[Legal aspects of driving and cardiovascular diseases : Guidelines of German Cardiac Society and the German government in comparison].

BACKGROUND

The general regulations for an active participation in the road traffic in the Federal Republic of Germany are laid down in the Driving License Ordinance ("Fahrerlaubnisverordnung" ) (including appendices). Cardiovascular diseases with a need for precautionary measures and the circumstances according to which the driving fitness is to be determined are reviewed in appendix 4 of the ordinance. The guidelines of the Federal Highway Research Institute ("Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen") must also be considered when assessing the fitness to drive.

OBJECTIVES

Presentation of the current legal recommendations in the assessment of the driving fitness in the respect to cardiovascular diseases.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The current official regulations and the recommendations on the fitness to drive in the case of cardiovascular diseases were assessed. In addition, the pocket guidelines of the German Society for Cardiology (DGK) on the subject were reviewed.

RESULTS

As the type of vehicle and time at the wheel influence the probability and the extent of damage in the case of a traffic accident, the official requirements for driving aptitude distinguish between private (group 1) and professional drivers (group 2). The official recommendations for assessing fitness to drive in the case of cardiac arrhythmias, device therapy, coronary heart disease, cardiac insufficiency, valve diseases and syncope are presented.

CONCLUSION

Driving fitness plays an important role in the cardiological patient collective and should be determined in accordance with the official recommendations. For everyday clinical practice, the DGK recommendations for fitness to drive are presented in a clearer and more practice-relevant manner.