For many people, driving is an important part of their daily routine. Being able to drive can mean greater independence. Many people with spinal cord injuries can return to driving following their injury.

Medical review

For individuals holding a Victorian driver's licence at the time of sustaining their spinal cord injury, (including learner permit, probationary licence, full driver licence, heavy vehicle, motorbike etc.), it is likely that a medical review will need to be completed before they will be able to drive again.

This medical review means providing a medical report to VicRoads. This outlines the nature and extent of an individual’s injury or impairment. A medical report can be filled out by an individual’s treating doctor or GP when they are 'medically fit' to commence the return to driving process.

This review helps to determine if an individual is safe to drive. It is an offence not to disclose a medical condition to VicRoads. The medical report will probably indicate that an occupational therapy driving assessment is required, before an individual can be cleared to return to driving.

Following submission of the medical report to VicRoads, the individual will receive a letter stating any recommendation for a driving assessment and licence conditions whilst assessment is pending.

Occupational therapist driving assessment

A specially trained occupational therapist (OT), along with a Vic Roads driving instructor, complete the driving assessment.

A list of occupational therapists who conduct driving assessments can be found on the VicRoads website.  

There is a cost associated for completion of a driving assessment. This will need to be covered by the individual or any compensatory body involved in the payment of expenses related to an individual’s spinal cord injury.

Occupational Therapy driving assessments are conducted in two parts - an off-road assessment and an on-road assessment. These may be completed on the same day, or spread out over a couple of appointments.

Off-road assessment

The off road assessment will involve the OT driver assessor asking questions about an individual’s driving and medical history. Assessment of physical, visual, sensory and thinking abilities, and basic knowledge of the road law will be conducted. A few simple tests are also completed to check an individual’s movements, strength and coordination. Other factors that may affect driving such as endurance, pain and fatigue are also looked at.

On-road assessment

The on road assessment usually takes about an hour. The individual will be driving, accompanied by the OT driver assessor and a driving instructor. The instructor will sit beside the driver to give directions about where to drive, and the OT driving assessor will sit in the back and observe driving skills.

This part of the assessment will be carried out in a vehicle that suits the individual’s needs (e.g. manual, automatic, or a vehicle with hand controls). The assessment can't be done in an individual’s own vehicle. For safety reasons a dual control vehicle will be used, which is fitted with a passenger brake.

Following the completion of the assessments, the OT driving assessor will give feedback about an individual’s performance. They may make one of the following recommendations:

• The individual can return to driving. This may be after vehicle modifications are completed, or a number of recommended driving lessons are completed.
• Retraining in a dual control car with a driving instructor, with reassessment at a later date.
• Restricting conditions on an individual’s drivers licence, such as 'local area only'.
• Licence suspension or cancellation.

Vehicle modifications

Some individuals are able to return to driving a standard car, with required modifications, whilst others may require a new vehicle, such as a wheelchair accessible van, to enable them to drive independently.

There are a wide variety of modifications which can be done to an individual’s vehicle to assist them to drive. This can include, but is not limited to, hand controls, pedal modifications, changing the drivers’ seat, adjusting the hinge on the car door to allow it to open wider, installing additional electric controls, installing a hoist for the wheelchair and transfer aids.

OT driving assessors can recommend any modifications that may be required to enable an individual to return to driving. They can also help find a supplier who can make the required changes to the vehicle.

Funding and suppliers

Vehicle modifications can be funded through a variety of means, dependent on an individual’s compensation status.

If an individual is covered by TAC or WorkSafe, their vehicle modifications may be funded under these schemes.

If a client has NDIS funding, funding for an Occupational Therapy driving assessment and vehicle modifications can be applied for within an individual’s plan funding.

For non-NDIS participants, or individual’s without compensation, there is a subsidy that can help pay for vehicle modifications: Vehicle Modification Subsidy Scheme.

Individuals who use their vehicle for work may be entitled to a subsidy through the Employment Assistance Fund.

Information regarding vehicle modification suppliers can be found on the National Equipment Database 

What if someone has never driven before?

Individuals who have never held a drivers licence may still be able to learn to drive.

The first step is to go through the standard VicRoads testing system to obtain a Learner Permit. A medical report will also need to be completed and provided to VicRoads.

Contact an OT driving assessor who can assist to find a dual control vehicle to practice in. The OT driving assessor will also complete a driving assessment to find out what type of vehicle modifications will be required.

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