OT Driving Assessment

Driving Assessment & Remediation for Townsville & Mackay

What is an OT Driving Assessment?

If you want to learn to drive or looking to get back to driving, we can assist with an Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment (OTDA).

These assessments are supported by an Occupational Therapist (OT) with specific training in Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation and also a Registered Driving School instructor. We work closely with your GP or specialist to assist with their medical clearance to drive.

An OTDA may be required if:

you have an intellectual or physical disability, and your goal is to gain your full license and drive independently
your GP or specialist has referred you due to a medical condition or injury that affects your ability to drive

OT Assessment Stages

An Off-Road Assessment will initially be carried out prior to the On-Road Assessment. This assesses your: Physical abilities, Vision, Reaction times, Judgement and planning, Knowledge of road rules and signs, Strategic thinking skills i.e. decision making. Approx 1 – 2 hrs.

The On-Road Assessment will be carried out with your OT and a Driving Instructor in a driving school vehicle with dual controls. The OT will observe from the rear seat to assess the potential affects your illness or injury may have on your driving skills. Approx 1hr.

A Feedback Session will follow the assessment. Approx 30mins.

A written report summarising the findings and recommendations will be forwarded to the referring medical professional.

Potential Outcomes of an OT Driving Assessment

It is important to understand that while your GP is responsible in making the final decision on whether you are cleared to drive, our OT Driving Assessor can make any of the following recommendations:

You are observed to be fit to drive and can maintain your current license.
You are suitable to commence driving lessons with a specialist driving school.
You may need a short course before repeating your on-road assessment.
You may need further modifications to your vehicle to drive safely.
Your license should be temporarily suspended while you recover from your injury or illness.
You may be deemed unfit for driving and a recommendation will be made to suspend your license.

Our goal is to assist you where we can. Some of these recommendations may not be your desired outcome, but they are made in the interest of your safety and that of other road users.

Driving and the NDIS

Did you know the NDIS can support you to:

get specialised driving lessons if you need to learn to drive a modified vehicle
get additional driving lessons where your disability affects your ability to learn to drive. It’s important to remember that learning to drive often costs money whether or not you have a disability, so we don’t fund all driving lessons

If you have identified goals to learn to drive and your plan allows, the NDIS can fund the On-Road portion of your OTDA, however, you will still require a GP to assess you using the national Assessing Fitness to Drive medical standards (generally not funded by the NDIS)

For more information visit Will you be driving the vehicle? | NDIS

Costs of Driving Assessment

Fees for Driving Assessment will include:

Occupational therapist Driving Assessor
A Driving instructor & vehicle
Reports to the referring GP and to QLD Transport
Communication and case management

For the most recent pricing visit Pricing – Alliance Rehabilitation

Common Pathway to Driving

As there are many safety and legal considerations, the steps to driving can often seem difficult. As your local experts in these processes, we will endeavor to assist you every step of the way and give you the best opportunity to get back to driving.

For a better understanding of common pathways to driving, see our Steps to Driving chart below.

10 Steps To Driving

1. Medical Referral

The Austroad guidelines state that participants with a disability or certain medical conditions must have a doctor’s referral to do a Driving Assessment with an OT. Ultimately the referring doctor is responsible for providing medical clearance to Queensland Transport and therefore must support the referral to an OT.

2. NDIS Referrals

NDIS participants require an Alliance Rehabilitation NDIS Referral to confirm their current plan funding and relevant goals for the driving assessment, in addition to the NDIS Driving Referral Form which is to be completed by a supporting medical practitioner.

3. Driver’s License & Medical Certificate

To complete an OT driving assessment the participant needs a current driver’s license, this can be either a learner’s permit or open license.

The referring doctor will also need to complete a Qld Transport Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (Form 3712) and stating “For the purposes of Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment / Training only”.

Medical Cert for Motor Vehicle Driver (F3712)

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4. Vision

Computerised perimetry assessment and visual acuity testing by an Optometrist/Ophthalmologist is required for all OT Driving Assessments.
This is a vision test from an Optometrist/Ophthalmologist with recommendations regarding vision for driving.

NOTE: Participants will not progress past this stage without providing all necessary documentation. If this documentation cannot be provided within 3 months of the intake, Alliance Rehabilitation will withdraw the referral.

5. Cognitive Assessment

All participants are required to complete a cognitive assessment with an OT prior to progressing to the driving assessment. Occasionally the OT will also recommend an assessment with a neuropsychologist to determine suitability for driving.

6. Driving Assessment at Alliance Rehabilitation

Once the medical referral, visual assessment and cognitive assessment (and neuropsychological assessment if relevant) is completed the OT can complete the Off and On-road Driving assessment. The OT will then write a report of recommendations, detailing the medical conditions impacting the participants driving abilities and list vehicle modifications that may be required to return to safe operation.

If Driver Training is required, this will be detailed in the recommendations. The OT will specify if they would like to re-assess the person, towards the end of the driving program. All reports are sent to the treating doctor. The doctor must sign a Qld Transport Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (Form 3712) for the person to commence or continue driving.

7. GP/Specialist Medical Driving Approval

Participants are required to supply a Medical Approval using the Qld Transport Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (Form 3712) – specifying they are permitted to drive and detailing any conditions or vehicle modifications.

8. Driving Lessons / Driver Training

The participant may be recommended to complete lessons to practice the skills the person requires to become a driver or to learn how to operate the modifications. Our recommended provider for this is Graduate School of Motoring in Townsville.

9. Qld Transport Testing

If the participant has their Learners License, they will need to be tested by the Licensing Authority (Queensland Transport and Main Roads) to obtain their Provisional License.

10. Assessment Complete

Once you are cleared to drive, keep any relevant documentation with you as evidence.

Driving Checklist

Please ensure that you read the following information thoroughly before attending your appointment.

Requirements Prior to Assessment

Phone (07) 4772 1219 to confirm appointment
A visual assessment & report from your optometrist, including a computerised assessment of visual fields & interpretation report
Advise us If you have completed a recent neuropsychology assessment
Provide a scan/photo of your driver’s license and Qld Transport Medical Certificate

Requirements On the Day of Assessment

Bring your driver’s license (You must have some form of licensing from Queensland Transport)
If you wear glasses, make sure you bring them with you
Do not drive to this assessment if you are not medically cleared to do this
Try to relax!