It’s one of the hardest conversations families ever have—when should someone with dementia stop driving?
No one wants to feel like they’re losing independence, but safety matters too.
That’s exactly what a new 18-month research project in Surrey is aiming to figure out.
Funded by The Road Safety Trust, the study teams up the University of Surrey and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust to test out a new tool: the Dementia Driving Decision Aid (or DDDA-UK, if you like acronyms).
What Does The Tool Do?
It helps individuals with dementia, their families, and healthcare professionals navigate the bumpy road of deciding when it’s time to stop driving.
“Many people with dementia can still drive safely for a while,” explains Ruth Purdie OBE, chief exec of The Road Safety Trust.
“But knowing when to stop is tough. This project is about supporting that decision—not forcing it.”
Dr. Theopisti Chrysanthaki, leading the study, puts it simply: “We want to keep people at the heart of the conversation.
It’s about empowerment and safety.”
Because giving up driving doesn’t have to mean giving up freedom.
Sometimes, it just means finding a new way forward.
