Many people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are able to drive safely for many years, especially if symptoms are well controlled. However, PD has multiple effects on motor, cognitive, and visual functioning, all of which can impair a person’s ability to drive safely. Since PD is a progressive disease, at some point those with a PD diagnosis will need to give up driving and find other forms of transportation.
California Residents: Check out California Driving Resources.
See this resource list for driving self-assessment, how aging affects driving, driver safety courses, maximizing safety on the road, and transportation alternatives after "driving retirement."
Quick Facts about How PD Affects Driving
Driving and Parkinson's
Published by Parkinson's Foundation, 2018
This two-page fact sheet reviews how PD affects driving, assessment options, and what family members and friends can do to help.
Facts about Driving and PD
Published by VA Parkinson's Disease Research, Education & Clinical Center (PADRECC) Bulletin
Page three includes safety tips.
Specialist Talks on Driving and PD
Considerations for Driving with Parkinson's Disease
Published by Parkinson Society British Columbia, June 8, 2020
Occupational therapist Kathryn McKall outlines the impact on driving due to medications and changes in vision, cognition, hearing, sensorimotor function specific to PD. In this hour-long webinar, she suggests questions for self-assessment and care partner evaluation, tips for safe driving, equipment and technology to make driving easier, and preparing for when you can no longer drive.
Driving Wellness for Parkinson's Disease
By APDA Massachusetts, July 13, 2021
In this one-hour webinar, occupational therapist Jaclyn Davin presents information on changes that affect driving due to aging and Parkinson's, how to continue to drive safe now, and how to address those changes in the future.
Navigating the Road Ahead: Understanding Driving and Parkinson's
By Parkinson's Foundation, April 22, 2025
In this hour-long webinar, neuropsychologist Margaret O'Connor, PhD, addresses the complex considerations of driving with Parkinson's, including how driving skills can be impacted, assessing driving abilities, and practical approaches to planning for the future.
Parkinson's and Driving: Planning for Today and Tomorrow
By Houston Area Parkinson Society, January 4, 2021
In this 30-minute talk, Christine Salinas, certified driver rehabilitation specialist, discusses the biggest concerns around a person with PD driving, as well as providing different techniques to evaluate if someone should continue driving or stop for their own safety.
PD and Driving: How to Steer Clear of Danger
By PMD Alliance, September 2023
Neuropsychologist Anthony LoGalbo, PhD, breaks down the cognitive processes involved in driving and potential impairments from PD. In this hour-long webinar, he provides resources to assess driving, driving modifications, and transportation alternatives when you can no longer drive safely.
Webinar Notes are on the Stanford PD Community Blog.
An older video on this topic, Driving and Road Safety for People with PD, is also available.
Find a Driving Rehabilitation Specialist
To find a driving rehabilitation specialist, search by state one of the directories below. Or contact your local rehabilitation hospital’s occupational therapy department for OTs who are driving specialists. Note: Neither Medicare, Medicaid, nor private insurance pay for driver evaluation or rehabilitation.
San Francisco Bay Area residents: See our short list of local driving rehabilitation specialists in the San Francisco Bay Area
Directory of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists
Published by Association for Driver Rehabilition Specialists
Nationwide directory of ADRS members. Look for "Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists" or "Driver Rehabilitation Specialists."
Find a Driving Specialist
Published by American Occupational Therapy Association
This search tool allows you to find occupational therapists trained to evaluate driving in your area of the country.
Note, the tool has a glitch. You will not get any results if you enter 'Unknown' in either of the last two search parameters.
Last updated October 2025 by Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach.