Here is the shocking statistic - 3,000 people die in crashes in Canada each year, and about 1/3, or 1,000, of those deaths can be linked to medically unfit drivers. This is according to Dr. Donald Redelmeier, a senior scientist with the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences in Toronto. He has been involved in a study that has proven that 1/3 of drivers involved in serious car accidents were suffering from a chronic medical condition that contributed to the crashes.

The study involved 1,605 drivers that were taken to Sunnybrook Hospital after they had been involved in a car accident from June 30, 1996 – June 30, 2001. If the attending physician determined that alcohol abuse, neurological disorders such as dementia, and/or certain cardiovascular conditions or procedures may have contributed to the accident, then that patient’s medical records were studied to determine whether the patient had previously been diagnosed with the aforementioned conditions and to make note of his previous visits to the doctor. Although it is extremely difficult to believe, almost all of these patients had seen a doctor within the previous 12 months and their doctors were clearly aware of their conditions. But, almost none of them had been reported as required by law. What is not surprising is that 72% of those with a reportable condition suffered from alcohol abuse.

We have laws in place that require doctors to notify the licensing authorities of anyone that has developed a condition or conditions that would make then unfit to drive. The Ontario Highway Safety Act defines this as any person who “is suffering from a condition that may make it dangerous for the person to operate a motor vehicle.” After the person is reported by a doctor, some conditions require the immediate suspension of their driver’s license, while others may require the driver to be retested.

Since the medical profession is clearly not obeying the law and serving the public’s best interests, Dr. Redelmeier is suggesting that the law be expanded to require that family members, insurance companies, and even mechanics be required to report a medically unsafe driver. This is not about being unkind. It’s about saving lives! What do you think about expanding the law beyond the medical profession?