Can You Drive a Week After a Concussion?

After a concussion, one of the most common questions people ask is: Can I drive again — and how soon? You’ve likely heard mixed advice, seen inconsistent recommendations online, or been told “everyone’s different.” That’s true — but there’s also solid guidance from clinicians and research that can help you decide what’s safe for you. Driving requires attention, quick reactions, visual tracking, and clear judgment — all of which can be subtly impaired long after a head injury. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the science, risks, and practical steps to determine whether driving a week after a concussion is safe.

Why Driving After a Concussion Is Different from Normal Recovery

Driving is a bit harder to make recommendations for. It’s a very complex activity involving many different systems all working together. Some of these include:

Focus and attention
Visual tracking and depth perception
Reaction time
Decision‑making under pressure
Balance and coordination

Even if your other symptoms seem to have improved after a concussion, your brain may still be recovering in ways you don’t notice right away. Studies using driving simulators have found that people can struggle with things like steering control and spotting hazards — even when they think they’re fine. That means your brain might still be a step behind, especially when it comes to the split-second decisions needed for safe driving.

Can You Drive a Week After a Concussion? Medical & Research Guidelines

There’s no single universal rule, but several patterns emerge in the clinical literature:

1. Immediate Period (0–48 Hours Too Soon)

Most concussion experts agree you should not drive at all during the first 24–48 hours after your injury — even if you feel okay. During this time:

Symptoms may be delayed or unpredictable
Reaction time and judgment are still healing
Visual and vestibular (balance) systems are often impaired

Many clinical sources recommend complete avoidance of driving during this acute recovery phase.

2. Beyond 48 Hours — But Only With Criteria

After the first two days, some people may begin to consider returning to driving — but only if specific criteria are met:

You are completely symptom‑free at rest
You can tolerate daily cognitive activities like reading or work without symptoms
You have gone on a short passenger ride without symptoms
Your vision, reaction time, and attention feel normal

This approach isn’t “based on a set number of days” — it’s symptom‑based and clinician‑guided.

3. Is a Week Enough?

Here’s the direct answer to the main question:

✅ Possibly — but not guaranteed.

Many clinicians and research studies indicate that some people may be ready to resume normal driving after about a week, if they are symptom‑free and medically cleared. Some xlinicians recommended driving restrictions for up to 7 days post‑injury, but noted symptoms can persist even longer.

❌ However, one week is not a universally safe timeframe.

Because concussions and recovery vary so much between individuals, many medical experts do not give a fixed number of days and instead recommend evaluating function rather than time alone.

Symptoms That Can Make Driving Dangerous — Even After a Week

Even if you’re nearing a week out from your injury, certain symptoms strongly suggest driving is still unsafe:

Cognitive or Attention Issues

Difficulty sustaining attention
Trouble multitasking
Brain fog or sluggish mental processing

Visual or Balance Problems

Blurry or double vision
Light sensitivity
Dizziness when turning the head or scanning

Physical Signs

Headache triggered by motion
Nausea when sitting in a car
Fatigue that worsens during the day

These symptoms can directly affect your ability to respond fast enough to real-life events that happen while driving — increasing crash risk.

Individual Risk Factors That Make Recovery Slower

Some people tend to take longer to recover and should be particularly cautious about driving:

History of migraines or prior concussions
Younger drivers (especially teens or young adults)
Older adults with slower cognitive processing
People with prolonged or persistent symptoms
Those with vestibular (balance) or visual impairments

These factors can mean your brain may still be healing at 7 days, even if most symptoms have improved.

What Doctors Actually Do to Assess Readiness

Rather than a hard-set number of days, many providers will often opt for a more data-driven approach to make sure the return to driving is as seamless as possible. Some assessments include:

Functional Assessments

Cognitive tests (attention, memory, processing tasks)
Balance and vestibular assessments
Vision and eye‑tracking evaluation

Can I Drive a Week After a Concussion? Real‑World Testing

Some specialists recommend a short, supervised driving check — for example:

A daytime route with few obstacles
A familiar neighborhood with no highway driving
Clear weather and no distractions

This helps make sure your actual performance matches how you feel. It’s a more objective measure than time alone.

Teen and New Driver Considerations

Guidelines for teenagers are stricter due to a number of factors. The reasoning behind this is:

Teens may often return to driving before they’re safe
Teen brains are still developing and are more prone to impairment
Teens may overestimate their abilities post‑injury

Healthcare providers often recommend a more gradual return with shorter, daytime drives and supervision before allowing full solo driving.

The Legal and Safety Risks of Driving Too Soon

Choosing to drive before you’re ready doesn’t just risk your health — it can have legal consequences:

You could be held liable if impaired driving contributes to a crash
Insurance may not cover damages if you were medically impaired
Laws vary by state, but some require reporting certain neurologic conditions

Remember: driving is a privilege and a responsibility — and being medically fit to drive is part of that responsibility.

Can You Drive a Week After a Concussion? Timelines

Here’s a practical roadmap to safely resume driving after a concussion:

Step 1 — Immediate Rest (Days 0–2)

Hard reset. Let your brain relax and recover for this initial recovery window. This is the only time rest and dark are a good idea.

Step 2 — Symptom Monitoring (Days 3–7)

Track:

Headache severity
Light, sound, motion sensitivity
Reaction time or fogginess

If symptoms persist, do not attempt to drive.

Step 3 — Functional Testing

Your primary or concussion specialist may use tests to gauge progress, which may include:

Cognitive tests
Balance and visual exams
Reaction time checks

Step 4 — Short, Supervised Driving Trial

If cleared:

Drive short, familiar routes
Only in daylight
No high‑traffic or complex environments

Step 5 — Gradual Expansion

As tolerance improves:

Increase the length of trips
Try new routes involving more traffic
Return to the typical commute

Practical Tips for the Road Back

Here are strategies that can help the transition:

Avoid Night Driving Initially — glare and light can exacerbate symptoms.
Limit Distractions — no loud music, phone use, or heavy conversation.
Stay Well‑Rested — fatigue can worsen symptoms.
Check Medications — some OTC meds affect alertness and reaction time.

When to See a Specialist Before Driving

You should talk to a healthcare provider before driving if any of the following are true:

You still have symptoms at rest
You experience symptom worsening with activity
You have visual, balance, or coordination issues
You’ve had multiple concussions in the past

Your provider can guide you on personalized testing and clearance.

Key Takeaways

Driving within the first 48 hours is unsafe.
A week may be enough for some, but not all. A mix of subjective readiness and objective data should drive the decision to return to normal driving.
Continued symptoms are a red flag. Visual, cognitive, or vestibular symptoms increase crash risk.
Medical clearance and a gradual return to driving are ideal.

Conclusion

So, is it safe to drive a week after a concussion? The truth is — it depends. For some people, seven days might be enough, but only if their brain has had time to fully recover. That means clear thinking, quick reflexes, stable vision, and sound judgment need to be fully back. There’s no set timeline that works for everyone. Most healthcare providers recommend focusing on how well you’re functioning — not just counting days. In the end, the safest choice is to wait until you’re truly ready, both for your own well-being and for the safety of others on the road.

Your Personalized Concussion Physical Therapy Protocol is Within Arm’s Reach

If you’re ready to move beyond feeling stuck, our providers at The Neural Connection offer a specialized concussion recovery plan based on the proven concussion physical therapy protocols outlined here.

Contact us to schedule a detailed assessment so we can build your personalized roadmap to recovery and get you back to the life you want to live, without the lingering symptoms holding you back.

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Can You Drive a Week After a Concussion? 4 Expert Tips To Know