Fainting at the Wheel: To Drive or Not to Drive? Primum Non Nocere.

Fainting at the wheel has major implications both for the driver and public, with significant repercussions that can increase the risk of harm and lead to social restrictions for the implicated driver. However, the evidence that support our current recommendations and driving restrictions after a transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) perceived to be related to a syncopal episode remain rather limited. 1 Guzman J.C. Morillo C.A. Syncope and driving. Cardiol Clin. 2015; 33: 465-471 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar , 2 Raj S.R. Driving restrictions in patients following syncope is difficult for physicians. Auton Neurosci. 2009; 151: 71-73 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar , 3 Sorajja D. Nesbitt G.C. Hodge D.O. et al. Syncope while driving: clinical characteristics, causes, and prognosis. Circulation. 2009; 120: 928-934 Crossref PubMed Scopus (56) Google Scholar Syncope and Traffic Crash: A Population-Based Case-Crossover AnalysisCanadian Journal of CardiologyPreviewAmong individuals with recent syncope, recurrence of syncope while driving might incapacitate a driver and cause a motor vehicle crash. Current driving restrictions assume that some forms of syncope transiently increase crash risk. We evaluated whether syncope is associated with a transient increase in crash risk. Full-Text PDF