Comprehensive Driving Evaluations

Details of the Assessment

While evaluations may be somewhat different depending on the professional who administers it, any evaluation should include all of the following core components. A driving assessment usually takes two to three hours, covering a lot of territory - assessing how you handle the driving task.

Clinical Evaluation

During the clinical evaluation, the therapist will:

• Review your medical and driving history
• Check your vision
• Assess your cognition (memory, judgment and speed of response)
• Assess your motor function (such as strength, range of motion and flexibility)

Here are some examples of the questions the therapist may ask you during your clinical evaluation include:

• What medical conditions do you have?
• What medications are you taking?
• Do you have any health conditions that are affecting your driving?
• What type of driving you do (or plan to do)?
• Do you already limit your driving (for example, to daylight hours, to local roads)?

Because your vision is such a critical element of your driving safety:

In addition to reading the familiar "eye chart," you may be asked to take tests that evaluate your depth perception, peripheral vision, visual spatial skills, and contrast sensitivity. Why?

• Depth perception helps determine a safe following distance and informs decisions related to making a safe left-hand turn
• Peripheral vision affects your ability to be aware of traffic and pedestrians all around you
• Visual spatial skills help you keep your car positioned in the driving lane and park centered between two lines
• Contrast sensitivity is critical to your ability to detect other vehicles or pedestrians, particularly in low light or at dusk

Evaluating your cognitive abilities is also important

So the therapist will administer tests specifically designed to measure your judgment and memory, your ability to follow instructions, and the speed with which your brain reacts. They can help:

• Assess clinical driving functions, including determining whether you can focus on several things at once – a skill required for you to drive safely through a very busy intersection where there are a variety of things going on.
• Predict whether your brain processes information quickly enough to help you react to an unexpected event – such as a dog running into the street or a car pulling out in front of you – in time to avoid an accident.

Measuring your motor function

This assessment covers the most physical parts of driving. It measures your strength, flexibility and endurance for a particular driving task, such as moving from the gas to the brake pedal or looking over your shoulder before you change lanes.

What else to expect during your clinical evaluation

You can expect to perform some clinical tests that are good indicators of your performance behind the wheel. While some of these tests may seem to be unrelated to driving, they are actually very closely related to skills that are critical to your ability to safely operate a vehicle.

On-the-Road Test

The occupational therapist and/or an experienced driving instructor will ride along with you. You will probably be asked to drive an instructor's vehicle that has a passenger side brake for added safety.

The therapist will assess:

• How you handle the car
• Your problem-solving ability and judgment
• How well you negotiate the traffic around you

How well you negotiate the traffic around you

Some evaluations may include a "test drive" in a driving simulator. This is a convenient way for the occupational therapist to understand your reaction time and your response to sudden critical events on the road – without putting you in real danger.

The Outcome

You and the driving specialist will discuss your:

• Clinical results
• Driving-related strengths and weaknesses
• Any recommendations
• Your goals and plan

The occupational therapist will review your goals and help you develop a plan. Such a plan will likely include suggestions about whether, and under what circumstances, you should continue to drive or start driving again – or whether you need to retire from driving.

To read more about

• Are Your Driving Skills as Good As They Could Be?
• Who Can Perform a Driving Evaluation?

For more information about comprehensive driving evaluations, download or order your free copy of Your Road Ahead: A Guide to Comprehensive Driving Evaluations.