OT Driving Assessment
Your doctor or Transport for NSW may require you to complete an OT Driving Assessment. Drivers who have a disability or a medical condition may need to demonstrate they can drive safely.
Or your doctor may recommend that you have an occupational therapist assessment and undertake the disability driving test. Alternatively your doctor may recommend that you undertake the standard driving test. In either case we can help guide you through the process.
If you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to drive, Transport for NSW may require you undertake an Occupational Therapist OT Driving Assessment and a disability driving test. At Learn to Drive Driving School we have modified cars and work with driver trained Occupational Therapists.
Occupational Therapist Driving Assessment
At Learn to Drive Driving School we have been working with many Occupational Therapists for many years in Western Sydney.
Step 1: Finding a Driver Trained Occupational Therapist. It is a specialized area and you need a qualified person to conduct the assessment.
At Learn to Drive Driving School our senior Rehabilitation Trained driving instructor works with the following Driver Trained OT’s in Greater Western Sydney. Follow the link and book your driving assessment.
Step 2: The assessment consists of two parts, an off road assessment and an on road driving assessment.
Off-road driving Assessment
The Off Road Driving Assessment is a medical assessment to determine if you are able to drive and meet the standards of Transport for NSW.
Off-road driving assessment cover many factors including:
A driver trained OT will evaluate your driving and medical history and test your understanding of road rules. In addition, your range of motion, strength and feelings in your arms, legs, neck and upper torso will also be assessed. The occupational therapist needs to confirm you have the movement, strength and ability to control an automobile.
Vision and ability to cognitive ability to concentration and make decisions whilst driving are also assessed.
At the end of your off-road assessment your Driver Trained Occupational Therapists will have an indication of any deficits that will need to been tested during the On-road driving assessment.
On-road Driving Assessment
The on-road driving assessment is designed to assess if you can drive to the standards required by Transport for NSW.
The purpose of this part of the assessment is to determine the optimal path forward for you to be able to continue driving. You may need
- Additional driving lessons and another OT Driving assessment
- Additional driving lessons and a standard driving test at your local Service NSW Driving Test location.
- Driving lessons to learn how to drive a modified car and a Disability Driving Test. Not all Service NSW offices conduct disability driving tests. As such we will determine an appropriate location for you to complete the disability driving test.
In addition to learning how to pass a driving test, you may also need to learn how to drive a modified car. A modified car includes mechanical or electronic aids depending on your medical condition.
During this part of the assessment you will be in a car fitted with dual controls and guided by a professional rehabilitation trained driving instructor. Because you will need to demonstrate you ability to control the car to the standards required by Transport for NSW, you will be assessed on a variety of road conditions.
Disability Driving Tests
Not all Service NSW driving test locations provide disability driving tests. A disability driving test is conducted by a specialized examiner trained to assess drivers with disabilities.
At Learn to Drive we have extensive experience with the following Service NSW test locations that provide disability driving test.
OT Driving Assessment NSW
During this assessment any medical condition that effects you ability to drive will be assessed. There will be an off-road screening that assesses
- Your physical range of motion as it applies to driving a car
- Your understanding of the road rules
- Cognitive levels and decision making in relation to driving safely
- Any medical conditions that may impact your ability to drive.
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At the end of your on-road driving assessment your Driver Trained Occupational Therapist will be able to devise a rehabilitation plan for you. This plan will need to address any medical issues to ensure you can meet the standards set by Transport for NSW.
Once a rehabilitation plan has been designed your driving instructor will implement that rehabilitation plan with you. This may include:
- Additional driving lessons
- Another on-road driving assessment
- A standard driving test or
- A disability driving test.
How Long Does an OT Driving Assessment Last?
The part of the OT driving assessment that patients participate in normally lasts for 2 hours. The off-road assessment will normally last for 1 hour and the on-road driving assessment will normally take 1 hour. In addition you may need an additional hour to evaluate specific modifications depending on your medical condition.
Furthermore it usually takes an additional 5 hours for the Occupational Therapist to complete your written report. Written reports will need to be submitted to the medical unit of Transport for NSW as well as various Government agencies such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
What is a Driver Trained OT
An OT is an Occupational Therapist is a health profession focused on enabling people to participate in everyday activities. Occupational Therapy is a degree based health Profession and practitioners are required to be registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
A Driver Trained OT has the additional qualifications to allow them to assess your driving ability and prescribe driving equipment to suite your needs. In addition to designing rehabilitation programs to ensure your driving meets regulation requirements.
At Learn to Drive Driving School our senior Rehabilitation Trained driving instructor works with Driver Trained OT’s in Greater Western Sydney.