Occupational Therapy Driving Assessments
Available across Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, the Gold Coast, and Toowoomba.
An occupational therapy driving assessment examines how a medical condition, disability, injury, or change in function may affect a person’s ability to drive safely.
People Centred Therapies provides individualised assessments completed by a driver-trained occupational therapist. Depending on the referral, the assessment may include an off-road assessment of the person’s functional abilities and an on-road assessment completed with a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor.
The findings are used to develop clear recommendations about driving safety, further training, vehicle modifications, licence conditions, reassessment, or alternative transport options.
What Is an Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment?
An occupational therapy driving assessment evaluates the functional abilities required to drive safely and how these abilities are affected by the person’s medical condition, disability, injury, medication, fatigue, or other circumstances.
The assessment considers more than the person’s knowledge of road rules. It may examine their vision, physical control, cognition, attention, judgement, awareness, communication, emotional regulation, and practical driving performance.
The purpose is to provide evidence-based recommendations about whether the person can drive safely under the conditions assessed and whether further support, training, modifications, or review may be required.
The occupational therapist provides clinical recommendations. Decisions about driver licensing remain the responsibility of the relevant licensing authority.
Who May Benefit From a Driving Assessment?
An occupational therapy driving assessment may be appropriate when a person’s health or disability could affect their ability to learn, return to, or continue driving safely.
A person is learning to drive and requires assessment of disability-related barriers
A person wants to return to driving following an injury, illness, or change in health
A medical practitioner has requested further assessment of fitness to drive
A person’s physical, cognitive, visual, or psychological functioning has changed
A person is experiencing difficulty with vehicle control, judgement, attention, or road awareness
A driver requires assessment for possible vehicle modifications
A learner driver may need specialised driver training
A person’s current licence conditions require review
A person requires reassessment after driver rehabilitation or further lessons
A person or their support network has concerns about driving safety
The licensing authority requires an occupational therapy driving assessment
Alternative transport options may need to be considered
The suitability and scope of the assessment will depend on the reason for referral, the person’s current licence status, medical information, driving history, and functional presentation.
What Is Required Before the Assessment?
A referral from the person’s treating medical practitioner may be required before an occupational therapy driving assessment can proceed.
The occupational therapist may need information about:
The person’s medical conditions and diagnoses
Current medications and possible side effects
Relevant medical or allied health reports
Current licence class and conditions
The person’s driving and employment history
Previous crashes, incidents, or driving concerns
Previous driver assessment or rehabilitation
Vision or ophthalmology information
Any changes in health or function
The purpose of the assessment
Requirements identified by the licensing authority
PCT will advise what information is required after reviewing the referral.
What Happens During the Off-Road Assessment?
The off-road assessment examines functional abilities that may affect driving performance before the person undertakes the practical on-road component.
The assessment areas are selected according to the person’s medical history, presentation, driving goals, and reason for referral.
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The occupational therapist reviews the person’s relevant health history, medication, driving experience, licence status, previous training, employment-related driving, and any concerns affecting their current driving.
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The assessment may consider:
Visual acuity
Use of corrective lenses
Eye movements
Visual fields
Visual scanning
Visual attention
Other reported or observed vision concerns
Whether further review by an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or other vision professional may be required
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The occupational therapist may assess the physical abilities required to enter, operate, and exit a vehicle.
This may include:
Range of movement
Strength
Endurance
Coordination
Response speed
Sensation
Pain
Muscle tone
Motor planning
Proprioception and body awareness
Neck and trunk movement
Sitting balance
Transfers
Upper- and lower-limb function
Ability to operate steering, pedals, and other controls
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The assessment may consider cognitive abilities relevant to driving, including:
Attention and concentration
Memory
Following instructions
Information-processing speed
Executive functioning
Planning
Judgement
Hazard awareness
Visual attention
Visuospatial processing
Knowledge and application of road rules
Awareness of personal driving abilities
Ability to respond to changing road conditions
Communication
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Where relevant, the occupational therapist may consider anxiety, frustration tolerance, emotional regulation, confidence, interactions with other people, and the effect of stress on driving performance.
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The occupational therapist may use structured driving-related assessments to examine awareness of the road environment, awareness of personal driving abilities, road-rule knowledge, visual attention, planning, and decision-making.
