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Medical Conditions and Driving

Although the following report was compiled from statistics gathered by numerous bodies in the United States, there does not seem to be any such comprehensive report for the UK, I have included it for its wealth of information, even though it is not specific to drivers of any particular type of vehicle.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveal that, in 1997, motor vehicle crashes resulted in 42,340 deaths, ranking eighth behind heart disease, cancer, and stroke as a leading cause of death (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], 2000). The causes of motor vehicle crashes are varied, including road design, vehicle design, and traffic volume. However, it has been estimated that as much as 90 percent of highway crashes are due to human error (Tignor, 2000). Although data on the overall contribution of medical conditions to motor vehicle crashes are unavailable, it is reasonable to assume that medical conditions that affect functional capabilities (e.g., sensory, motor, or cognitive functioning) play a major role.

This report, entitled Medical Conditions and Driving: A Review of the Scientific Literature, provides a comprehensive and integrative review of past and current research (to the year 2000) on the effects of medical conditions on driving performance. The report is divided into 15 sections (Introduction, Vision, Hearing, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cerebrovascular Diseases, Peripheral Vascular Diseases, Diseases of the Nervous System, Respiratory Diseases, Metabolic Diseases, Renal Diseases, Musculoskeletal Disabilities, Psychiatric Diseases, Drugs, The Aging Driver, and The Effects of Anesthesia and Surgery). Each section is divided into subsections, with a brief overview of the condition/illness, information on prevalence, a review of the literature relevant to driving, followed by current fitness-to-drive guidelines from Australia and Canada for the condition/illness. The guidelines from Canada (Canadian Medical Association [CMA], 2000) and Australia (Austroads, 1998) have been reproduced with permission. Sincere appreciation is extended to both the CMA and Austroads for allowing the reproduction of their guidelines......more

 

ArthritisAlthough not a truck driver, I was a delivery driver to customers homes using transit style vehicles. My problems began about 5 years ago when small tasks were causing more and more pain in my joints. As the weeks went by I decided a visit to the doctor was in order and after a number of visits I was eventually recommended to a specialist who diagnosed me with severe Rheumoatoid Arthritis.......more	DepressionIn 1995 I went to the doctor. My symptoms were shortness of breath, chest pains, tremors and profuse sweating. These attacks would appear at random, and the first thing I thought of was "Heart!". Nothing of the sort. They were panic attacks, brought on by a particularly stressful job. I was being forced to drive a vehicle which often broke down, under constant pressure to hit impossible time slots and also having my......more
DiabetesI first thought there was some thing wrong with my health in early July. I had been feeling rough for a few months, but put it down to changing from permanent nights (14yrs) starting about 5pm and finishing about 4am, to early starts getting up at 02.30hrs, finishing any time from 1130 to 1pm depending on the traffic. The first symptoms were I was drinking for Britain (any fluids) mainly 1ltr of pop or water but still feeling thirsty, and ended up drinking 2 pints of water at a go, so what goes in comes out and I was peeing for Britain as well, waking up during night. Going from yard (Markyate) to Norwich I would have to stop 3 or 4 times and I was also waking up with cramp in the legs during the night......more	HypertensionI have had high blood pressure (Hypertension) now for just over 8 years, but have still passed my medicals and been able to continue to drive HGV’s for a living.It has always been closely monitored by my Doctor and varies from test to test. There doesn’t really seem to be a pattern to it at all. I’m currently on two types of tablets for it (both one a day) and one of them is a Beta Blocker. Now in the news last week it’s been said that patients on Beta Blockers will have their medication changed at their next check, so we’ll have to see what happens then. On two occasions it has risen quite a bit and I have been given a portable blood pressure machine to check my own blood pressure every day ( for a week) as soon as I park up at night.....more