Mental illness is linked with a higher risk of dangerous driving; e.g. patients with neurotic disorders have 50% more accidents than controls and 10% of drivers involved in accidents have reported feeling suicidal. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) have provided guidance related to fitness to drive for those with mental illness. In this context we intended to study the risk factors associated with psychiatric inpatients related to driving and whether concerns have been documented in clinical reviews.

Case notes of 100 randomly selected psychiatric inpatients in one calendar month were evaluated including: their driving status; concerns regarding driving based on their clinical status (Diagnosis, Medications, Side effects); any clinical advice given and communication with DVLA in the previous one year, were ascertained from electronic records. Missing values were not included in calculation.

The sample consisted of 51 female and 49 male patients (mean age 39.7±13.5 and 39.1±12.7 respectively), with the majority 69% from Caucasian ethnicity; 64% were informal. There was no difference noted in driving status based on ethnicity or legal status on admission.

On admission 33% of patients reported that they were not driving, 12% were driving, 2% refused to answer and in more than half (53%) driving status was not documented. Considering some of the risk factors for driving, persistent alcohol use was noted in 39.8%, drug use in 34.4%, personality disorder 37%, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autistic spectrum disorder in 4%, being on medications with side effects that may impair driving 80.8%, having side effects that impair driving 10%, and suicidality 54.5%. Only in a minority of cases were fitness to drive related issues discussed in their last review (3%), in progress notes (1%), or in discharge notes (2%). There was no documentation related to communication with the DVLA for any patients.

The results suggest there is a need to record the driving status of psychiatric inpatients and to discuss driving related concerns when considering mental state, medications and side effects. Information related to driving should be given to patients, and DVLA should be notified as appropriate. This might help in improving safety related to driving by psychiatric patients.