Medical review process and license disposition of drivers referred by law enforcement in Virginia |
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| Affiliation: | 1. TransAnalytics, LLC, 336 West Broad Street, Quakertown, PA 18951, USA;2. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Driver Services Division, Medical Review Services, Richmond, VA, USA;3. U.S.DOT/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20590, USA;1. Haematology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia;2. Sydney Centres for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Westmead, NSW, Australia;3. Royal College of Pathology of Australasia Quality Assurance Program (RCPAQAP) Haematology, St Leonards, NSW, Australia;4. ECAT Foundation (External quality Control for Assays and Tests), Voorschoten, The Netherlands;5. UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield, UK;6. Department of Haematology and Cell Biology, University of the Free State and National Health Laboratory Services, Bloemfontein, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | IntroductionMedically at-risk drivers come to the attention of licensing authorities through referrals from a variety of sources, including: physicians, family members, court systems, and law enforcement. A recently sponsored project by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration examined a training intervention for law enforcement to increase their awareness of medical conditions and medications that impair driving and the procedures for reporting these drivers in Virginia.MethodA component of this project included an evaluation of the medical review process and licensing outcomes for 100 drivers randomly selected from a pool of over 1,000 drivers referred from law enforcement officers to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles over a 6-month period in 2007 and 2008 prior to any training program intervention.ResultsKey findings from the evaluation of 100 drivers referred for medical review by law enforcement were as follows. Over two-thirds of the drivers came to the attention of the referring officer because they were involved in a crash. The most prevalent indications of a medical condition or functional impairment provided by law enforcement for these referrals were: loss of consciousness, blackout, or seizures (28%); disorientation, confusion, and mental disability (16%); and physical impairments (8%). Eighty-eight percent of the drivers received some type of licensing action (e.g., restriction, suspension, or periodic review). Only 12% of the referred drivers did not require any licensing action.ConclusionsLaw enforcement provides a vital role in the identification and referral of medically impaired drivers to licensing authorities for reexamination. Training programs can inform law enforcement officers of the signs of medical impairment (both on-road behavior, and physical and psychological clues once a driver has been pulled over), and procedures for reporting their observations and concern for safety to licensing authorities.Impact on IndustryReexamination of drivers with functional and medical impairments and any consequent restrictions and/or periodic reporting requirements can improve the safety and mobility of these drivers, and the motoring public as well. |
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