CDME Module 5: Musculoskeletal (includes Neuromuscular conditions), Renal and Other Diseases-Opinions of Expert Panel Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Safety

Opinions of Expert Panel Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Safety

Pdf Summary

This document is a summary of a report titled "Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Safety" presented to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in September 2009. The report is a result of a panel of medical experts who examined the current standards and guidelines for medical examiners pertaining to Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver safety. <br /><br />The panel made several suggestions for improvement regarding the certification of individuals with PD or MS to drive CMVs. For PD, the panel suggested that a diagnosis of PD should not exclude all individuals from driving, but rather certification may be possible in some instances if certain criteria are met. For MS, the panel suggested that a diagnosis of MS should also not exclude all individuals from driving, but certification may be possible if specific criteria are met. <br /><br />The panel also recommended the adoption of a general framework for determining fitness to drive a CMV that relies on a "functional" evaluation of multiple domains, such as cognitive, motor, perceptual, and psychiatric functions. This framework could be applied to many diseases/conditions, including those that have rarely been studied with respect to CMV driving. <br /><br />The report concludes that there is insufficient evidence to determine the criteria for when an individual with PD or MS should stop driving a CMV, the impact of pharmacotherapy for PD or MS on driver safety, the increased crash risk among individuals with MS, or the factors associated with increased crash risk among individuals with MS. <br /><br />Overall, the report highlights the need for further research and development of guidelines to ensure the safety of individuals with PD or MS who drive CMVs.

Asset Caption

Caruso G, et. al. September 2009

Keywords

Parkinson's Disease

Multiple Sclerosis

Commercial Motor Vehicle

Driver Safety

Medical Examiners

Certification Criteria

Functional Evaluation

Cognitive Functions

Motor Functions

Perceptual Functions