This paper describes the development of an assessment to assist in determining whether people with acquired neurological disabilities are fit to drive. Cognitive testing can serve two purposes. It may be used as part of a comprehensive assessment procedure at specialist driving centres. The cognitive assessment is one component of an assessment package which usually includes on road assessment. The other use for cognitive assessment is to screen patients before referral to a specialist driving assessment centre. In most instances fitness to drive can probably be assessed on the road. However, to refer every patient to a specialist centre with on road testing facilities would be impractical. The aim of the present studies was to develop a screening assessment which could be used to decide whether a patient was definitely unfit to drive. These people could be advised not to drive on the basis of the assessment alone and the others who were possibly fit could be assessed further. The Stroke Drivers Screening Assessment (SDSA) was validated on stroke patients, but may have a role in the assessment of fitness to drive in patients with other acquired neurological disabilities. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the predictive validity of the Stroke Drivers Screening Assessment in patients with a range of acquired neurological conditions. The Stroke Drivers Screening Assessment was not found to be a good predictor of performance on the road in patients with acquired neurological disabilities. The pattern of performance on the road and on the SDSA differed according to the diagnostic grouping of the patient. Screening measures, for selecting patients to be referred to specialist driving assessment centres, need to be developed for the main diagnostic groups of patients with acquired neurological disorders. (A)
Samenvatting