Assessment results are interpreted alongside the person’s broader history, clinical presentation, and practical driving performance.
What Happens During the On-Road Assessment?
Where an on-road assessment is required, the person drives on public roads with a driver-trained occupational therapist and a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor.
The assessment is usually completed in a dual-control vehicle. Vehicle type, route, road conditions, traffic density, weather, lighting, and any required modifications are documented because these factors may affect performance.
The on-road assessment may examine:
Entry into and exit from the vehicle
Seat, mirror, and control setup
Steering
Accelerator, brake, and clutch use
Use of indicators and other controls
Observation and visual scanning
Speed selection and control
Vehicle positioning
Lane changes
Intersections
Gap selection
Planning and judgement
Response to hazards
Following road rules
Attention to other road users
Navigation
Response to instructions
Fatigue and consistency over time
Use of any vehicle modifications
The route and driving conditions are selected to gather clinically relevant information while managing safety during the assessment.
Assessment for Vehicle Modifications
Some drivers may require vehicle modifications or specialised equipment to operate a vehicle safely.
The occupational therapist may consider whether modifications are required to address physical, sensory, or functional limitations.
Possible recommendations may relate to:
Alternative accelerator or brake controls
Hand controls
Steering aids
Modified pedals
Indicator or secondary-control modifications
Seating and positioning
Transfer supports
Wheelchair access
Equipment storage
Mirrors or visual supports
Other adaptive driving equipment
Where modifications are considered, further equipment trials, supplier consultation, specialised driver training, or reassessment may be required before a final recommendation is made.
What Outcomes May Be Recommended?
Recommendations are based on the person’s off-road findings, on-road performance, medical information, licence status, and identified risks.
Possible outcomes may include:
Continuing to drive without additional intervention
Continuing to drive with specific licence conditions
Driving only in a particular vehicle or with prescribed modifications
Completing further driving lessons
Completing specialised driver rehabilitation
Driving only with a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor during training
Restricting driving to particular conditions, locations, or times
Completing further medical or vision assessment
Completing further occupational therapy intervention
Returning for an occupational therapy driving reassessment
Temporarily ceasing driving while further assessment or rehabilitation occurs
Considering alternative transport options
Advising that the person does not currently demonstrate a safe standard of driving
A recommendation does not itself change a person’s licence. The relevant licensing authority makes the final decision about licensing conditions, suspension, cancellation, or reinstatement.
Driver Rehabilitation and Further Training
When assessment identifies skills that may improve with training, the occupational therapist may recommend lessons with a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor.
Training may focus on:
Vehicle control
Steering and pedal use
Visual scanning
Road positioning
Speed management
Intersections
Hazard awareness
Planning and judgement
Application of road rules
Managing cognitive demands
Building consistency across different road environments
Learning to use vehicle modifications
Developing strategies to manage fatigue, anxiety, or overload
The recommended number of lessons depends on the person’s needs and performance. A reassessment may then determine whether progress has occurred, further training is required, or continuing difficulties remain.
How We Complete an Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment
Step 1: Referral Review
PCT reviews the referral, medical information, licence details, driving concerns, and reason for assessment.
We will advise whether additional documentation or medical clearance is required.
Step 2: Initial Consultation
The occupational therapist discusses the person’s driving goals, health, medication, driving history, current difficulties, licence conditions, and usual driving environments.
Step 3: Off-Road Assessment
The occupational therapist assesses the visual, physical, cognitive, communication, and psychosocial abilities relevant to driving.
Step 4: On-Road Assessment
Where required, the practical assessment is completed with the occupational therapist and a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor in an appropriate dual-control vehicle.
Step 5: Analysis and Recommendations
The occupational therapist considers the off-road findings and observed driving performance, including the specific vehicle, route, traffic, weather, and road conditions used during the assessment.
Step 6: Report and Communication
A report is prepared for the relevant recipients, which may include the person assessed, their referring medical practitioner, and the licensing authority.
Step 7: Training or Reassessment
Where recommended, the person may complete driver rehabilitation, further lessons, equipment trials, or other intervention before returning for reassessment.
What Is Included in a Driving Assessment Report?
