IF like me you have been driving for more years than you care to remember, you take your time behind the wheel for granted – but a brain injury can change all that.
Driving is a complex activity which requires both cognitive and physical skills as well as the ability to co-ordinate the two.
Anyone unfortunate enough to suffer a brain injury could find either of these skills impaired – potentially threatening their ability to drive.
And if you are a company car driver that could pose a risk to your livelihood in the future.
Fortunately according to Headway, the brain injury association, many people who have sustained such injuries retain most of their previous driving abilities and are able to return to driving soon afterwards.
As a general rule drivers with an ordinary car or motorcycle licence (Group 1) should stop driving for six to 12 months after a “significant” head injury, however each case is judged on an individual basis.
For professional drivers with a Group 2 licence the standards of health and driving ability are higher and different rules apply. In such cases it’s possible that the Group 2 licence will be suspended for a period but the Group 1 licence can be retained.
Either way you have to inform the DVLA after which a decision will be made about whether you can keep your licence or have to get a new one. If your application is turned down you can re-apply at a later date.
Some people may be asked to undergo a driving assessment while others are given time-limited licences after which fitness to drive will be re-assessed .
In certain cases drivers may be allowed to drive after having special controls fitted to their vehicle to overcome any physical disability while others may be issued with a licence allowing them to only drive automatic transmission cars.
Headway says that anyone who has suffered a brain injury might find it difficult to accept that while they still have the technical “know how” for driving, other emotional and intellectual capacities have been damage -such as poor concentration, reduced reaction times or even the ability to control one’s temper in certain situations on the road.
On the other hand purely physical disabilities without cognitive (thinking) impairments are relatively uncommon.
Those that could impact on driving ability include problems with movement, weakness of limbs, fatigue and loss of hearing or other senses. These can often be overcome by fitting adaptations to the car.
Other things which could potentially have a bearing on your ability to drive after a brain injury include problems with vision – you will not be able to drive if your visual field is reduced – or suffering seizures.
There is a higher than average risk of epilepsy after certain types of brain injury and it’s important to take professional advice in such circumstances.
Detailed information is included on the Epilepsy Action website.
Headway suggests that if you have any doubt at all about your ability to drive it’s sensible to visit a Mobility Centre where you can get an on and off-road driving assessment.
The centres provide an impartial assessment of individual problems and will tell you whether your injury means you should drive or not. There is normally a fee of around £80.
Comfortingly, only about 10 per cent of people assessed at mobility centres are advised to stop driving.
