Review of fitness-to-drive requirements relating to the use of medicines

Some medicines affect people’s ability to drive. The fitness-to-drive requirements for people using medicines of this kind needed to be revised. The Committee on fitness-to-drive sorted out which modifications were needed to render the chapter on medicines.

Individuals who have been using Category III medicines are in general not fit for driving. The Health Council proposes to make an exception to individuals who have been using Category III antidepressants. After some time they can be declared fit to drive, based on a declaration from an independent physician and subject to certain conditions.

Individuals who have been using Category II medicines are in general fit for driving. The Health Council proposes that specific requirements be included for professional drivers. Any such drivers who are taking a Category II medicines must be able to submit a declaration from an independent physician stating that they are not suffering from adverse effects that might impair their ability to drive safely, as a result of taking the medicines in question.

The Health Council proposes that the new chapter on medicines should include references to the KNMP’s fitness-to-drive recommendations for each individual medicine.