ACCESS Brain Injury Services offers comprehensive driver remediation programs for people with an acquired brain injury. Driving is often an important part of a person’s lifestyle, representing freedom and independence. Driving, however, is a complex task, involving our physical ability, vision, cognitive ability and emotional skills. Any changes or loss of function in any one of these abilities due to illness or injury may affect a person’s ability to drive.
Our OTs who conduct driving assessments have completed specialised post-graduate training. They understand how important driving is for a person’s life and try to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. Ultimately the OT’s goal is to keep people driving for as long as they are safe to do so.
Driver remediation programs involve a 2-hour off-road assessment including an interview and clinical assessment of your medical background, your driving history, your vision, your physical abilities, thinking, and judgement skills related to driving, and general practical knowledge of road law. There is also an on-road assessment, which occurs in a dual controlled car with a qualified driving instructor and the driver trained OT. This may be in an automatic or manual car and can take approximately 1.5 hours. Completing an on-road driving assessment can be a stressful experience. You will be given time to become familiar with the vehicle, and the assessment usually starts in quiet streets, progressing to more complex areas. Our driver trained OTs are experienced in providing vehicle modifications to ensure physical barriers to driving are addressed. These modifications will be fitted to the assessment vehicle and trialed during the remediation program.
A report detailing the driving assessment outcome and recommendations is sent to the referring doctors and the RMS Medical Unit. The RMS Medical Unit has specially trained staff responsible for making a decision regarding a person’s license status based on the results and recommendations of the medical and OT driving assessment report.