[Driver's license, driving habits and traffic safety of patients with diabetes mellitus].

Motoring practices of diabetic drivers are similar to those of the average driving population. Due to the sudden onset of disabling hypoglycemia and the long-term complications of the disease, particularly retinopathy, one might assume that diabetic drivers are more prone to road traffic accidents than the average driver; however, the risk is not increased. The Council of the European Union recently laid down guidelines for dealing with this problem, which will lead to the introduction of a new law in Austria governing driving licensing. This legislation is currently under consideration. We recommend that discrimination between patients requiring therapeutic regimens with potential hypoglycemic side effects (insulin and/or sulphonylureas) and those who are not at risk of hypoglycemia (controlled by diet only or oral antidiabetic drugs other than sulphonylureas) should be legally defined by the licensing authorities. Furthermore, the legal enforcement of participation by diabetic drivers in a structured teaching programme, with the special aim of informing on traffic attitudes and avoidance of hypoglycemia while driving, might be of great importance for safety on the road.