The parkinsonian and driving.

A survey of 15 members of branches of the Parkinson's Disease Society was undertaken by a medical student as part of a course in social medicine. Most of the individuals had given up driving a car but only a third of the group had notified the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Centre of their disorder, which they are required to do; similarly, most had neglected to inform their insurance companies of the diagnosis. Four people admitted that Parkinson's disease had been a contributory factor in an accident involving another vehicle, and anxiety over being a hazard was admitted by most of the group. Giving up driving exacerbated the premature social ageing encountered in Parkinson's disease, and those afflicted should be encouraged to liaise more closely with arrangements for re-education in methods of safe driving.