Available at: Braintree,
Boston Outpatient Center,
Wellesley A Pre-driving Evaluation is a valuable tool to assess if a person has been affected by their medical condition in a way that renders them unsafe to drive. It is an essential part of the recovery process to correct any deficits that may influence your safety and independence.
Medical conditions that may affect driving skills include:
| • | Vision - such as distance acuity, tracking, tunnel vision, and depth perception. |
| • | Loss of consciousness - from heart conditions, blood pressure, breathing disorders, low blood sugar, or seizures. |
| • | Cognition - deficits affecting problem solving skills, sequencing, and memory from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, dementia, or stroke. |
| • | Physical conditions such as stiffness from arthritis, inability to use arm or leg from strokes, and conditions affecting reaction time. |
The state of Massachusetts has self-reporting laws requiring patients to disclose any medical conditions that may affect their driving abilities. It is your responsibility to report such a condition to the Registration of Motor Vehicles. If you are uncertain if your condition impinges on your driving abilities, or if you need a doctor's order to medically clear you to safely drive, you will benefit from a Pre-Driving Evaluation.
A Pre-Driving Evaluation is conducted by an occupational therapist at one of our centers specializing in this evaluation, such as our Braintree outpatient center. We have driving simulator systems with steering wheel, accelerator and break petals for reaction time testing. An evaluation will test your vision, depth perception, motor planning and problem solving skills. Many medical conditions can be resolved with either an ophthalmologist consultation and prescription (if a visual change has occurred), or adaptations to your car to allow for safe driving.
Scheduling an Evaluation
The evaluation is given on a private pay basis and takes between one and two hours to complete.
You will need to bring the following items to your evaluation:
| • | Your glasses |
| • | Your current driver's license |
| • | A prescription from your physician for a Pre-Driving Evaluation. |
To schedule a pre-driving evaluation, or for more information, please call (781) 843-1145.