Driving after concussion: Is it safe to drive after symptoms resolve?
Limited data is available to guide when individuals should return to driving after a concussion.
Cognitive impairments in reaction time, executive function, and attention can persist even after symptoms of a concussion resolve.
Schmidt et al. compared driving performance between individuals within 48 hours following symptom resolution after a concussion with matched controls using simulated driving.
They found that concussed individuals had poorer driving performance despite being asymptomatic.
This study is limited by a small sample size (n=28), however, it raises interesting questions regarding whether driving should be restricted following concussions and how should readiness to return to driving be determined.
References
Schmidt JD, Hoffman NL, Ranchet M, et al. Driving after concussion: Is it safe to drive after symptoms resolve? J Neurotrauma. 2016 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print]
