Driving after stroke
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Getting back on the road is important to many stroke survivors.
Following a stroke, no matter how good the recovery, a person must not drive a motor vehicle until medical clearance has been given. Most of the information on this page and other helpful advice can be found in our free Life After Stroke book.
We also have a fact sheet about driving and transport in our 'Free resources' section.
Sometimes a person feels very strongly that they want and are able to resume driving, regardless of advice, and it may be necessary to remove the car keys. The effects of the stroke can not only affect driving ability, but make the person unaware that any problem exists.
Assessment of fitness to drive
Driving assessments are carried out by a specialist occupational therapist, or by specialist driving instructors who provide services for disabled drivers throughout New Zealand. For further information phone the national disability information service on freephone 0800 362 253. Not every person who has had a stroke will need to undergo this assessment.
Unfitness to drive
If the doctor has decided a person is not fit to resume driving, and this opinion is not accepted, a second opinion may be sought from another medical practitioner (e.g. an appropriate specialist), at the person's expense. The person should receive a copy of any report provided by the second doctor.
If the second opinion confirms that the person is medically unfit to drive, the person should surrender their driving licence or otherwise make a commitment not to drive. If they are unwilling to do this, the doctor has a legal obligation to notify the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), who will review the issue and may consider it necessary to take away the licence.
Before notifying the NZTA, the doctor must explain the procedure to the person and advise exactly what information will be given to the NZTA.
If a person who has been assessed as unfit to drive does not give up their licence voluntarily, they may be visited at home by a member of the police and asked to hand over their licence.
Driving as a job
People who have had a stroke are generally not granted licences for vocational driving, such as licences for heavy vehicles or to carry passengers. In some cases, a return to driving may be considered if there has been a full and complete recovery, or a licence may be granted with conditions.