Driving a car requires a complex set of cognitive, perceptual and motor skills. Although it is practiced often and parts of driving become more or less automatic processes (e.g., using the gear), several other skills and abilities used during driving require active attention and concentration (e.g., anticipation of other traffic). In fact, the majority of traffic accidents are caused by driver inattention (Peden, et al., 2004). Patients (and healthy people) often regard driving a car as a right and not a privilege (Beauregard, et al., 1995). However, frequently legislation precludes driving under the influence of psychoactive drugs, with elevated blood alcohol or after using illicit drugs such as cannabis and stimulant drugs. This legislation is based on continuing research showing impairing effects of various drugs on driving performance. For example, various anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs have a negative effect on driving ability and patients who use these drugs have an increased likelihood of becoming involved in traffic accidents (Verster, et al., 2005, 2006). The restrictive use of these drugs when it comes to participation in driving on public roads is warranted; however, this should not be applied if the prescribed medication has the potential of improving driving performance of a certain patient group. (Author/publisher)
Abstract