Is It Safe to Drive with a Mild Concussion? Tips for Driving Readiness

Driving Safety with a Mild Concussion

Experiencing even a mild concussion can be scary. While most symptoms clear up within 7-10 days, recovery varies for each person. An important question is whether or not it's safe to drive with a mild concussion before you feel 100% healed.

Definition of Mild Concussion

A concussion refers to a traumatic head injury causing your brain to shake inside the skull. Doctors diagnose severity based on symptoms like:

• Loss of consciousness - mild is no loss or under 30 minutes
• Memory problems - mild has temporary confusion
• Headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue - mild is several symptoms with no aggression

The less severe your symptoms, the more likely you’ll recover fully within days or weeks.

Driving Risks

Doctors typically recommend not driving for at least a few days after a head injury. Even if you feel fine, a concussion can temporarily worsen:

• Processing speed
• Concentration
• Memory
• Alertness and coordination

These impacts on thinking and reaction time make driving unsafe soon after an injury. However, recovering from a very mild concussion differs from more severe brain trauma.

Can I Drive After a Mild Concussion?

Let’s take a closer look at the evidence around driving safely after a mild concussion specifically.

Do Symptoms Impact Driving Abilities?

In a recent study, researchers tested driving performance in people with persistent mild concussion symptoms. They found:

• The worse the symptoms, the slower participants reacted to hazards
• Those with severe headache and fatigue performed worst
• Self-reports didn’t match actual driving impairment

So even mild remaining symptoms can indicate you are not ready to drive safely again yet after a concussion.

What If I Feel Fully Healed?

Other research shows that even when a person feels 100% healed from a concussion, they may still have delayed response times for up to a month after the head injury.

In driving simulation tests, participants had slower braking reaction times and impaired ability to avoid collisions despite reporting no more symptoms.

Therefore, self-assessments can underestimate lingering effects of brain trauma after a concussion. Just because you feel cured doesn't mean you're ready to handle driving risks.

Talk to Your Doctor

The safest way to know if you can resume driving is to discuss it with the doctor overseeing your concussion recovery. They may recommend:

Gradual Return to Driving

Easing back into driving slowly can help assess safety. Start with short trips under 15 minutes close to home in ideal road conditions at non-peak times. Pay attention to any symptoms triggered by driving.

Post-Concussion Testing

Formal assessments like neurocognitive testing and driving simulation exams can provide objective clearance for driving again after concussion recovery. These tests evaluate areas like:

• Processing speed
• Divided attention
• Working memory
• Scanning and visual tracking

Normal test performance helps confirm your brain functioning has healed enough to drive without excess risk.

Doctor's Approval Letter

If needed, your doctor can write an official letter stating you are medically approved to start driving again after your mild concussion. Present this to any authorities requesting clearance verification.

Personal Driving Readiness Checklist

In addition to your doctor's advice, also self-monitor driving readiness signs including:

• No more headaches, fatigue, etc
• No dizziness/vertigo
• No medication side effects
• Full concentration ability
• Normal reaction times

Pay attention on initial drives to see if any concussion after-effects kick in. Don't hesitate to wait longer if needed.

Tips for Safe Driving After Concussion

Once your doctor determines you can drive again, keep these tips in mind:

Start Slowly

Build back up driving time gradually. Begin with essential trips under 15 minutes before progressing back to your normal routine.

Minimize Distractions

Avoid driving conditions with potential distractions like loud music, stressful conversations, cell phone use, unclear directions, etc. Focus all mental energy on driving safely.

Take Breaks

On longer drives, stop every 30-60 minutes to walk around, stretch, hydrate, and check for recurring concussion symptoms. Breaks allow recovery time for any cognitive overload before problems arise.

Reassess Challenging Drives

After a concussion, reconsider driving in hazardous conditions requiring extra focus like bad weather, unfamiliar routes, heavy traffic, thick fog, or poor lighting until fully confident in ability.

What If Symptoms Return While Driving?

Allowing time for full healing is crucial after a concussion since over-exertion risks prolonging symptoms. If any return while driving such as:

• Headache or dizziness
• Nausea
• Blurred vision
• Confusion

Pull over safely right away. Call someone to pick you up or take public transportation instead of continuing until symptoms disappear again. Then re-consult your doctor about what happened before trying to drive again.

Key Takeaways

While recovering from even a mild concussion, don't drive again until medically cleared to do so safely. A gradual return, self-checks for readiness, and smart precautions can help avoid reinjury or car accidents.

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.