Medical handicaps to driving. The pysician's dilemma in evaluation.

The physician who examines a patient for impairment to driving must consider the welfare of the community which will be exposed to the patient's driving in addition to the welfare of the patient himself. The medical opinion on physical and mental fitness to drive should be based upon consideration of:1. Extent and nature of driving exposure.2. Relation of organ system involved to medical requirements of the driving task.3. Duration of condition and nature of adaptability.4. Predicted speed of onset of medical crisis.5. Evaluation of the patient and his environment as a totality. An informed medical society traffic safety committee can be of great assistance to the practicing physician and to the Department of Motor Vehicles in evaluating medical hazards in driving in special cases. Most regulations concerning impairment to driving are currently based upon consensus of expert opinion since statistically valid data are not yet available.