Medical Driving Assessment
What is a Medical Driving Assessment?
Your ability to drive safely can be affected by conditions such as:- dementia
- stroke
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- diabetes
or injuries such as:
- traumatic brain injuries
- spinal injuries
- fractures
- amputations
or even:
- the natural aging process.
If your doctor has concerns that your medial status might impair your ability to drive, they may refer you to an Occupational Therapist for a driving assessment.
What does the assessment involve?
The Pre-On Road Assessment is designed to evaluate several areas:- Where do you normally drive?- What type of car do you drive?- Your driver's licence details- Do you have any physical limitations that may affect driving, such as limited movement, strength, and coordination?- Are there any complications with your vision?- Your cognition and memory. Including how well do you remember road and intersection rules.
You may participate in an assessment called "DriveSafe - DriveAware," which reviews your awareness of the driving environment and your own driving ability.
If you normally wear glasses to drive or read, you will need them for this assessment.
This part of the assessment usually takes about 60 minutes.
If you normally wear glasses to drive or read, you will need them for this assessment.
This part of the assessment usually takes about 60 minutes.
An On-Road Driving Assessment evaluates how injury, disability, illness, or ageing affects your "medical fitness" to drive.
During the assessment, an Occupational Therapist and a Professional Driving Instructor will accompany you.
The assessment is completed in the Driving Instructor's vehicle. This has dual brakes. This is required for safety. This is non-negotiable.
The vehicle can be equipped with any necessary modifications you may require.
We utilise the services of one of the following Driving Instructors (they are not DPVA employees):
- Edin Dzebhanic, Polo Driving School
- Harald Leeuwenburgh, A1 Driving School
- Mike Raos, Revolution Driving School
The drive starts from one of our Clinic locations. This means part of the assessment drive may be in
less familiar streets. It will involve a variety
of different driving situations such as the local shopping area, suburban back streets, and the motorway (if appropriate).
The drive will last between 45 and 60 minutes.
What happens after the assessment?
After the drive, the Occupational Therapist will review your performance with you, and provide a detailed report. The report will include observations made during the assessment and a professional recommendation.
Recommenations may include continuing to drive, ceasing driving altogether, driving with specific vehicle modifications, or driving with certain conditions (e.g., only driving within a certain distance from home, at specific times of day, or avoiding motorway driving).
The report is sent to your doctor or the individual who requested the assessment. You will also receive a copy.
If any conditions need to be added to your licence or if changes to your driving status are recommended, the report will be sent to the licencing authority (New Zealand Transport Agency).
Please note: The medical driving assessment is not a driver’s licence test. The Occupational Therapist has no authority to revoke your driver's licence or take it from you. This can only be done on the recommendation of a Medical Practitioner or the New Zealand Transport Agency.