Table 4:
Health conditions that may contribute to risk of collision fatality
| Health condition | Mandatory testing | Method for testing* |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | ||
| Visual acuity loss | Yes† | Visual acuity test |
| Visual field defect | Commercial divers only | Visual field test |
| Diplopia | No | Examination by a physician |
| Cognition | ||
| Alcohol dependence | No | Questionnaire |
| Sleep disorder | No | Sleep study |
| Dementia | No | Cognitive test |
| Psychiatric disorder | No | Examination by a physician |
| Seizure | No | Electroencephalography |
| Concussion | No | Cognitive test |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Diabetes mellitus | Commercial drivers only | Glucose diary, laboratory investigation (acetated hemoglobin level) |
| Hearing loss | Commercial drivers only | Audiometry |
| Aortic aneurism | No | Imaging study |
Note: Adapted from the CMA’s driver’s guide: determining medical fitness to operate motor vehicles, 8th edition.24
*
Specific methods for screening are generally based on criteria for commercial drivers.
†
All provinces and territories require testing for visual acuity and also impose a statutory duty on physicians relating to warning patients who are potentially unfit to drive. The duty to warn and report is mandatory in all provinces and territories, with the exceptions of Alberta, Nova Scotia and Quebec.