A useful method to assess fitness to drive

Purpose and goal

Although many drivers are unfit to drive due to medical conditions such as stroke and dementia, few drivers are reported to The Swedish Transport Agency. The results of the present project include an assessment method with specific cognitive tests that can be used by clinicians in primary care settings when assessing patient’s fitness to drive. Moreover, a database has been completed with the aim to facilitate the analyse of the patients’ tests results in a valid way. The test norms that is included in the database has also been improved to respective tests and for all age groups.

Expected results and effects

Several partners have been involved in the project, both regionally and nationally in Sweden. This has resulted in a positive distribution of the results and method in the project. As the fitness to drive assessments have increased during the project it can contribute to improved road safety and also might lead to less car accidents caused by clearly medically unfit drivers.

Planned approach and implementation

The assessment method has been implemented in the public primary care setting Närhälsan Rehab, in Västra Götaland and are used by more than 20 clinicans. The method is today regularly used on patients with cognitive impairments due to different medical conditions. In addition, clinicians in other parts of Sweden have also started to use the database as a tool to help analyzing the patients test results when they perform driving assessments.