Driving requires accurate depth perception, head turning, rapid responses, attention, concentration, and decision-making abilities. Impairments in any of these areas can make a person an unsafe driver.
Driving is perhaps the most complex activity of daily living. Many things happen at once and at a very fast pace. Drivers must be able to physically operate a vehicle safely and also pay attention to signs, traffic lights, and traffic flow. An individual must have good visual awareness and be able to make split-second decisions. Flexible decision-making is also required. For example, a different response may be required in the same traffic situation on different occasions, depending on time, road conditions, or other unexpected events.
In addition, a driver must pay attention to the driving route and be able to remember the destination. While driving, an individual may have just one destination or a series of destinations, both familiar and unfamiliar, and in a variety of traffic situations. There can be many distractions such as conversation, personal thoughts, the radio, or possibly a cigarette or cup of coffee.
Off-road therapy may be required before a driving evaluation. This is done to work on maintaining attention, improving processing and response time, and visual awareness.
When the patient is ready, a driving evaluation will be done to ensure a safe return to driving. If necessary, driver re-education will be provided. Techniques or equipment may be recommended to compensate for physical or memory problems.
A patient should not return to driving following a brain injury without a doctor’s specific medical clearance to do so. This also holds true if the patient has recently had a seizure.