Media mention: Schmidt discusses new concussion research, driving with a concussion

According to a new study, driving after a concussion, even when all symptoms have subsided, may not be safe.

Julianne Schmidt, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology, found that drivers with concussions had slower reaction times than those without a head injury by an average of nearly one second. Slowed reaction time is a predictor of crash risk, and split-second delays can be critical in avoiding a car crash, she told U.S. News & World Report.

“This could mean traditional reaction time tests aren’t the best measure of driving responsiveness and readiness,” said Schmidt, who also serves as co-director of the UGA Concussion Research Lab. “And that could have important public safety implications. In addition, people who have concussions often have slower reaction times as a result and do more poorly on tests of thinking skills after their injury than their peers without concussions.”

Read the full story on the U.S. News & World Report website.