[Principles of evaluating driving ability for neurological and psychiatric diseases]

If attending physicians and psychologists recognize restricted or a lack of driving ability they are obliged to inform their patients appropriately. In Germany the legal basis for assessing driving ability is the "Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung" (FeV, driving licence act), supplemented by guidelines for evaluating driving ability. In each individual case it has to be clarified whether and to what extent permanent or paroxysmally occurring disorders affect driving ability and whether lack of insight ability or personality defects are a threat to driving safety. In addition, it has to be considered whether compensation opportunities exist that enable restricted driving ability. If an expert opinion is requested by the driving licence authority in Germany the medical expert must have a specific qualification and should not be the attending physician.