Q&A - The Doctor Says Not to Drive

If a person has been told by their doctor not to drive due to cognitive impairment what are the consequences if this person chooses to drive?

Are they in violation of the law?

Is their car insurance still valid?

I know that if your doctor tells you to stop driving and you do not, the doctor is then legally required to notify the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. The Superintendent will take action by doing such things as imposing driver's license restrictions, cancelling a driver's license or prohibiting the driver.

If something happens between the doctor telling you to stop and the Superintendent taking action, the police will take enforcement action based on what violation(s) the driver commits. After the Superintendent's action, it may be enforcement action for both the driving violation and the license violation.

ICBC advises that the driver would still be covered by their Autoplan insurance if they were involved in a crash under these circumstances.