OOs fail Department's fitness to drive test

Many optometrists are unable to distinguish between medically unfit drivers, borderline drivers and fit drivers, according to research from the University of Warwick.

The study, undertaken for the Department of Transport, also revealed uncertainty about which healthcare professionals were responsible for informing patients how their condition could affect their ability to drive.

Optometrists were among the healthcare professionals the study accused of failing to advise people with medical conditions that could affect their ability to drive whether or not they should be driving a motor vehicle.

A team from the university assessed the knowledge and attitudes of 1,519 healthcare professionals, of which the largest groups were optometrists, doctors and hospital nurses, towards advising patients about their fitness to drive.