Motoring after a stroke
After a stroke you might want to get straight behind the wheel, but don't rush - recovery can take up to two years or more. With full or near-full recovery, you may well be able to drive with standard controls. This section should help you to choose a car with built-in features that will be easier to use. It also covers the specialist products and techniques which can overcome physical disabilities. In the Helpful organisations section there are contact details for sources of expert advice.
Most of the products covered here are for driving and controlling a car. Product prices should be used for guidance only. If you can, shop around and talk to different firms as prices vary.
- Choosing a car
Things to think about if you have a disability; details of features that may help you; ways of adapting a car to suit you..jpg)
- Car controls
In depth information on types of adaptations and how to get them. It covers simple and more complex conversions
- Getting a wheelchair into a car
A run down of equipment to help you stow or carry a wheelchair, including hoists, racks and trailers
- Getting in and out of a car
Techniques that may help as you get older; helpful equipment and details of various lifting systems if you need more help
Legal requirements
You must not drive a car for at least a month after a stroke. If your GP is happy that you have made a full recovery, you can return to driving, but if you have on-going problems, you must tell the DVLA. You must also tell them about any other medical conditions such as epilepsy or diabetes. If fits are controlled by medication, you will not be licensed to drive until you have been free of fits for a year, not counting any epileptic attacks you had within 24 hours of the stroke. You will probably be asked to complete a questionnaire and to give the DVLA permission to contact your GP or hospital consultant for more information.
You may be issued with a full licence, a time-limited licence (for later review) or with a licence to drive only automatics or vehicles that have been adapted.
The DVLA may require you to attend a Mobility Centre for a driving assessment - see Plan of action.
You need to tell your insurance company of your stroke and of any special controls fitted to your car. And both the DVLA and your insurer need to be kept informed of any changes to your health or medication.
For further information on getting a driving licence, go to www.dvla.gov.uk or get What you need to know about driving licences (D100) from a post office.
Effects of a stroke
A stroke can damage any part of your brain. The effects - which can be temporary or permanent - vary hugely, depending on which part is affected and how extensive the damage is.
Physical effects commonly include weakness down one side of the body, affecting your arm, leg or both. Car adaptations can often overcome these problems: see below for summaries and our Car controls guide for more detail. Limb spasms can be controlled by medication and cars can be adapted so these won't affect the pedals. Only in severe cases will these stop you driving.
Sight can be affected by a stroke. Some eye conditions recover over time or you may learn to adapt to them - the DVLA will decide if this means that you can resume driving.
To drive you must be able to read a standard size number plate (with glasses or lenses if necessary) from 20.5 metres (67 feet) or 20 metres (65 feet) where narrower characters are used. If your visual field is restricted, you will need specialist assessment to check that it meets DVLA requirements. If it doesn't, you will not be able to drive.
Speech and language problems should not prevent you driving unless you have difficulty following road signs or learning to use adaptations.
A stroke can affect concentration, judgement, speed of thought, memory, perception and attention. These often improve and may clear completely. You need to be able to react quickly and to act logically when driving. If you can't, you may have to give up driving. A Mobility Centre can carry out a full assessment of your skills and advise on driving safely.
Tell us what you think!
After you have read this report, please answer two simple questions about it. What you tell us will be used when we update it. Click questionnaire - it opens in a new window.
next page: Choosing a car