Some were putting themselves and others at risk due to their psychological, emotional, and cognitive problems

Report author

The report said: "Although most of those people who had returned to driving were physically competent to drive a vehicle, it may be argued that some were putting themselves and others at risk due to their psychological, emotional, and cognitive problems."

The 30 month study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, looked at 563 head injured patients.

Of the 381 of these who drove before the injury, only 139 of them had returned to driving.

Author Carol Hawley found that:

• Almost half of the drivers reported suffering behavioural problems such as anger, aggression and irritability
• More than one in six still suffered memory problems.
• Over a quarter still had visual problems and problems with concentration and attention.

It comes as no surprise to the charity that many brain injury survivors may not be fit to drive

Bill Alker, Headway

A spokesman for the DVLA said it currently issued guidelines to consultants and GPs on fitness to drive and that these were available on the internet.

He said: "When assessing fitness to drive, the DVLA will always consider both the mental and physical problems that may be associated with head injuries."

But Bill Alker, of the head injuries support group Headway, said he was concerned that many might still be driving.

"It comes as no surprise to the charity that many brain injury survivors may not be fit to drive.

"The report may support Headway's view that brain injury is very much a hidden disability and the multitudes of areas of disability that its effects are not always seen."