The report content depends on the referral purpose and assessment completed. It may include:
Relevant diagnoses and medical history
Driving and employment history
Current licence class and conditions
Vision findings
Physical assessment findings
Cognitive assessment findings
Psychosocial observations
Driving-specific screening results
A summary of the off-road assessment
On-road assessment conditions
The vehicle and any modifications used
Observed driving behaviours
Physical vehicle control
Speed control
Observation and visual scanning
Planning and judgement
Vehicle positioning
Identified risks
The overall assessment outcome
Licence-related recommendations
Driver-training recommendations
Vehicle-modification recommendations
Ongoing review requirements
Reassessment recommendations
Additional clinical comments
Understanding the Limits of a Driving Assessment
An occupational therapy driving assessment evaluates performance at a particular point in time and under the conditions assessed.
Driving performance may change because of:
Changes in health
Changes in medication
Fatigue
Pain
Vision changes
Changes in cognition
Substance use
Stress or emotional state
Changes in the vehicle
Changes in driving environments
Progress or decline following the assessment
The assessment cannot guarantee that a person will remain free from crashes or incidents. A change in health, medication, function, or driving performance may require further medical review or reassessment.
Recommendations apply to the conditions described in the report, including any required vehicle type, equipment, restrictions, training, or licence conditions.
Our Approach to Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment
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We assess the interaction between the person’s abilities, the vehicle, the road environment, and the demands of driving.
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Where both components are completed, recommendations consider clinical assessment findings alongside direct observation of driving performance.
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Driving can support independence, employment, education, community access, and social participation. Recommendations balance these goals with the safety of the person and other road users.
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Where difficulties may improve through training, strategies, equipment, or further intervention, we identify practical next steps and review requirements.
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Our reports aim to clearly connect assessment findings, observed driving performance, identified risks, and recommendations.
Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment FAQs
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A referral may come from a treating doctor, medical specialist, participant, nominee, family member, support coordinator, or another relevant professional.
Medical documentation or clearance may still be required before the assessment can proceed.
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No. Assessments may be completed for learner drivers, people returning to driving, and current drivers whose health or functional abilities require review.
The assessment process is tailored to the person’s licence status, driving experience, and referral purpose.
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Licence requirements depend on the purpose of the assessment and the on-road component being completed.
PCT will review the person’s licence status and advise what is required before booking the practical assessment.
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Not necessarily. The required assessment components depend on the referral question, available medical information, off-road findings, licence status, and clinical circumstances.
An on-road assessment is generally required when direct evaluation of practical driving performance is necessary.
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The on-road assessment is completed with the person driving, a driver-trained occupational therapist, and a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor.
The assessment is generally completed in an appropriate dual-control vehicle.
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Yes. Where clinically appropriate, the occupational therapist may recommend equipment trials, vehicle modifications, specialised training, or further assessment.
The person may need to demonstrate safe use of the modification before final recommendations are made.
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No. The occupational therapist provides clinical findings and recommendations.
The relevant licensing authority is responsible for decisions about licence conditions, suspension, cancellation, or reinstatement.
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The person may complete specialised lessons with a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor.
The occupational therapist may recommend reassessment after the lessons to evaluate progress and determine the next steps.
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No. The assessment provides information about performance under the conditions assessed.
The licensing authority considers the report alongside medical information and other relevant evidence when making licensing decisions.
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The time required depends on the referral purpose, off-road testing, on-road assessment, medical information, vehicle requirements, and report complexity.
PCT will explain the proposed assessment process after reviewing the referral.
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PCT provides occupational therapy driving assessments across Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, the Gold Coast, and Toowoomba.
Availability depends on the person’s location, assessment requirements, access to an appropriate vehicle and driving instructor, travel considerations, and clinician capacity.
OT Driving Assessments Across Brisbane and Surrounding Regions
People Centred Therapies provides occupational therapy driving assessments across:
Greater Brisbane
Ipswich
Logan
The Gold Coast
Toowoomba
The off-road and on-road components may occur in different locations depending on the person’s needs, the appropriate road environment, vehicle availability, and access to a rehabilitation-trained driving instructor.
Service availability depends on the person’s exact location, licence status, assessment requirements, travel considerations, and clinician capacity.
Request an Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment
Complete our referral form with information about the person’s medical condition or disability, current licence status, driving goals, reason for referral, location, and treating medical practitioner.
Our team will review the referral and contact the nominated person to discuss service suitability, required documentation, availability, and the proposed next steps.