Fitness to Drive: A Guide for Health Professionals

Motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of death and injury worldwide. Health professionals can make an important contribution to reducing this risk by providing sound advice on safe driving to individuals with health-related impairments. Fitness to Drive: A Guide for Health Professionals is an essential resource for all health professionals to help them give valid advice on fitness to drive. Good advice is derived from an assessment of the driver's risk of crashing and of their ability to drive safely now and in the future. This book explains the evidence and rationale that underpins the health professional's contribution to safe driving. Topics covered include: Capabilities and sensory inputs required for safe driving Effects of different impairments Mental functions and nervous system capabilities Impairing effects of medications, alcohol and non-therapeutic drugs Effects of injury, surgery and musculoskeletal disease Health-related causes of sudden incapacitation. Fitness to Drive: A Guide for Health Professionals is written primarily for health professionals and will also prove valuable to others concerned with health and fitness to drive, including road safety advisers, insurers, fleet managers and driving instructors. Individuals with health problems who wish to understand the relevance of their condition to driving and how it may be assessed will also find this book useful.