Older people with mild cognitive impairment: their views about assessing driving safety

Background: Driving is important for older people to maintain agency, independence and social connectedness. Little research has been conducted into the views of older people with mild cognitive impairment about who decides if they are safe to drive. Aims: This qualitative study investigates the views of older people with mild cognitive impairment about decision making on driving cessation. Discussion: Participants value their agency; they wanted to decide when they should stop driving themselves. However, they were also prepared to accept their general practitioner's advice when they became unfit to drive. In the interim, they self regulated the timing and distance of their driving to reduce accident risk.