Drivers who are aged over 65 and becoming frail due to old age. Often times, these drivers are unsure whether it is safe to be on the roads. A driving suitability test is required to assess whether these drivers can navigate the roads safely. The first step towards this assessment is to obtain a doctor’s referral for an occupational therapy driver suitability assessment. If the a treating doctor determines that the patient is frail but medically stable enough to be assessed for driving suitability, they come to us and we conduct the assessment and provide a result to the client and their referring doctor. One of two outcomes is possible: we may decide that the driver is suitable to drive on the roads with or without relevant support. If support is required, we may also recommend minor modifications to the vehicle to allow the driver to be safer on the roads. On the other hand, we may decide that the driver is unsuitable to drive either due to the nature of their current symptoms or by looking at the test results.

In this category, we often see clients who present with dementia, patients recovering from stroke, patients recovering from renal failure and treatment, and patients who are experiencing the full effects of the ageing process.

The second cohort in this high risk category are patients who may not be old at all but have experienced some kind of life-changing event and these include patients who might have been discharged and completed rehabilitation after brain injury treatment, rehabilitation after acute stroke in a person under the age of 65, former drivers recovering from neuromuscular conditions, patients recovering from acute memory loss, patients recovering from vision (ophthalmological) problems, those patients recovering from serious trauma as a result of an accident or incident, e.g. spinal injuries. These patients are often aged between 16-65 and are generally holders of a current and valid provisional, open or learners driver’s license, and their symptoms are not necessarily age-related. The high risk category assigned to this group is all about an acute incident or events causing a limiting change in the patient’s capacity and ability to drive.

• Patients presenting with dementia greater than 24 months or experiencing rapid cognitive decline
• Patients who have had previous close calls or accidents

• Treating doctor or GP has noticed acute deterioration in pre-existing medical or mental health condition

The third cohort in this high risk categories comprises of young neurodivergent patients presenting with various challenges such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Functional Neurological Disorder, and other kinds or neuro affecting presentations. Sometimes, these are young people who need assistance and recommendations to work on getting on the roads as learner drivers. We work with these patients to help them grow their confidence and to overcome their challenges to make meaningful progress towards learning to drive on the roads in a safe way.

• Patients with limited insights, challenging attitudes to safety or others, or clients continuing to drive against medical advice

• Patients of various impacting medications including but not limited to benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressants and opioids

These are patients who have been referred for a driving assessment and presenting with one or more of the following factors:

• Patients that are 75 years of age or older

• Patients diagnosed with degenerative disease and/or deteriorating mental/medical condition and are placed on periodic monitoring

• Patients with significant limiting presentations with a notable impact upon their capacity and ability to return to work

• Patients presenting with Multiple Sclerosis and have been referred for 12 monthly follow-up
  

Any other patient referred for a driver assessment by their GP or treating doctor