Fitness to Drive Evaluations

Fitness to Drive Evaluations - Frequently Asked Questions

• Who would benefit from a driving evaluation?
  • This program is designed to determine whether it is safe for individuals to continue or return to driving. If you have experienced a medical event, it is recommended to complete all rehab before proceeding with evaluation. Here is a list of common reasons people are referred for assessment.
    • Concerns due to aging
    • Stroke
    • Brain injury
    • Visual changes or diagnoses (Glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, etc.)
    • Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
    • Chronic or multiple health conditions
    • Sensory impairment (due to neuropathy, MS, neurological changes, etc.)
    • Impaired motor function, including range of motion deficits
    • State-required testing
       
• I have concern about my loved one’s driving safety. What can I do?
  • If possible, speak to your loved one early on about your concerns and observe for early warning signs. Review this resource for specific tips: https://ewcstatic.thehartford.com/thehartford/the_hartford/files/CMME/we-need-to-talk.pdf
  • Speak to your loved one’s medical team.
  • If you believe your loved one’s driving is unsafe, it may be time to consider involving state licensing organizations. Here are links to some helpful documents:
    
    What do I need to know when completing a request for review in Indiana?
    
    What form do I need to request a medical review in Kentucky?
     
  • Explore alternative transportation options for your area. Determine your loved one’s support team and schedule trips out of the house to provide security for your loved one.
  • Encourage your loved one to complete a comprehensive driving evaluation.
     
• What are the warning signs that safety may be a concern?
  • Once individuals have difficulty completing their personal care tasks, such as managing their own medications or finances, it may be time to begin the conversation about fitness to drive. Other warning signs include increased agitation while driving, scrapes or dents on the car (or damaged mailbox, etc.), bad judgement and safety awareness, and getting lost in familiar places. Follow this link to a helpful document about warning signs.
     
• What is included in a driving evaluation?
  • The evaluation begins with review of medical, visual, social, and driving histories.
  • A clinical assessment will be completed by a qualified Occupational Therapy practitioner with additional training in driver’s rehab services. These are office-based tests which measure cognitive skills (things like attention, memory, and processing), visual skills (like acuity, depth perception, and peripheral vision), and physical skills as they relate to driving.  The results of these assessments do not determine driving privileges, but rather inform the practitioner of potential concerns, as well as the driver’s strengths.
  • An on-road assessment is completed on a fixed evaluation route in Evansville. A warm-up/vehicle acclimation period is provided in a low-traffic area prior to proceeding into other areas. The on-road test may last approximately 60 minutes and occurs in a variety of traffic conditions. The goal of this on-road assessment is to determine whether it is safe for the individual to continue driving. Upon return to Easterseals, the evaluator will review the results and recommendations with the individual. 
     
• What does it cost?
  • Driving evaluations are typically not covered by health insurances and the vast majority of those completing assessments pay privately. Evaluations begin at $300 and may increase based on the needs of each individual patient. Please call (812) 492-0659 with specific questions.
     
• What are the potential results?
  • Safe/adequate driving: Continue with independent driving
  • Unsafe/inadequate performance: No driving is recommended
  • Restricted driving: Restrictions may include mileage restriction, no highways, or daylight driving only.
  • Return for reassessment: If further progress is achieved through medical management or rehabilitative measures, the evaluator may recommend returning for re-assessment. If an individual is diagnosed with a progressive disease (meaning it gets worse over time), a periodic reassessment of skills may be recommended. 
     
• How long is a driving evaluation?
  • Evaluations can take up to 3 hours.
     
• How do I schedule?
  • We need a physician referral to begin the process. You can have your physician fax the referral to (812) 437-2611. We are regularly scheduling 4-6 weeks out, so if you are on a deadline, it is vital you begin the scheduling process as soon as possible.