The goal of an occupational therapy driving assessment is to ensure you drive SAFELY and LEGALLY.

Following an illness or injury, your ability to drive may be affected. This can compromise your safety and the safety of others. The National Transport Commission states that you must seek medical advice before returning to drive. If your treating Doctor or medical team have concerns about your ability to drive you may be referred to have an Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment.

Able Occupational Therapy Services offers a driving assessment service with a qualified and experienced driver trained Occupational Therapist. We aim to make the assessment process as simple and stress free as possible.

Your Driving Assessment
Prior to attending your assessment you must have:

• A Referral from your treating doctor
• Medical clearance to participate in the assessment (NSW licence holders are required to contact the RTA and obtain an RTA Medical Form for the treating doctor to complete)
• A current drivers licence
• You may also be required to have your vision checked by an optometrist

If you do not have a current licence contact your State Driver Licensing Authority (Queensland Transport / Roads and Traffic Authority NSW) to discuss how to apply for a licence for the purpose of completing an Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment.

The Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment is completed in two separate sessions.

Session 1: Pre-Driving Assessment
The Occupational Therapist will visit you in your own home and complete a screening assessment of your physical and thinking abilities. Your knowledge of road rules will also be reviewed. This assessment is very thorough and can take between two to three hours to complete.

The results of the Pre-Driving assessment will be used to determine your readiness to continue with session 2, the On-Road assessment. Results may need to be discussed with your treating Doctor before continuing with the On-Road assessment.

Session 2: On- Road Assessment
The On-Road assessment will be conducted with the Occupational Therapist and a qualified Driving Instructor in a dual control car. This assessment will review your driving ability in a range of traffic situations.

This assessment determines if your medical condition affects your ability to drive safely. Any poor driving habits are also identified. Vehicle modifications such as spinner knobs, left foot accelerators and hand controls may be trialled during the On-Road assessment.

Assessment Outcome:
The Occupational Therapist will complete a detailed written report on your performance in the Pre-Driving and On -Road assessments. This report will be sent to your Doctor. The Doctor and your State Driver Licensing Authority will make the final decision on your fitness to resume driving at this time.

Possible Outcomes of the Assessment are:

• You are safe to drive with no further action required. Your doctor will give you medical clearance to resume driving.

• You require a driving remediation program. Your licence is restricted to driving only as part of a driver rehabilitation program. After you have completed the program you will be re-assessed by the occupational therapist.If your driving ability meets a safe standard your occupational therapist will advise you of the procedure to reinstate your licence.

• Adaptations to your vehicle are required, as well as a number of driving lessons so that you will become competent in using the modified controls. When you have achieved competent use of the controls the occupational therapist will send a report to your doctor. Your doctor can then provide you with a medical certificate stating that you are able to resume driving with a conditional licence.

• You are unfit to drive at the present time. Your situation may be reviewed in the future. Your licence will be suspended or cancelled.

Be Informed

• For Queensland and New South Wales drivers the law requires you to promptly report any permanent or long-term condition that is likely to affect your ability to drive safely. You cannot wait until you renew your licence.
• If you continue to drive despite your doctor’s advice and you do not report your condition you are not fulfilling your legal responsibilities. If you are involved in a crash and it is found that your health condition was a contributing factor, you may face prosecution and your insurance may not be valid.
• Following an occupational therapy driving assessment it is your responsibility to inform your insurance company of the outcome in terms of licence conditions and any car modifications that may be required.

Links

Able OT Driving Assessment Referral Form
RACQ Older Drivers’ Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Jet's Law