Return to driving assessment is a crucial evaluation process to ensure safe and confident driving after a medical condition or injury. Our team at Pacifica Health is dedicated to supporting your safe return to driving and maintaining your independence.

What are Return to Driving Assessments?

Return to driving assessments are specialised evaluations conducted by healthcare professionals, typically rehabilitation physicians and occupational therapists, to determine if it is safe and appropriate for an individual to resume driving after a medical condition, injury, or surgery. The assessments aim to assess driving abilities, address any potential driving limitations, and ensure the safety of the driver, passengers, and others on the road.

Interesting Statistics on Driving Assessments:

1. Importance of Assessments: Studies have shown that return-to-driving assessments are essential for identifying potential risks and ensuring the safety of individuals returning to driving after a medical condition or injury. These assessments help prevent accidents and improve road safety.
2. Aging Population: As the population ages, the number of older drivers on the roads is increasing. Return to driving assessments become particularly important for older adults to evaluate their driving abilities and ensure they can safely continue driving.
3. Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurological disorders, can affect driving abilities. Approximately 60-80% of stroke survivors experience driving difficulties initially, highlighting the need for proper assessment and rehabilitation.
4. Assessing Driving Skills: Return to driving assessments include evaluations of visual perception, reaction time, cognitive abilities, physical mobility, and driving-specific skills, such as lane changing, merging, and parking.

The Assessment Process:

The return to driving assessment process typically involves the following steps:

1. Medical History Review: Your medical history, including any relevant medical conditions, surgeries, or injuries, will be evaluated.
2. Physical and Cognitive Assessments: Assessments will be conducted to evaluate physical mobility, strength, reaction time, and cognitive function.
3. On-Road Assessment: If deemed appropriate, an on-road driving assessment will be conducted to observe your driving skills and behaviours in real-world conditions.
4. Recommendations: Based on the assessment results, the evaluator will provide recommendations, which may include resuming driving without restrictions, further training, or adaptive driving equipment if needed.

Safe Driving is Our Priority:

Our goal is to ensure your safety and the safety of others on the road. If the assessment indicates that further driving training or adaptive equipment is required, we will work closely with you to support your return to safe and confident driving.

If you have any questions or concerns about return to driving assessments or any aspect of your driving evaluation, please feel free to reach out to us.