The case for impulsivity screening in driving license examinations

In this article, we argue in favor of implementing impulsivity screening in driving license examinations. We posit that traffic-related deaths and injuries are a pressing public heath issue in most countries, and that the main causal factors are psychological aspects of driving. Impulsivity is a major feature of various mental disorders that have an association with poor driving performance. Consequently, licensing examinations ought to include impulsivity screening, and establish a threshold for acceptance among drivers. Although impulsivity has long been assessed with self-reported measures, these measures have some psychometric problems that would be especially salient in licensing examinations. We argue in favor of implementing a screening test that relies on direct observation of impulsivity in potential drivers.