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r Improper use of your turn signal to warn other
drivers when your car is turning or changing lanes.
r Trouble planning and safely maneuvering your
driving route.
r Frequently becoming lost, confused, and unable to
find your way from one location to another. This can
result in panic and sudden irrational changes while
driving, or losing control of your car.
Dementia
Dementia is a decline of cognition due to loss of or
damage to nerve cells in the brain and can affect
many of the critical abilities you need to drive safely.
These may include perception and visual processing,
maintaining attention, responding to multiple stimuli,
making correct decisions, and acting appropriately in
difficult traffic situations. People in the early stages of
dementia may still be able to operate a vehicle under
normal circumstances, but will have difficulty as the
disease progresses and may become lost when driving.
The National Highway and Transportation Safety
Administration’s (NHTSA) Driver Fitness Medical
Guidelines lists the following signs to help determine if
a person needs evaluation for possible dementia:
r Scores from simple screening tools show possible
cognitive issues
r Has had a recent crash or moving violation
r Has been prescribed medications for memory
problems
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