Fox 19: Drivers failing to report health conditions to BMV could put others at risk

In 2022, 865 out of nearly 3.5 million people applying or renewing their driver's license in Ohio self-reported medical issues to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

BMV officials say that number is too low, as people not reporting their medical issues can lead to medical-related crashes that lead to injuries and deaths.

The University of Cincinnati's David Ficker, MD, told Fox 19 he knows of numerous epilepsy patients who were involved in a seizure-related crash. 

“Particularly, if you’re looking just at epilepsy and the prevalence of epilepsy, 1%-2% of the population, that translates into a much higher number of patients that should be reporting to the BMV that they’ve had this history of seizures or epilepsy,” said Ficker, professor in the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine in UC’s College of Medicine and a UC Health physician at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute.

Ficker said if he recommends a driver stay off the road and he does not feel they will listen, there is an avenue for him to report that driver to the state, but he needs the patient to sign off so he can discuss their medical issues with the Ohio BMV.

Read the Fox 19 story.

Featured photo at top of person with their hand on a steering wheel. Photo/Peter Kalonji/iStock.