Medical accessment of fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers

This article describes a needs assessment conducted in regards to edification of General Practitioner (GP) physician training and education in the determination of medical 'fitness to drive,' at a recent Irish College of General Practitioners' meeting. 62 GP physicians participated in the aforementioned survey. Nearly all are involved in certifying people to drive. Difficult issues such as the aging driver, the driver who needs particular medication, or driving with visual impairment were highlighted by those surveyed. All GPs identified gaps in the existing guidelines, national legislation, and standards that offer recommendations regarding 'fitness to drive' in Ireland. The solutions proposed by the participants to address these gaps generally fell into 2 main categories: 1) easier access to clear medical guidelines and training, ideally through publications or websites, or 2) the option for case referral to a medical doctor with expertise in transportation medicine.