The impact of medical conditions on Driving involves a complex and rapidly repeating cycle that requires a level of skill and the ability to interact simultaneously with both the vehicle and the external environment.
Information about the environment is via the visual and auditory senses and is acted on by many cognitive processes (including short-and long-term memory, and judgement) to effect decisions for the driving task in hand.
These decisions are enacted by the musculoskeletal system, which acts on the controls of the vehicle and its relation to the road and other users.
The whole process is coordinated by complex interactions involving behaviour, strategic and tactical abilities, and personality.
In the face of illness or disability, adaptive strategies are important for maintaining safe driving.
Safe driving requires, among other elements, the involvement of:
- vision
- visuospatial perception
- hearing
- attention and concentration
- memory
- insight and understanding
- judgement
- adaptive strategies
- good reaction time
- planning and organisation
- ability to self-monitor
- sensation
- muscle power and control
- coordination.
Given these requirements, it follows that many body systems need to be functional for safe driving – and injury or disease may affect any one or more of these abilities. Notwithstanding this, many short term conditions do not require notification to the DVLA.
For more information https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessing-fitness-to-drive-a-guide-for-medical-professionals
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