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Abstract
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Medical examination of all applicants for driver's licenses has long been mandatory in Sweden. No study to determine the value of this medical examination has ever been undertaken.
The investigation reported on here is based on 2,000 health declarations and doctors' reports, traffic-hazardous illnesses and disorders reported by physicians to county medical officers, medical driver's-license cases handled by the Legal-Medical Council of The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, etc.
The results of the investigation are presented under two major headings:
- First-time-driver's license applicants; and
- Former holders of driver's licenses.
The results of the investigation do not support the mandatory medical examination of all driver's-license applicants. It is proposed, however, that said medical-examination requirement be retained for professional drivers, because of the special demands imposed on that category of motor-vehicle operator.
All applicants for driver's license should undergo a vision test. Such a test would not necessarily have to be performed by a physician.
The requirement for doctors to report to the driver licensing authorities certain illnesses and/or disorders on the part of any of their patients who are licensed drivers is called into question. |