Driving Assessments
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DRIVING ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Our Occupational therapists specialise
Occupational therapists are health care specialists that have the necessary qualifications and knowledge required in recognising physical, cognitive or visual deficits which may impact driving safety and competence.
The occupational therapy driving assessment takes approximately 2 – 3 hours to complete comprises of two parts, the first, is an Off Road Assessment and the second is an On Road Assessment.
The assessment takes place where you are most familiar and comfortable, at your primary place of residence, driving in streets or to destinations you are most familiar.
- Physical examination to assess ability for safe driving
- Basic visual acuity, and visual fields assessment
- Decision making, judgment, and planning, (cognitive abilities).
The On Road Assessment takes place in a vehicle equipped with safety equipment such as an instructor’s dual pedals. The On Road Assessment identifies strengths and weaknesses and then strategies to keep you driving safely. If necessary, the evaluation may use adaptive equipment such as a spinner knob or left foot accelerator to enable safe driving. Based on your evaluation, the therapist can make recommendations about strategies, specialised equipment, and lessons to improve your driving safety. On the other hand, if the assessment indicates the need to stop driving, the therapist can help you understand why this is the most appropriate option for your and others safety.
We offer driving assessments to:
- General public (including recent hospital discharge patients)
- Insurance, medico legal and workers compensation patients
Process
Driving Assessment Process
The complete assessment takes approximately 2 – 3 hours to complete and is comprised of two parts, an Off Road Assessment and On Road Assessment.
Off Road Assessment:
The off road assessment is a discussion about your medical and driving history and takes approximately 1 hour to complete and involves:
- Physical assessment to determine any physical limitations including: range of motion, strength, tone, sensation, balance and coordination.
- Cognitive and perceptual assessments to identify potential deficits associated with concentration, attention, memory, planning, insight or problem solving.
- A vision assessment to determine visual acuity, peripheral vision and eye movement patterns.
The information gathered from the off road assessment is then used to ascertain whether you require a more tailored on road assessment or vehicle modifications during the on road assessment.
On Road Assessment:
The on road assessment is conducted by a certified Occupational Therapist, in conjunction with a rehabilitation trained and certified driving instructor. The use of a dual controlled vehicle is necessary for safety in a standard automatic or standard manual vehicle. With access to the required vehicle modifications if necessary. The assessment takes place where you are most familiar and comfortable, at your primary place of residence, driving in streets or to destinations you are most comfortable.
This on road assessment takes approximately 1 hour. Due to the stressful nature of such assessments we allow you to become familiar with the vehicle initially driving through quiet and familiar streets, then progressing to more complex situations depending on your driving requirements. The on road assessment can include, intersections, roundabouts, give-way and stop signs, pedestrian crossings, multi-lane highways, shopping areas, school zones and some driving manoeuvres. When and if appropriate, feedback is provided during the assessment in order to give the driver the opportunity to improve their driving performance.
If necessary, the vehicle can be fitted with modifications such as a spinner knob or left foot accelerator to enable safe driving. Based on the assessment findings, the occupational therapist will make recommendations about strategies, specialised equipment and or lessons to improve your driving safety.
Driving Assessment Outcomes
Following the On Road Assessment your Occupational Therapist will discuss the results and any recommendations regarding your licensing status. Which may result in:
- Maintaining your current licence status
- Recommending a short course of driving lessons or further driver rehabilitation
- Recommending appropriate vehicle modifications or driving aids, such as a spinner knob or left foot accelerator and driving lessons with these driving aids to master them
- Downgrading your licence to a Class C learners licence in order to complete a Driver Rehabilitation Program
- Suspension of your licence to enable further medical recovery
- In rare cases, cancellation of your driver’s licence. This is a decision that involves the Occupational Therapist, your General Practitioner and the Department of Transport.
In addition to the recommendations provided, your Occupational Therapist will complete a comprehensive report outlining the results from the Off Road and On Road Assessment. Outlining the recommendations to yourself, your referrer, your medical practitioner, and the Department of Transport.
We recommend that you make an appointment with your General Practitioner within a week following your Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment to discuss the final outcome. The referring Medical Practitioner will review the Occupational Therapists Report and will make a final decision in regards to your driving status. Additionally, once the Transport Department have received the Medical Certificate and or report from the referring Medical Practitioner, the Department of Transport will review the recommendations and issue a permit as determined by your Medical Practitioner and Occupational Therapist.
FREEDOM OT is a registered provider to Medicare Australia.
Cancellation Policy: At FREEDOM OT all appointments are scheduled in advance and can require booking of additional equipment, driving instructors and or vehicles. We appreciate that you may have to cancel your assessment last minute. However, so that we can continue to provide a timely service, FREEDOM OT has a CANCELLATION POLICY. A cancellation fee of $ 80.00 is payable if less than 24hrs notice is given on appointment cancellations. To avoid this fee, we attempt to confirm appointments the day before. Additionally, Driving Instructors that are booked for on road assessments may also apply a separate fee. We greatly appreciate your understanding in relation to this matter.