Your ability to drive may be affected by an injury, illness, or ageing. You may be required to take an assessment to show that you can drive safely, legally and independently.
You are legally obliged to notify VicRoads if you have a medical condition that may impair your ability to drive safely.
Under Victorian law, you can be required to take an Occupational Therapy Driver Assessment to show that you can drive safely, legally and independently.
An assessment may be necessary because:
you have a physical injury, illness, disability, or psychiatric disorder which may affect your ability to drive safely
your physical or mental skills may have slowed since you obtained your licence
you have a medical condition and would like to know if you are able to obtain a driver’s licence or return to driving.
The assessment consists of two separate appointments:
Part 1 – Off-road assessment
This includes:
an interview regarding driving history, medical history, and medications
a physical assessment
a road law knowledge assessment.
Part 2 – On-road assessment
This is conducted with a driving instructor in a dual-control driving school vehicle (automatic or manual). The occupational therapist is seated in the back and assesses the possible effects your injury or illness may have on your ability to drive safely.
After the assessment the occupational therapist will recommend one of the following:
You are safe to drive with no further action.
You require a conditional restricted licence, e.g. driving in a specified local area, or only driving during the day.
Your driving requires improvement. You may require driving lessons with a driving instructor – The occupational therapist will reassess your driving after the lesson(s).
You are not safe to continue driving. Your licence will be suspended or cancelled. This may be reviewed if your medical condition or functional ability improves.
The occupational therapist may also make the following recommendations:
You need to have your driving reassessed regularly (e.g. annually) due to your medical condition.
You need adaptations or specialised equipment fitted to your car – Driving lessons will be necessary to learn how to drive safely with these adaptations.
Following the assessment, a report describing your driving and the recommendations made by the occupational therapist is sent to the VicRoads Medical Review Department.
The cost of the assessment is:
$450 for the occupational therapist (this includes both the off-road and on-road appointments)
$150 for the driving instructor and dual-control driving school vehicle
Driver’s licence
Correspondence from VicRoads
Medical or vision reports
List of current medications
Spectacles/contact lenses (reading and distance)
Hearing aid
Payment
Access
You, VicRoads, your family or your doctor can request that you be assessed.
