Brain Waves: UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Newsletter Volume 16 | Number 1 | Page 3

• If you’re prone to fatigue, you
can’t maintain the stamina
needed for driving and drive tired,
which impairs all of the skills
needed to drive. You may even fall
asleep at the wheel.
Do people drive after brain injury?
Yes, but not everyone.
People with minor head injuries,
like with concussions, will not likely
have any lasting impairment of driving
skills. They can usually return to
normal driving fairly quickly.
For people with moderate to
severe brain injuries, driving isn’t
recommended in early days of
recovery. But it’s a major goal to set
and start working towards early on in
recovery.
Between 40 and 60 percent of
people with moderate to severe brain
injuries will eventually be able to
return to driving. Here’s why.
• Changes in driving skills that
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happen after brain injury can
improve over time.
Many of the skills needed for
driving can be improved with
training.
Still, many of those with moderate
to severe brain injuries don’t fully
recover all of the skills needed to
drive in all situations. Some may only
be able to drive in certain situations.
Here are a few examples.
mild ones, and don’t drive in
situations that you don’t have the
skills to manage.
Practice good driving habits and
follow traffic rules, such as stop
signs and speed limits.
Don’t use drugs or alcohol.
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Are some people unable to drive
after brain injury?
Some people simply don’t recover
the skills needed to drive safely in any
situation. Here are you some things
for you to know.
• You can ask for a driving
evaluation and training, but it’s
important to accept what the
doctors and therapists tell you.
If they decide you don’t have
the skills to drive, arguing that
your skills are as good as those
of many other drivers will not
convince anybody to let you drive.
If you can’t drive, there is no
reason to be angry with your
family about it. Your family
members are not the ones that
decided that you can’t drive.
Not being able to drive is a hassle
and can be hard to accept, but
it truly is the best for your safety
and the safety of all others on the
road.
Accessible and reliable
transportation is a critical part of
getting back into the community
after injury, so it’s important to
use other transportation options.
This can include family, friends
and public transportation.
•
•
•
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• Drive less if you get tired easily
• Drive only during the day if you
have poor night vision
• Drive only on roads you know to
•
•
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avoid getting lost or confused
Drive only when traffic is light to
avoid a lot of distractions.
Drive with your phone and radio
off to avoid distractions.
Drive only in ideal weather
What steps can I take to return to
driving?
It’s a good idea to follow 3 steps.
1. Check your state laws. Each state
If you return to driving in any way,
you always have to show good
judgement.
• When first resuming driving, have
•
a family member ride with you
and provide supervision.
Accept any loss in skills, even
2.
sets laws on returning to driving
after brain injury. For example,
states often require that a person
be free of seizures for a period of
time, such as 6 months, before
returning to driving, or be cleared
by a medical professional.
Talk with your family members
and rehab healthcare provider,
which is usually your rehab
doctor.
3. A professional evaluation of
your driving skills may be
recommended.
What’s involved in a driving
evaluation?
Your rehabilitation doctor may order
a driving evaluation by professionals
certified through the Association
for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists.
There are 2 parts to an evaluation.
Each part can be done individually or
both parts together. Each takes about
an hour to complete.
1. In-Clinic test is needed to review
2.
your driving skills and see if any
additional training is needed to
improve your driving skills.
• This test also determines
what, if any, special equipment
or vehicle modifications are
needed to help you drive safely.
An on-road driving test can review
your basic driving skills.
• This also includes how well any
special equipment and vehicle
modifications work.
After the evaluation, a report is
sent to the doctor who ordered the
evaluation. That person decides if you
can return to driving and what, if any,
limits are placed on your driving.
Here are a few common things you’ll
need for your evaluation.
•
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A doctor’s prescription
A valid driver’s license or permit
Car insurance
A list of medications you are
currently taking and prescription
eyewear if needed
Payment for the evaluation, which
usually costs around $300-400
(insurance does not cover this
expense).
Editor’s Note: This article is written
by the editor in collaboration with Dr.
Thomas Novack and Dr. Sean Hollis.
Portions of this article are adapted
from Driving After Traumatic Brain
Injury, a factsheet from the Model
Systems Knowledge Translation
Center.
UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Information Network
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