Driving assessment and vehicle modifications process
Driving Well Occupational Therapy aims to guide you through what can be a daunting and complex process. There are many steps required, with governance by QLD Transport and Australian Competency Standards for OT Driver Assessors, and working with funding bodies including NDIS, NIISQ and Workcover.
For Further Information:
The law in Queensland states that “any person with a medical condition or disability that may affect their ability to drive, must have medical clearance from their doctor. In cases where there is concern regarding learning ability or a physical impairment, the person will need to have an Occupational Therapy driving assessment.”
This law is called Jet’s Law”, named for Jet Rowland who in 2004 was 2 years old and involved in an accident, where the driver of the other vehicle had epilepsy and shouldn’t have been driving. Jet was killed, his older brother had a catastrophic spinal cord injury and uses a wheelchair, and their mother Anita (a Police Officer) sustained serious orthopaedic injuries.
When a GP is unsure about the person’s ability to drive or the functional impact of the medical condition or disability on driving, they can refer for an Occupational Therapy Driving Assessment. This must be completed by an Occupational Therapist with the additional post-graduate driver assessor qualification. All our occupational therapists at Driving Well have this qualification; director Jenny also has an additional qualification to assess heavy vehicle drivers.
After an OT driving assessment, the OT will make a recommendation back to the GP in a formal report, and then the GP makes the final decision about the person’s medical fitness for driving. To continue driving, the GP writes a new QLD Transport Medical Certificate for the person to take to the QLD Transport office for processing; an updated licence is then provided.
There are extremely serious consequences of driving with a medical condition when the proper clearance and reporting is not completed, and an accident occurs:
- Insurance is voided
- Significant fine (in excess of $10000)
- Potential criminal charges – prosecution
- Putting themselves and others in danger
All The Forms
- See your GP to complete: GP referral form and QLD Transport Medical Certificate (see the “how to complete a medical certificate” guide)
- See your Optometrist to complete: Optometrist form
- Take your QLD Transport Medical Certificate to QLD Transport for processing
- You cannot legally drive until this is completed!
Complete Your Referral
- Complete our “Client Referral” form (you can save and come back any time)
- For NDIS clients: NDIS Plan and details so we can develop your Service Agreement
- For drivers: start uploading your below documents
- Driver’s license
- QLD Transport Medical Certificate
- GP referral
- Discharge Summary, Medical / Allied Health reports
Get In The Diary
- Our wonderful Practice Manager Zeta will call you to:
- Book your appointment
- Send you an appointment letter
- NDIS clients:
- Your service agreement will be developed and sent to you
- Please sign and send back the document
Get Ready
- Self-funded clients: please pay your invoice
- Complete your consent form
- Complete your risk assessment
- Send any outstanding documents required
- Preparation for driving assessment:
- Resources
- Driving videos
- Drive Focus app
- Senior drivers: online course “Preparing Senior Drivers for an OT” driving assessment
Assessment Time
- Complete your assessment (driving assessment - potential to drive assessment - vehicle modifications assessment) with your OT driver assessor
Next Steps
Driving with a medical condition or disability?
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- Resources
- Insights
- Forms
- Driver Focus App
Driving Well Occupational Therapy is a busy practice that provides OT driving assessment and vehicle modification services for people with medical conditions and injuries in Brisbane, Ipswich and northern Gold Coast. We service clients who are self-funding, NDIS and other compensable (WorkCover, NIISQ, TAC, iCare).
On behalf of the team at Driving Well Occupational Therapy and in the spirit of reconciliation, I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Turrbul and Yuggera country, where our team live and serve the majority of our clients, as well as to all Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to the land, sea and community. I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations people today.
On behalf of the team at Driving Well Occupational Therapy and in the spirit of reconciliation, I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Turrbul and Yuggera country, where our team live and serve the majority of our clients, as well as to all Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to the land, sea and community. I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations people today.
