Skip to main content
Postgraduate Medical Journal logoLink to Postgraduate Medical Journal
. 1992 Aug;68(802):624–628. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.68.802.624

The law and medical fitness to drive--a study of doctors' knowledge.

D King 1, S J Benbow 1, J A Barrett 1
PMCID: PMC2399554  PMID: 1448401

Abstract

We assessed doctors' knowledge on laws and recommendations regarding fitness to drive in certain medical conditions by a questionnaire survey. A total of 646 doctors consisting of 400 general practitioners and 246 hospital doctors of all grades were circulated with the questionnaire. The survey was anonymous so non-responders could not be re-circulated. The response rate was 26% general practitioners and 32% (hospital doctors). The results show the poor knowledge of doctors on several aspects of fitness to drive. It is necessary for all doctors to have a basic knowledge on the laws and recommendations on fitness to drive so that they can advise their patients correctly. Our survey clearly shows that doctors' knowledge is poor. Many drivers may therefore be placing themselves and others at risk. It is mandatory that this subject receives more attention in undergraduate and postgraduate education and that doctors should be regularly updated on new recommendations from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Full text

PDF
624

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Grattan E., Jeffcoate G. O. Medical factors and road accidents. Br Med J. 1968 Jan 13;1(5584):75–79. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5584.75. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Hansotia P., Broste S. K. The effect of epilepsy or diabetes mellitus on the risk of automobile accidents. N Engl J Med. 1991 Jan 3;324(1):22–26. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199101033240105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. McLay P. The parkinsonian and driving. Int Disabil Stud. 1989 Jan-Mar;11(1):50–51. doi: 10.3109/02599148909166382. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Waller J. A. Chronic medical conditions and traffic safety: review of the California experience. N Engl J Med. 1965 Dec 23;273(26):1413–1420. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196512232732605. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Ysander L. The safety of drivers with chronic disease. Br J Ind Med. 1966 Jan;23(1):28–36. doi: 10.1136/oem.23.1.28. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Postgraduate Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES