For many of us, driving isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity.
But what about if you live with a medical condition? Does that impact your ability behind the wheel?
Thanks to South Australian Police’s (SAPOL) Road Safety Centre, members of The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) Group’s community were given a refresher on how to stay road safe, not just for themselves but for other road users too.
Held at THRF Group – Parkinson’s Unley office in early August and September, the hour-long sessions gave attendees the chance to hear first-hand from road safety officer, Senior Constable First Class Nick Lomman.
He said while it’s possible to drive while living with a medical condition – such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, diabetes, stroke or heart disease – it’s important to listen to your body, regardless of your age.
It’s also a legal requirement for you and your doctor to report a condition that might impact your ability to drive when renewing or applying for a driver’s license.
Some medications can have the potential to impact your fitness to drive, as side effects like drowsiness or dizziness could impair your driving ability and can be classed as driving under the influence.
Snr Con FC Lomman said it’s important to have a conversation with your GP if you feel like your health or your confidence on the road is declining.
“They can either give you tips and help you gain confidence or do some tests and work out what’s going on,” he said.
If deemed necessary by your GP, you may need to undergo a short, 30-minute practical assessment which looks at your ability to control a vehicle and drive safe in traffic.
Other topics covered by Snr Con FC Lomman included fatigue, fitness to drive and the ‘fatal five’ – the five most common causes of road trauma.
He said he was pleased to provide the group with a refresher, and even more importantly, to ensure the session was relevant to this specific audience.
“If we get a group like this which is quite particular, we generally try to review our sessions and look at what is going to be beneficial. Our goal is to make it the most relevant to the target audience as we can,” he said.
