Driving and HD
Part 3

How can individuals with HD drive safely?

Driving is not an impossible task for those with HD. It takes an extra amount of effort and may be exhausting, since increased concentration is required by individuals in order to drive safely. A person with HD should be monitored for a period of time before any decisions are made to continue or discontinue driving. Independent testing and/or driver’s training should be considered as can be arranged with a local driving school.

Certain steps can be taken by those with HD and their friends and family to ensure that the driver remains safe. Limiting passenger conversations, avoiding cell phone calls, turning off the radio/stereo when traveling, and trying to maintain full concentration on the road are all good ideas when it comes to driving.

Individuals with HD should also try to avoid driving at high speeds and traveling in areas where there is a lot of traffic. Drivers should also be mindful of certain times of the day such as rush hour and when there is bad weather. If a person with HD needs to travel at these times, then it would probably be best either to use public transportation or to find a ride from a friend or family member.

Additionally, planning plays an important role when it comes to driving. Individuals with HD should consider combining multiple driving trips into one, finding and then sticking to low-traffic and low-speed routes, and always informing friends and family about where, when and how long he or she intends to travel. It is always advisable for persons with HD to plan a trip and think over options before hitting the road.

We hope you enjoyed this section of the HOPES website. To email this article to a friend, please click here. To leave feedback for the HOPES team, click here. Make sure to specify which article you're referring to.

-A. Haque, 11/12/06

For further reading:

• Rebok GW, Bylsma FW, Keyl PM, Brandt J, Folstein SE. 1995. Automobile driving in Huntington's disease. Movement Disorders. Nov;10(6):778-87.
• Hawley, CA. 2001. Return to driving after head injury. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry with Practical Neurology. 70:761–766
• Lowit A, van Teijlingen ER. 2005. Avoidance as a strategy of (not) coping: qualitative interviews with carers of Huntington's disease patients. BMC Family Practice. Sep 14;6:38.

Last Modified: 08/05/2008

An educational product of HOPES, not to be used in place of medical care. For more information about HOPES, click on the Logo. To contact HOPES with comments or questions, click here.