1. Report No.

DOT HS 809 690

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

 Medical Conditions and Driving:  A Review of the Scientific Literature (1960-2000)

5. Report Date

September 2005

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)
Bonnie M. Dobbs, Ph.D.

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
P. O. Box 4176
Barrington, Illinois 60011-4176

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTNH22-94-G-05297

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Dr. John Eberhard served as the NHTSA Contracting Officer's Technical Representative for the study. Ms. Elaine (Petrucelli) Wodzin of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine served as the Project Principal Investigator. Drs. Maria Vegega (NHTSA) and Bonnie Dobbs completed the final report.

16. Abstract

This report reviews the contribution of medical conditions and functional limitations (e.g., sensory, motor, or cognitive functioning) to motor vehicle crashes. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the international research literature on the effects of medical and functional 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 contains a brief overview of the condition/illness; prevalence information; a review of the medical, gerontological, and epidemiological literature relevant to the condition/illness, followed by current fitness to drive guidelines for the condition/illness from Canada and Australia. The Appendix presents preliminary guidelines for physicians to assess medical fitness-to-drive. The report is a scholarly but practical compendium that can serve as a valuable resource for physicians, rehabilitation practitioners, other allied health care professionals and educators, Department of Motor Vehicle personnel, road and traffic safety personnel, transportation planners, highway safety researchers, and public policymakers. Its value is particularly relevant as the driving population increases in size and age.

17. Key Words

Medical conditions, functional ability, older driver safety, physician guidelines to driving.

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

19. Security Classif. (Of this report)
Unclassified

20. Security Classif. (Of this page)
Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

22. Price