The list of diseases that prevent driving a car has been expanded with controversial diagnoses

From March 1, 2027, the traffic police will have access to the medical records of Russians. This means that if you receive a diagnosis that limits your ability to drive a vehicle, your driver’s license will be revoked. At the same time, the list of diagnoses was expanded to include disorders that do not necessarily affect driving. “New Europe” figured out what would change for drivers.

What diagnoses may prevent you from obtaining/renewing your license?

New ones will be added to the existing list of diseases prohibiting driving. The updated list looks like this:

• organic mental disorders, including symptomatic ones;
• schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders;
• mood disorders (affective disorders);
• neurotic, stress-related and somatomorphic disorders;
• personality and behavior disorders in adulthood;
• mental retardation;
• mental and behavioral disorders associated with the use of psychoactive substances;
• epilepsy;
• binocular blindness;
• general disorders of psychological development;
• color vision anomalies.

The last two contraindications are new .

How does the traffic police know about the diagnosis?

If a disease included in the list above appears in the online medical record, the traffic police will receive a signal that the driver must be sent for a second medical examination. The reason will be the presence of contraindications to driving; The traffic police will not know what kind of diagnosis was received. Three months are given to complete the examination. During this time the rights are still valid. In case of failure to appear at the doctor's office, the person is deprived of the right to drive a vehicle.

What are common developmental disorders?

In the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), used in Russia (the Russian Federation did not accept ICD-11 because of the “threat to traditional values.” - Ed. ), this item refers to the block of psychological developmental disorders (F80-F89), namely F84 . It includes:

• childhood autism;
• atypical autism;
• Rett syndrome;
• other childhood disintegrative disorder;
• hyperactive disorder combined with mental retardation and stereotypic movements;
• Asperger's syndrome;
• other general developmental disorders;
• pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified.

“Block F84 covers a wide range of diseases,” says psychiatrist Victoria Gorina. - Starting from mild, imperceptible deviations, for example, in the emotional sphere, to profound autism, mutism and mental retardation. Of course, if there is such a serious illness, it may interfere with driving. But mild forms, for example, F84.8 (other general developmental disorders) can be present in a completely ordinary person.

Such a person may even react faster to emergency situations and have, for example, problems in the emotional sphere. Let's say he doesn't feel empathy, but drives a car perfectly.

Of course, there are complex forms of diseases from block F84, but there in general it can be difficult to function, much less drive a car.

All “dangerous” symptoms are checked through additional studies. Not only on psychiatric examinations, but also on neuropsychological examination, Wechsler test (intelligence test) and electroencephalography.

I assume that this block was included due to the presence of disorders with profound forms of damage to certain abilities. But people in such a state will not go to study for a license on their own. So I don’t think such an update is justified.

I have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, will I now lose my license?

Optional. You will be sent for an examination, where a psychiatrist will privately assess your condition. If a specialist concludes that your diagnosis is not an obstacle to driving, no one will take away your license.

There are cases when the diagnosis is not included in the list, but the person is still not issued a license. For example , people with certain forms of cerebral palsy will not be allowed to drive.

But in the absence of contraindications and the presence of certain equipment in the car, this disease is not an obstacle. It all depends on the doctor’s decision, which can be challenged in court.

My license was revoked due to the diagnosis. When will they be returned to me?

As before: after diagnosis and re-examination. If there are no contraindications to driving a vehicle, you will be able to restore your driver's license.

Why then did they update the law if everything is always decided by the doctor anyway?

According to officials, this is done so that contraindications to driving are identified in real time, and not when renewing a license after ten years.

Why were these diagnoses added?

There is no answer to this question. Unfortunately, updating the list of contraindications will not help reduce the number of fatal accidents. Most of them are due to speeding, not wearing seat belts, driving into oncoming traffic, and drinking alcohol. General disorders of psychological development do not affect statistics.