This Friday marks National ADHD Day (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in Spain. This disorder, of a neurobiological nature and originating in childhood, tends to last into adolescence and adult life. Those who suffer from it usually have difficulties maintaining attention and lack of impulse control, which manifests itself in hyperactive-impulsive behavior.
People who suffer from ADHD can acquire the skills necessary to perform certain tasks that require concentration, organization, and attention to detail. Despite being a psychiatric problem, ADHD, in general, does not incapacitate driving, since the attentional processes involved can be worked on to achieve efficient and safe driving, highlights Patricia Pérez, DGT psychologist in the magazine Traffic and Road Safety. .
However, the ability to drive must be assessed individually by the health authority, as stated in the General Regulations for Drivers.
Various studies conclude that drivers with ADHD adopt risky behaviors more frequently, commit more violations and have a greater risk of being involved in traffic accidents. But the probability of suffering a road accident alone is 1.36 times higher in people with ADHD, compared to drivers without this disorder, according to a study carried out by Allison Curry, director of epidemiology and biostatistics at the Center for Research and Injury Prevention at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (USA). This figure is similar to that of other patients, such as those who suffer from cardiovascular disorders.
Regarding infractions, the investigations carried out so far conclude that they are more related to speeding than to alcohol and drug consumption.
Alcohol and drugs continue to be two of the great scourges of road safety in Spain. Despite awareness campaigns, there are still many drivers who get behind the wheel after having consumed these substances, compromising their lives and those of other road users. Precisely due to this reason, the authorities systematically carry out preventive alcohol and drug controls.
Some people diagnosed with ADHD may be under treatment with medications that contain substances that could give a positive result in a drug test. This is the case of lisdexamfetamine, a prodrug derived from amphetamines, which is usually taken by people with this disorder.
Amphetamines are one of the five different types of drugs that traffic agents can detect in a control. The kits used to collect saliva samples also identify four other types of narcotic substances: cocaine, methamphetamines, cannabis and opiates.
The Traffic Law establishes the prohibition of driving any vehicle with the presence of drugs in the body. The rule excludes substances “that are used under medical prescription and for therapeutic purposes,” and emphasizes that the motorist must be able to use the vehicle. “In people with ADHD, treatment with amphetamine derivatives reduces the risk of suffering a traffic accident. It is paradoxical, but this is confirmed by various international studies,” says Ana Ferrer, head of the Toxicology Unit of the Zaragoza Clinical Hospital and president of the Spanish Foundation of Clinical Toxicology.
However, when a driver with ADHD tests positive for drugs, they cannot continue driving, even if they provide the corresponding medical prescription. The fine will be void if the certificate provided by the offending person is dated prior to the complaint. You must also specify that the medication you are taking is prescribed by a doctor.
“In the event that the disorder implies risks for driving – something that the health authority must always assess – the validity of the permit could be lost, the DGT points out. “They are loss of validity of psychophysical abilities, always detected by the health authority,” adds a Traffic source.
Now, one of the biggest problems surrounding drivers who suffer from ADHD originates when they have not been properly diagnosed or treated. In these cases there is a potential risk for road safety, says Sebastià Sánchez Marín, president of the Mobility and Safety Psychology section of the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia.
“People diagnosed and undergoing treatment can drive with the same guarantees as the rest. But undiagnosed people are a danger to road safety. They could have gaps in concentration or impulsive reactions, if they are hyperactive, and cause an accident,” says the psychologist.
