Driving And Mental Illness.

Mental illness is the term that refers collectively to all mental disorders. Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behaviour (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.

The independence of driving, including the social interaction and convenience, can all contribute to one’s confidence living with mental illness. Many people with a diagnosis of a mental illness can drive safely. There are however, some mental illnesses for which extra precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of both the driver and other road users. Many deficits common to mental illness affect a person’s ability to drive safely. Some people have an unrealistic understanding of the effects of their illness and may not realise the extent of their difficulties. Examples such as reaction speeds, concentration, multitasking, memory etc. are required when driving.

Therefore, to be safe on the road you must:

• be aware of how your illness affects you and its implications for driving
• be aware of any affects of medication prescribed to you that may affect your ability to drive safely
• have the permission of your General Practitioner or Psychiatrist to begin, continue or return to driving.
  

Not following the correct procedure means you could be driving illegally which may have serious consequences - such as invalidating your insurance. Continuing or returning to driving may require a driving assessment, and/or a driver rehabilitation course, please see Driving Courses and Assessment for further information.

A specialist supervised driving course may be necessary for anyone with a learning difficulty or mental illness who is learning to drive for the first time. This tailored driving course pays particular attention to a person’s specific needs/skills, and ascertains their ability to acquire a competent driving standard.

When learning to drive, a vehicle with automatic transmission, may provide a more suitable alternative, enabling the learning process to be easier and quicker.