About Our Service
Driving is a valuable skill that, for many people, is a necessary part of life. It allows people to socialise, get to work and complete daily tasks in order to live and maintain a healthy and happy life. However, in some instances, people may experience an accident or other event that results in injury, negatively impacting an individual’s ability to drive safely.
At Modified Driving Solutions, our team of professionals, including Driver Trained Occupational Therapists, are able to help those people to get back on the road. We have a long history of working in collaboration with government and non-government agencies such as iCare, Veterans Affair, and Roads and Maritime Service.
Our goal at Modified Driving Solutions is to aid people in their return to the road through a range of different measures such as confidence building, therapy, vehicle modification and general cognitive improvement in the case of injury.
Our qualified professionals are able to help in the following areas;
- Cognitive impairment – For individuals who are experiencing any cognitive impairment, our employees are able to run a driving assessment for you to evaluate your ability to drive
- Physical impairment – For those with a physical injury that want to be able to drive independently, our experts are able to provide assistance.
- Vehicle modifications and lessons – Individuals needing a modification to their vehicle in order to drive are able to do so with the help of our Occupational Therapists.
We strive to offer a high quality experience for all patients in the Sydney region offering;
- Friendly and experienced staff
- Flexible operating hours so that you can get assessed at a convenient time
- Competitive pricing
- Short waiting lists
- Immediate notification of all driving assessment outcomes
- Notification to the Roads and Maritime Services within 24 hours of the driving assessment being completed
What is a Driving Assessment?
Our driving assessments are designed to gain an understanding of the client’s overall health and wellbeing, and then subsequently their ability to drive safely on the road. There are 3 parts to the driving assessment being the off-road, on-road and post-assessment stages.
A qualified Occupational Therapist and a rehabilitation driving instructor will be present during the assessment. All of our Occupational Therapists are driver trained to ensure the highest level of safety and understanding can support the client to give them the best chance of returning to the road.
The overall duration of the assessment is dependent on the condition of the person. In general, it takes between 2 and 3 hours.
Some participants may have access to support when it comes to the driving assessment with iCare able to provide assistance for eligible patients.
OFF ROAD ASSESSMENT
The main aim of this stage of the assessment is to identify and/or confirm the existing medical conditions, illnesses or injuries that are likely to affect ability to drive. The Occupational Therapist will conduct visual, cognitive and physical assessments to look for any obvious deficits in these areas, and anticipate how any issues may impact on the person’s driving capacity. It is also crucial at this stage to ensure the person has medical clearance from a Doctor to drive for the assessment.
This is completed by the driver trained Occupational Therapist in your own home and it is acceptable for family members to be present at this time to offer support.
ON-ROAD ASSESSMENT
This is the phase of the assessment where the client is required to drive and is conducted around their local suburbs. They will be given some time to become familiar with the vehicle. The patient will be driving in one of the dual controlled cars supplied by Modified Driving Solutions to ensure a high level of safety is practiced for those in the car, others on the road and for pedestrians.
The qualified driving instructor with be in the front seat with the patient and the driver trained Occupational Therapist will be in the back seat. This acts like a driving test and evaluates the person’s ability to drive safely and take note of the changing elements around them as they drive.
POST ASSESSMENT
Following the conclusion of the off-road and on-road assessments, the driver trained Occupational Therapist will sit down with the client and any present family members to discuss the results of the assessment.
This entails discussion of the outcome of the test, and the next steps for required, such as further lessons or where to purchase prescribed vehicle modifications.
After the results have been discussed, a report entailing the details of the assessment will be sent to both the participating client and the Roads and Maritime Services. Should there also be a doctor that the patient sees a report will be sent to them as well.
Appropriate Clients
Anyone who is experiencing some form of disability, injury or medical condition that is affecting their driving is appropriate for our program. We aim to enable people who have suffered injuries or are experiencing illness to drive in a safe and confident manner. Some examples of the types of physical and cognitive impairments that we can assist people with are;
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Brain Injury
- Spinal Injury
- Physical Injury
- Mental Health Problems
- Amputations
- Multiple Sclerosis
Ultimately, any injury or illness that you believe may impact on you, or a family member’s or friend’s capacity to drive can be assessed and driving assessments can be arranged.
- Rehabilitation Programs
At Modified Driving Solutions, we provide rehabilitation programs for people who have suffered workplace injuries or are attempting to return to work following an injury. Our programs are designed to prepare clients for the road and we work with clients, rehabilitation providers and insurance companies to ensure the best result for our clients.
Many people who have experienced serious workplace injuries may be able to apply for assistance for their driving assessment, with iCare offering support for individuals who qualify. This means that they will offer a range of support services in order to benefit your health and do their best to get you back to driving in spite of your injuries and/or illness.
As part of this program for those in rehabilitation, our professionals are available for education services in order to answer any questions and inform clients of the rules and restrictions that they may or may not be facing. This enables people to understand what is involved in the process of returning to driving, to ensure that you are going to be able to drive to a safe standard.
- Corporate Programs
Corporate sessions are available for businesses that require their employees to regularly drive to locations. We offer both practical and theory based sessions to best equip those employees with the skills required to maintain a high level of safety on the road.
Companies may benefit from this program as it provides a wholesome assessment of employees’ ability to drive and also helps them to understand various scenarios that they may face in their time on the road. We are able to create personalised programs to best suit the needs and requirements of your business and your employees.
Some of the specific inclusions in these programs can be;
– Road rule knowledge
– Employees’ present driving ability
– A range of cognitive, physical and visual assessments
– Ergonomics of vehicles to aid those who drive for long periods
– Injury management
Family, Friends and Medical Professionals
Individuals are required by law to notify the Roads and Maritime Services of any condition that is likely to affect their ability to drive safely in the long term. However, it is understandable that at times people are unwilling to admit or are simply unaware how their medical condition can affect their ability to drive safely.
This is why we encourage those around them to report any cases where it is believed that a close family member or friend may no longer be able to drive safely.
- Medical Practitioner
Medical professionals often have the closest relationship to an individual in terms of their overall health and wellbeing. Should you, as a health professional, have any questions about a patient’s competence to drive, it is encouraged that you report them voluntarily for the safety of everyone on the road. It is understandable that there may be some hesitation in doing so, as it may damage the therapeutic relationship. That is why referring them to an unbiased, qualified Occupational Therapist may be the best option in order to get an objective clinical opinion.
Our professional Occupational Therapists at Modified Driving Solutions are trained specifically in determining a person’s ability to drive making it the best possible choice for any individual. If clients are worried about the costs involved, it is important to understand that they may be eligible for support in their driving assessment with iCare or other eligible schemes able to assist.
- Friends and Family
If you as a friend or family member believe that someone close to you may have an illness or injury that will affect their aptitude for driving, it is encouraged that you refer them to Modified Driving Solutions.
This may be difficult, but it is more than likely best for the individual to get a professional driving assessment so that they can be helped to drive safely on the road.
Our referral form can be filled out by individuals who feel they need an assessment, or those who believe that someone they know has suffered an injury or illness that has decreased their driving capacity.