Potential driving issues in combat returnees
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

System for Focal, Closed-System Central Nervous System Injury
Published on: November 29, 2024
Henry L Lew1, Melissa M Amick, Malissa Kraft
1Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), Richmond, VA, USA. Henry.Lew@VA.gov
Abstract:
The driving abilities of service members returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) have not been well reported and are an important aspect of their return to normal life. This article reviews the unique risk factors for unsafe driving in this cohort. In particular, the cognitive and psychological symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury and postraumatic stress disorder, two of the most common diagnoses affecting these returning warriors, are specified, and their possible association with impaired driving is examined. The potential negative impact of the "battlemind driving tactics" (i.e., evasive driving skills) acquired by these service members as part of their military tours is also highlighted. The article concludes with comments about the functional consequences of impaired driving in this population, including limits to participation in rehabilitation and community reintegration, as well as recognition of the need for further research in this area.
Related Concept Videos
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Cognitive Dissonance
Venous Return
What is Venous Return?
Venous return refers to the rate at which blood flows back to the heart from the body's peripheral veins. It's an integral part of the circulatory system as it...
Traumatic Memory
Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
Classification of Illness
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...

