Concussion education / Tampa Bay / For patients and families

Driving After a Concussion in Tampa Bay: A Family Guide

When it may be safe to drive again after a concussion, signs it is too soon, and how Tampa Bay families can help someone get back on the road.

In Tampa Bay, driving is how life works. People cross the Howard Frankland Bridge to get to work, take I-4 in from Plant City and Brandon, or ride I-75 and the Suncoast Parkway home to Wesley Chapel and Spring Hill. So after a concussion, one of the first questions people ask is simple: when can I drive again?

There is no single answer that fits everyone, and the decision belongs to your doctor or other treating provider. This guide shares what research has found, the signs that it may be too soon, and how families can help.

Feeling better is not always the same as being ready

Concussion symptoms often ease within a couple of weeks, and the CDC notes that most people feel better in that time. Driving uses many skills at once, though: steady eyes, quick reactions, judgment of distance and the focus to manage traffic.

In a 2017 study in the Journal of Neurotrauma (Schmidt et al.), people who had recently had a concussion drove a simulator within two days of saying their symptoms were gone. Compared with drivers who had no concussion, they drifted out of their lane more often and had less control on curves. A 2023 study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine followed college athletes over time and found driving problems in the first 72 hours after concussion. By the time the athletes returned to their sport, those differences were gone.

The encouraging part is that driving ability does recover. It just may come back a little after you start to feel like yourself.

Signs it may be too soon

Hold off and talk with your provider if you notice:

• Dizziness, blurry vision or double vision.
• Trouble judging gaps when merging or changing lanes.
• Feeling slow to react, or missing turns and exits you know well.
• Headaches that build when you concentrate.
• Bright light or headlight glare that bothers you more than before.
• Feeling tired, foggy or overwhelmed in busy traffic.
• Medicines that make you drowsy.

A gentle way back to the road

Once your provider says it is okay to try, ease in:

• Start with short drives on familiar neighborhood streets, in daylight and outside rush hour.
• Bring a calm passenger who can take over if you need a break.
• Save highways, the bridges and night driving for later.
• Keep your phone out of reach and the radio low.
• Pull over and rest if symptoms come back, and let your provider know.

If the crash left you nervous

Feeling anxious behind the wheel after a crash is very common, especially near the spot where it happened. Anxiety and nervousness can also be part of a concussion itself. You are not overreacting, and it is worth telling your provider so they can help.

How family members can help

Families often notice changes first. Gently note if your loved one seems to zone out, gets lost on familiar routes or is more irritable in the car. Offer rides for a while, help keep a simple symptom diary and encourage follow-up visits.

When testing can help

If symptoms linger, your provider may refer you for concussion testing. Braintree is a mobile service, so our team comes to your provider's office across Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Your provider receives a physician-reviewed diagnostic report and uses it to guide your care, including your return to driving. Learn more on our For Patients page, about concussion and TBI testing and about our Tampa Bay service area. The Tampa Bay Crash Map shares recent local crash news.

When to go to the emergency room

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away for a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, seizures, one pupil larger than the other, or confusion or drowsiness that gets worse. Tampa Bay emergency departments include Tampa General Hospital, the area's Level I trauma center, St. Joseph's Hospital, AdventHealth Tampa, HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Mobile concussion testing in Tampa Bay | Concussion testing in Florida | For patients | Tampa Bay Crash Map | Send a referral

Sources

• Schmidt JD et al. Driving after concussion: is it safe to drive after symptoms resolve? J Neurotrauma. 2017;34(8):1571-1578
• Longitudinal assessment of postconcussion driving: evidence of acute driving impairment. Am J Sports Med. 2023
• CDC: Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion (including danger signs)
• NIH NINDS: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Tampa General Hospital: Trauma services
• BayCare St. Joseph's Hospital: Emergency care
• HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital: Trauma center

This article is educational and is not medical or legal advice. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.