A recent systematic review found that 46% of patients with stroke who underwent an official road test were found to be unfit to drive. This study investigated the agreement between medical and practical fitness-to-drive recommendations after stroke.

This Beigian study included consecutive indivlduals with a diagnosis of stroke who performed an official on-road test between September of 2012 and December of 2013. A medical and driving history questionnaire was completed by the patient and referring physician before the road test. Physicians were asked to provide a medical fitness-to-drive recommendation. On-road assessors were held blind to the physicians′ recommendations. The agreement between medical and practical fitness to drive recommendations was calculated.

Of the 735 patients assessed. agreement between the physicians and on-road assessors occurred in 73% of the cases. A favorable recommendation was given by physicians in 86% of the cases and by on-road assessors in 78% (P<0.001). In cases where they disagreed, compared with the on-road assessors，fitness was overestimated by the physicians in 70% of the cases and underestimated in 30%.

This study of patients with stroke, assessed for fitness to drive, found that agreement between physicians and on-road assessors occurred in only 73% of the cases, with physicians often overestimating fitness to drive.