities are affected.\"},{\"question\":\"What should clinicians consider when assessing fitness to drive?\",\"answer\":\"The handout highlights three foundational functional areas: vision, cognition, and motor/somatosensory function. If impairment increases crash risk, clinicians may refer to specialists, including ophthalmologists, neuropsychologists, or driver rehabilitation specialists, for further evaluation.\"}]","Capacity and Fitness to Drive a Motor Vehicle - Educational Handout Series | PDF",1790669431]