Introduction：The relationship between the results of a driving simulator test and a paper-based evaluation of higher brain function were examined.Subjects：The subjects of this study were 203 patients with brain injury who received support to resume driving during hospitalization or outpatient treatment at our hospital between April 1, 2014 and December 31, 2018.Methods：The sex, age, and results of various higher brain function tests of the patients were investigated using medical records and the outcomes of the driving resumption support. The performance on a driving simulator test was compared between patients judged able to and those judged unable to resume driving.Results：In the group of 165 patients who passed the paper-based evaluation of higher brain function, 34 were judged unable to resume driving based on a driving simulator test. In the group that did not pass the paper-based evaluation of higher brain function, 4 patients were also judged unable to resume driving based on a driving simulator test. The results of the higher brain function evaluation were significantly better in the group permitted to resume driving compared with the group not permitted to resume driving in all items except for the Visual Reproduction subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised.Conclusions：Evaluations of actual automobile driving using driving simulators or other means are important in assessing driving resumption. Driving requires the use of various higher brain functions and the results of this study suggest that a higher level of ability is required for safe driving.

Introduction：In this study, we conducted a retrospective investigation to determine when patients with brain damage could be tested and permitted to resume driving and also assessed reasons for disallowance. Subjects：A total of 279 patients with brain damage were included in the study. These patients underwent an assessment for driving resumption between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2020, either as in-patient in our hospital or attending as an outpatient. Method：Medical records were examined to ascertain details regarding timing of driving resumption, reason for disallowance, and number of outpatient training sessions. Results：Among the study participants, 233 patients were permitted to resume driving and 46 were not. Among permitted patients, 65 were hospitalized in our hospital at that time, 83 had been discharged from our hospital and were attending as outpatients, and 85 had been referred to our outpatient clinic from other hospitals. Among patients not permitted to drive, 6 were hospitalized in our hospital at the time, 17 had been discharged from our hospital and were attending as outpatients, and 23 had been referred from other hospitals. Conclusions：Evidence supporting driving resumption in patients who were brain damaged could not be determined while being hospitalized in convalescent rehabilitation wards. Hence, continued provision of outpatient rehabilitation therapy is important.

Introduction：In this study, we conducted a retrospective investigation to determine when patients with brain damage could be tested and permitted to resume driving and also assessed reasons for disallowance. Subjects：A total of 279 patients with brain damage were included in the study. These patients underwent an assessment for driving resumption between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2020, either as in-patient in our hospital or attending as an outpatient. Method：Medical records were examined to ascertain details regarding timing of driving resumption, reason for disallowance, and number of outpatient training sessions. Results：Among the study participants, 233 patients were permitted to resume driving and 46 were not. Among permitted patients, 65 were hospitalized in our hospital at that time, 83 had been discharged from our hospital and were attending as outpatients, and 85 had been referred to our outpatient clinic from other hospitals. Among patients not permitted to drive, 6 were hospitalized in our hospital at the time, 17 had been discharged from our hospital and were attending as outpatients, and 23 had been referred from other hospitals. Conclusions：Evidence supporting driving resumption in patients who were brain damaged could not be determined while being hospitalized in convalescent rehabilitation wards. Hence, continued provision of outpatient rehabilitation therapy is important.