Drivers in casts risk prosecution

Half of Australians with broken arms are willing to drive in their plaster casts, despite believing it increases their risk of crashing, research shows.

Although there is no law against driving with a plaster cast in Australia or New Zealand, in both countries the driver risks being charged with dangerous driving if they have an accident.

A study by surgeons at Gold Coast Hospital, Queensland, found that of 200 patients in plaster casts, 50 per cent had driven a car and 22 per cent did so daily.

Of the 22 per cent, half were driving manual vehicles.

Men were twice as likely to drive with casts as women.

Previous studies have shown that any driver in an arm cast would fail a driving test.

"In executing turns and reverse parking in a plaster, it is impossible to grip the wheel adequately," the researchers said.

While a young, fit person might be able to manoeuvre a vehicle with considerable effort, a weak or elderly person with a fracture would probably find it impossible, they said.

Land Transport New Zealand does not collect statistics on the number of road crashes involving drivers in plaster casts.

But spokesman Andy Knackstedt said in New Zealand doctors were obliged to advise patients with medical conditions which might affect their ability to drive safely.

If they neglected to do so they could be left open to legal action, he said.

"And if they believe the patient is going to ignore that advice they've got an obligation to tell us."

Accident and Medical Practitioners Association secretary Alistair Sullivan said doctors were given written guidelines on what to tell patients with a plaster cast about driving.

"Basically the rules state that you can't drive with any kind of arm cast on because you'll lose control of the wheel."

- NZPA