geriatrics
Interventions With the Older Driver
Reporting
If the driver’s functional limitations or medical status seems to warrant driving cessation, practitioners should follow the reporting requirements of their state Department of Motor Vehicles. States vary in their reporting laws. All states have voluntary reporting laws, but some states have mandatory reporting laws. In most states, statutes protect the practitioner’s anonymity or provide immunity to the practitioner. Legal consultation may be beneficial when an office or institution is developing a reporting policy and procedure. Before making a report, practitioners should discuss recommendations for driving cessation directly with the older driver and family rather than simply filing a report. Practitioners should make every attempt to educate the driver regarding the need to cooperate with driving restrictions. Such discussion should include why the driver’s limitations make driving unsafe for themselves and other drivers, and why the practitioner is obligated to report. In some situations, practitioners must report functional limitations or medical status to state agencies against the wishes of their patients; this action often has a negative impact on the practitioner-patient relationship. Regardless, medical information can be legally disclosed if a patient’s driving impairment might jeopardize public safety; practitioners who do not notify appropriate authorities may be legally liable for subsequent injuries. 