Mental health plays a vital role in our daily lives and its influence extends to areas we often overlook, such as driving. The connection between mental health and road safety is closely related to drivers’ ability to make appropriate decisions, stay focused, and control their emotions while behind the wheel.
When driving, we need to maintain both physical and emotional control to make the right decisions. Therefore, it is essential to try to ensure that our mental health is in an optimal state to be able to face the challenges that come with getting behind the wheel.
Various pathologies and altered emotional states that disable driving are included in the General Regulations for Drivers (RGC). These are behaviors that can put the safety of those who share the road with us at risk. For this reason, it is essential that affected individuals seek professional help if necessary to address any issues that may affect their ability to drive safely.
Delirium, dementia or schizophrenia are some of these pathologies that the RGC includes. Although these are pathologies that disable driving, the law provides that, exceptionally “and with a favorable opinion from a neurologist or psychiatrist”, the validity of the non-professional driver’s license may be limited to one year. For professionals, no exceptions are contemplated.
The limitation is more flexible in mood disorders, ADHD or personality disorders. The validity of the permit is at the discretion of the physician. The requirement is greater when the IQ drops below 70, although between 50 and 70 driving can be authorized if there is a favorable report, explains the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) in the magazine Traffic and Road Safety.
However, if the patient presents an unfavorable report from the specialist doctor or psychologist or simply does not present one, he or she will not be able to obtain or renew the driver’s license. Likewise, the regulations say that obtaining or renewing the license is not permitted if you are taking any medication that affects your ability to drive.
One of the big problems that arises among people who suffer from mental disorders is the poor perception of risk while driving. “None of the patients treated in the mental health unit declared their illness or treatment to the authorities or went to the recognition centers,” say Eva Muiño and Alejandro González Piñeiro, from the Traffic and Security Group of the Official College of Psychology of Galicia, in statements collected by Traffic and Road Safety.
Another added problem when assessing the influence of certain medications on driving is that tranquilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotics or euthymizers (mood stabilizers) are prescribed in primary and specialized care. Furthermore, 40% of drivers ignore the meaning of the pictogram that warns about its influence on driving, according to the study Medication and driving, a Molotov cocktail, by Fesvial and Línea Directa.
Although some psychotropic drugs do not incapacitate driving, they could be detected in a control. In the event of a positive result at a roadblock, having the prescription for the psychotropic drug and the medical report that supports its prescription will be key when justifying this circumstance. The fine for testing positive in a control is 1,000 euros and the withdrawal of 6 points, which will be void if the prescription is proven in the instruction.
