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.
When is this required?
In Queensland, if you have a medical condition or disability that could affect your driving, you must get medical clearance from your doctor. If there are concerns about physical ability or learning, you may also need an Occupational Therapy (OT) Driving Assessment.
If your doctor isn’t sure how your condition affects your driving, they can refer you to a qualified OT for an assessment. After the assessment, the OT sends a report to your doctor, who then decides if you’re medically fit to drive.
If you’re cleared, your doctor will give you a certificate to update your license with Queensland Transport. Driving without proper medical clearance can lead to serious consequences, including cancelled insurance, large fines, possible criminal charges, and putting lives at risk.
Driving & 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
OT Driving 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.
TheOn-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 FAQ:
Driving assessment is a complex process. Depending on the type of assessment you require, our booking waitlist, plus all the other agencies involved, this process may take weeks or months to fully complete.
Apart from our OTDA this process can involve:
Your referring GP or medical specialist
Support Coordinator (for NDIS participants)
A local Driving School will provide a trainer and vehicle for the on-road component
Your optometrist for an ophthalmology report
Queensland Transport for final issuing or updating your license information
To complete an OT driving assessment you will need a current driver’s license, this can be either a learner’s permit or open license. Your 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”.
It is important to understand that while your GP is responsible in making the final decision on whether you are cleared to drive. Our goal is to assist you where we can. Some of our recommendations may not be your desired outcome, but they are made in the interest of your safety and that of other road users
Following the completion of your Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment:
- The Occupational Therapist will compile a comprehensive report that includes findings from both the off-road and on-road components, along with clinical recommendations regarding your medical fitness to drive.
- This report is typically completed within seven (7) business days of the assessment.
- Once finalised, the report is sent to:
- You (the participant) or your nominated representative.
- Your referring GP or medical specialist.
- It is then your responsibility to make a follow-up appointment with your referring doctor or specialist to discuss the report findings, recommendations, and any licensing implications.
- Please note that the licensing authority (e.g., Transport and Main Roads QLD) makes the final decision regarding your driver’s licence status, based on the medical report and any other relevant documentation provided.
- If further rehabilitation, vehicle modifications, or reassessment is recommended, these next steps will also be outlined in your report.
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.
Regardless of the outcome, we are required by Austroads, AHPRA, and the Australian Competency Standards for OT Driver Assessors to send our recommendations to your GP or referring specialist.
The Off-road assessment is a clinical face-to-face assessment – not to be confused with four wheel driving. This assessment is focuses on your physical abilities, judgement and planning, and your knowledge of road rules and signs.
For safety, clinical, and insurance reasons, support persons are not permitted to travel in the vehicle during the on-road component of the Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment.
However, You are very welcome to bring a support person with you to the appointment.
They can attend the off-road (clinical) component if appropriate and with your consent, and they are encouraged to participate in any pre- or post-assessment discussions to help you understand the process and outcomes.
If you require support due to anxiety, communication difficulties, or other medical reasons, please let us know in advance so we can consider how best to accommodate your needs within our safety guidelines.
Unfortunately no. A driving school will provide a dual-controlled vehicle, with a Driver Trained Instructor and Occupational Therapist present to ensure your safety and monitor performance.
Common Pathway to Driving
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.
