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A medical condition, injury, disability or deterioration in cognitive/reflex skills associated with ageing can affect your ability to drive safely.  If your doctor has any concerns about your ability to drive safely they may refer you to an occupational therapist for a medical driving assessment.

You may also be required by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to provide a medical certificate as part of your driver licence application if you:

• Have a medical condition that affects your ability to drive and your medical condition has worsened (or a new condition has been diagnosed) since your last medical certificate was presented

• Are 75 years of age or over and are renewing your licence

• Are requested to by the NZTA (regardless of when you last presented a medical certificate).

Again, your doctor may request a medical driving assessment before they sign the medical certificate.

There are specialist organisations around the country able to carry out medical driving assessments.

Three organisations in Auckland able to carry out medical driving assessments are Driver Assessment Service (Ph. (09) 236 9033), Auckland Driving Assessments (Ph. (09) 846 0046) and the Organisation of Therapy and Rehabilitation Services (OTRS) (Ph. 0800 687748) who have a unique driving simulator located at the Disability Resource Centre (DRC Auckland) where they can evaluate your driving capability in a safe and non-threatening environment.  Assessments may also include a drive in your own car or the modified assessment car to check your road safety.

The purpose of the assessment is to make recommendations about if, or when you can resume driving, or whether any conditions should be placed on your driving.  The occupational therapist will discuss your assessment performance with you and send a report to your doctor (and/or the person who asked for you to be assessed) outlining their observations and providing a professional recommendation.  Your doctor will review the report and decide whether or not they consider you medically fit to drive, and if any conditions should be placed on your driving. If conditions need to be placed on your licence the report may be sent to the licensing authority.

If You Are No Longer Able To Drive…

You may be able to regain your independence with a Lottery Grant Board funded mobility scooter, allowing you to do the activities you want to do when you want to do them.

The Lottery Grants Board allocates grants to people with mobility related impairments for the purchase of mobility scooters to help them achieve independence and to gain access to their communities.

Priority for funding of mobility scooters is awarded where transport is required to:

• Improve independence in day-to-day living

• Provide access to the community

• Maintain a person’s presence/mana in the community

• Ensure family coherence

• Enable activities during the school day

• Enable personal shopping

• Transport medical or rehabilitation equipment

• Help prevent career instability or vulnerability

• Pursue community activities.

Applications may be made at any time with application forms being available from the Disability Resource Centre (DRC Auckland).

If you are successful in your application the Lottery Grants Board requires that you undergo an assessment by an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist that involves:

• An interview

• A trial of suitable scooters

• Training in how to operate and use the scooter

• A home visit to ensure that the scooter is appropriate for your environment.

DRC Auckland has an Assessment Service experienced in assessing people for mobility scooters for the Lottery Grants Board.

At our showroom in Auckland, we have a wide range of mobility scooters from many different suppliers, allowing you to try out and choose from a variety of scooters.  Our Assessor will guide you through the assessment process and ensure that you receive the best scooter for your personal needs.

If you believe that a mobility scooter would enable you to regain your independence and improve your quality of life, give the DRC a call and we will guide you through the application process.

Contact DRC Auckland:

14 Erson Avenue
Royal Oak
Auckland
Ph: (09) 625 0322

Hours: Mon to Fri 8.30 - 5.00pm, Sat 9.00 – 1.00pm

Published 25th Nov 2011

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