Experiences of DVLA Driving Assessment? driving simulator?

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My uncle who is 90 has an Alzheimers diagnosis - but he's early stages. He virtually raised me and we are very close. His consultant supports him to continue to drive but he has been called for a DVLA driving assessment. He's driven me recently and I think he's safe.

I've read about this online and understand one part of it is a driving simulator. I'm very worried about this for him because even when he was young he was a total luddite - could never play even the simplest computer games or work a DVD player or a smart phone.

from what I've read, they don't even get to the road test if they can't pass the simulator.

I think he's safe on the road in his own car which he's familiar with but the prospect of him even begining to "work" a simulator even if it's explained to him is less than zero.

I'm worried for him as he lives a lone and depends very much on his driving freedom to shop etc (again, he could never order online). Loss of his licence will be hugely life limiting.

Anyone got any experience of this or any advice? If what I've read is right is seems really unfair that if he's basically safe in his own car, he doesn't even get to prove it because he's an old school technophobe who won't understand a simple simulator so won't get past that stage as he can't work it.

OP, I suggest you try the Alzheimer's Society Talking Point forum. Whatever the dementia-related query, there's almost always someone who's been there.

OP I can understand you are worried about your uncle. The driving assessment centre will be very experienced at assessing people with dementia.

While people with mild dementia have fewer accidents than young men aged 17-24, as the dementia develops it can affect judgement and reaction time. People might make the right decision but more slowly especially in unusual conditions such as rain, a delivery truck parked up, a dog and a kid running after a football.

It's not really about being able to drive his car but more about dealing with other drivers and unexpected events. It's also not purely dependent on memory but attention, planning, problem solving, perception.

If he has dementia then teally it's not a question of if he stops driving but when. If you haven't done so yet you need to inform his insurance company about his diagnosis because finding himself uninsured in the event of an accident would be awful.

If he isn't doing many miles then it really is cost effective to set up an arrangement with a taxi company.
The simulators are car like as they are used to assess all kinds of difficulties so hopefully he will do fine.
Good luck.

PeggyIs - thanks for your reply but I'm well aware of these issues and of course we've informed his insurers. I know he will have to stop driving at some point.

What I was looking for here really was anyone who has had recent experience of a DVLA assessment for dementia.

gettinglikemymother - thanks I've had a look at dementia forums but couldn't find anything that dealt with this specific issue.There are lots of posts about DVLA assessments generally but it's all a bit vague about this simulator/computer issue.

I don't think he would have the vaguest chance of working a simulator of any kind as he won't understand it but he probably wouldn't have understood it 30 years ago - it being a computer and all that new fangled stuff! That doesn't mean he can't drive his own car safely though - but if the computer simulator is a pre-screen he won't even get to show that.

Services vary in whether they uses a simulator for example

www.wmdas.co.uk

Do you think he’d be able to understand using something like the picture below?

I have known people fail parts of the screening tests but be allowed to do the on road assessment but I have never known someone to pass in this situation.

images.app.goo.gl/dnfnR93AAjDhkMmH9

I wish your uncle well. It is a very stressful situation and often marks the beginning of the dementia having a much bigger impact on people’s lives.

My late elderly Dad's driving had been deteriorating. There were unexplained scrapes and dents appearing on the car.
Then he drove to town to go shopping one day and got lost looking for the car afterwards. He couldn't remember which car park it was in...
He was diagnosed with dementia and the doctor told him DVLA would ask him to return his driver's licence. We were relieved but he was furious!!!
His driving reactions were just not good enough to be considered safe on the road. You have to think of the consequences.

My friends dad did a driving assessment last year. The driving simulator was like an immersive game - so you sit in the car and drive it just as you would a normal car, no computer skills needed at all.
Her dad managed to pass even though he can't even use a sat nav and gets flustered very easily

Thank you for your reply but as I have said I have been driven by my uncle and he is in my view safe. He is fairly early into his diagnosis. He does not have dents or scrapes on his car. He is sensible and also does not drive in bad weather.

I get all of this and I understand totally if he is a danger he shouldn't be allowed to drive and that is the very purpose of the assessment. Yes we've told the DVLA and yes we've told his insurers.

What I am asking for here is help from anyone who has had experience of the DVLA driving simulator because I am concerned that his technophobia about computer stuff/difficult with even operating any kind of computer (unrelated to his dementia - a lifetime generational issue) means that he won't actually get a fair assessment.

Sounds like no one has been with someone to one of these computer simulator assessments.

@CMOTDibbler

Cross post with you. Thank you so much - that is really helpful.

Do you know whether the "screen" is like a real life view (real film footage like google street view) or a computer view (like space invaders or grand theft auto style)?

I think it is an animated view, but I will ask her when we speak later in case she remembers

Thank you SO much @CMOTDibbler

I would call dvla. I suspect they will be very helpful.