This report relates to the medical fitness of people with tumours or cerebrovascular disease to drive motor vehicles. It proposes a change to the current rules, the Regeling eisen geschiktheid 2000 (Fitness Criteria Regulations 2000). In the case of people with brain tumours the prognosis and any functional impairments are the criteria for fitness to drive. In the case of people with cerebrovascular disease the proposal is based on the risk of recurrence and the risk of other disorders, as well as any functional impairments. The proposal is likely to result in more patients with tumours or cerebrovascular disease being assessed as fit to drive on group 1 driving licenses (cars and motorcycles); in the case of group 2 licenses (heavy goods vehicles) it is generally somewhat more `stringent' than the current rules. It is worth considering amending the general regulations on people's fitness to drive, to make them more stringent. The report puts forward two suggestions: Driving licence holders should be obliged to notify the authorities if they contract a disorder that could affect their fitness to drive; and The maximum age up to which driving licenses remain valid without a further medical check-up should be reduced from 70 to 60. (Author/publisher)
Abstract