Vermont Dementia Driving Assessment: When and How to Address Unsafe Driving

Why Driving Becomes a Crisis Point

For many families, driving is where the abstract worry about a parent's cognitive decline becomes an immediate safety emergency. A parent with dementia may still pass a basic vision test but lose the executive function needed to react to unexpected road conditions, merge safely, or navigate familiar routes. The gap between "they seem fine most of the time" and "they're a danger behind the wheel" closes faster than most families expect.

Vermont law does not mandate physician reporting of dementia diagnoses to the DMV. That means the responsibility for flagging unsafe driving often falls on family members — which is exactly why this is one of the hardest conversations in dementia caregiving.

How to Request a DMV Assessment

Any concerned person — family member, physician, law enforcement officer — can request that the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles re-examine a driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely. The process:

1. Contact the DMV and request a driver re-examination based on medical concerns. You can do this in writing.
2. The DMV will contact the driver and may require a medical evaluation, a written test, a road test, or all three.
3. A physician may be asked to complete a medical evaluation form that assesses the driver's cognitive function, vision, motor skills, and medications that could impair driving.
4. Based on the results, the DMV can impose restrictions (daylight-only driving, limited geographic area), require periodic retesting, or revoke the license.

Do not assume the requesting party's identity will be kept confidential; ask the DMV how it handles the request. Your parent will know the DMV is re-examining them, but the DMV's handling of the requesting party's identity may depend on the request process.

Voluntary Surrender

If your parent is willing to stop driving, the simplest path is voluntary license surrender at any DMV office. Vermont issues a non-driver identification card as a replacement, which serves as valid ID for everything except driving.

Voluntary surrender avoids the adversarial dynamic of a DMV-initiated revocation. Frame it as a proactive decision your parent is making, not something being done to them. Some families find it helpful to:

• Have the conversation when the parent is calm and well-rested (not during sundowning hours)
• Acknowledge what driving represents — independence, self-sufficiency, identity
• Present alternative transportation plans before asking them to give up the keys
• Involve their physician, who may carry more authority on the medical facts

Practical Steps After the License Is Gone

Taking away the keys solves the safety problem but creates a logistical one. Vermont is a rural state, and public transportation outside the Burlington metro area is limited. Plan these alternatives before your parent surrenders the license:

Volunteer driver programs. Several AAAs coordinate volunteer drivers for medical appointments and essential errands. Contact your regional AAA through the statewide HelpLine (1-800-642-5119).

Non-emergency medical transportation. If your parent is on Medicaid, ask their Medicaid managed care plan what transportation to medical appointments is available and how to arrange rides.

Adult day programs. Many adult day health programs provide transportation to and from the facility. At approximately $1,825 per month, adult day services also provide structured activities and meals.

Ride-sharing and taxi voucher programs. Some communities offer subsidized ride programs for seniors. Check with your AAA for local availability.

The Vermont Dementia & Memory Care Guide covers the driving assessment process alongside the broader safety planning chapter, including wandering prevention, home modifications, and emergency protocols.

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