Is It Safe to Drive After a Concussion? Doctor's Recovery Tips

The Dangers of Driving With a Concussion

Suffering a concussion can be a scary ordeal. Even after the worst symptoms subside, you may still not feel like yourself. When recovering from a concussion, one of the big questions is: can you drive with a concussion? Let's take a closer look at what a concussion is, why driving with one is dangerous, and when it's safe to get back behind the wheel.

What Happens During a Concussion

A concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain caused by a blow or jolt to the head. It typically results in a brief loss of normal brain function with symptoms like:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating

During a concussion, the brain essentially gets shaken around inside the skull. This can stretch and damage brain cells, causing chemical changes and sometimes bruising or bleeding. While the symptoms may disappear within weeks, it can take months for the brain to fully heal.

The Dangers of Driving With Concussion Symptoms

Getting behind the wheel while experiencing concussion symptoms is extremely dangerous. Symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, and difficulty concentrating all impact your ability to drive safely by:

• Slowing reaction time
• Impairing coordination and motor control
• Interfering with concentration and focus
• Increasing distraction

With concussion vision problems or a foggy mental state, you may not process traffic patterns or hazards as quickly. You could drift out of your lane, run a red light, or react slowly to cars braking around you.

The Lasting Effects of Concussions

Even after concussion symptoms fade, the brain remains vulnerable. Researchers have found that concussions result in deficits in visual tracking, reaction times, and ability to multitask for weeks or even months post-injury.

One study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma tested driving skills of teenage athletes one month after concussion. While the teens felt fully recovered and were cleared to drive, results showed:

• Reaction time slowed by over 8%
• Reduced ability to simultaneously brake and respond to road signs
• Poorer overall driving performance

The researchers concluded the teen drivers were still at increased risk behind the wheel, even without obvious symptoms present.

When Is It Safe to Drive After a Concussion

Recovering from concussion requires patience. While you may feel back to normal in a matter of days or weeks, medical experts recommend waiting for complete recovery before driving to ensure you don't put yourself and others at risk.

Follow Your Doctor's Advice

Don't rush back to driving after a concussion. Your doctor is the best judge of when your brain has healed enough for driving safety. They may recommend restrictions like:

• No driving until concussion symptoms have cleared for a set time period, typically at least several days.
• Starting with short, low-risk drives close to home.
• Driving only during certain times of day, such as daylight hours.
• Having another licensed adult ride with you at first.

With an expert medical assessment of your recovery, you can feel more confident that you won't be putting yourself or others in harm's way when you get back on the road.

Pass Cognitive and Physical Testing

Even after concussion symptoms disappear, specialized tests can detect lingering deficits. Tests that challenge coordination, reaction time, focus, tracking ability, and multi-tasking can reveal problems that make driving unsafe. Discuss testing options with your medical provider before returning to independent driving.

Listen to Your Body

Pay close attention to subtle physical or mental signals that you may not be 100% yet. Symptoms like fatigue, irritability, mild headache, or "feeling off" after driving short distances, reading, or using screens may indicate you jumped the gun. Don't ignore signs your brain needs more rest before taking the wheel.

The Safest Path Back to Driving

Recovering fully before driving ensures you don't put anyone on the road in danger, including yourself. While waiting can be frustrating, returning too soon can have devastating consequences if your reaction time, coordination, or focus fail you in a critical moment. Listen to medical advice, take things slow, and confirm full recovery through testing whenever possible.

With patience and caution, you can feel confident youve regained adequate cognitive ability for safe driving after concussion. Put safety first so when you do get back behind the wheel, you can focus on enjoying the ride.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.