The
following information is for customers who advise RMS that they suffer
from a physical disability which may affect their ability to control a
motor vehicle. All customers with a physical disability are given a fair
opportunity to demonstrate their driving ability in a standard test.
However, if the customer declares a disability that will affect their
driving, a disability driving test has to be given. The purpose of a
disability driving test is to ensure that people with a disability are
assessed on their capabilities for safely controlling motor vehicles.
It is a legal responsibility of any driver to notify RMS of any long
term or serious illnesses, injuries and/or mental or physical
disabilities as soon as practicable. The national
‘Assessing Fitness to Drive’ medical standards has been adopted
by all licensing jurisdictions and medical practitioners in Australia
and provides information about specific medical and physical
disabilities.
Disabilities for licence applicants fall into two broad categories: minor disabilities and serious disabilities.
Minor disabilities
Minor disabilities are considered not to prevent the customer from
safely operating a vehicle include the loss of three fingers or fewer on
one hand, the loss of toes, slight stiffness of a joint, one limb
slightly shorter than the other, or other minor disability. RMS can
issue a licence in the normal manner to a person with a minor
disability. There is no need for a medical report or disability driving
test, or to assign any licence condition to the licence, provided there
is no other medical conditions declared that requires a medical
examination and report.
Serious disabilities
Serious disabilities include the loss or serious impairment of one or
both legs, loss or serious impairment of one or both arms, the loss of
more than three fingers on one hand, or other mental or physical
disability. In most cases, customers with serious disabilities will
require the use of special aids, appliances and/or vehicle modifications
in order to safely operate a motor vehicle to an appropriate safe
standard (e.g the use of artificial limb(s), hand controls, steering
wheel aid, electronic indicators, etc).
Any person using special aids, appliances and/or vehicle
modifications must undertake a disability driving test in order to be
issued, or to retain, a driver licence.
When a licensee has a disability that limits body movement, or
requires the use of a special aid, appliances and/or vehicle
modifications, RMS applies the following principles in determining their
fitness to drive.
Appliances worn
The mass or dimensions of any appliance worn by a person must not impair the control of the vehicle.
Leg disabilities
When neither leg can be used, hand controls are required.
The leg operating the accelerator and footbrake generally requires
some mobility of the hip, knee and ankle. The leg operating the clutch
(if fitted) generally requires similar mobility.
In automatic cars, the accelerator and brake can be operated either
by the right or left leg, or both (one to each control). For left leg
operation, the accelerator should be fitted to the left of the
footbrake, unless RMS approves operations with the accelerator and
footbrake in their normal positions.
Any customer requiring the use of a prosthetic limb (artificial) to
help operate the accelerator, footbrake and/or clutch must undertake a
disability driving test before commencing to drive unaccompanied with
the appliance worn. It may be necessary for RMS to restrict the
customers driving until appropriate assessments have been completed.
A current licence holder who has had their left leg amputated but has
full use of their right leg does not have to undertake a driving test,
if they choose to drive automatic vehicles only. In this case, the
existing licence will be endorsed with the condition 'May drive only an
automatic vehicle'.
Arm disabilities
The use of one arm may be enough to drive an automatic vehicle, but
the driver must be able to reach and operate the major controls, without
removing their hand from the steering wheel. In some cases
modifications such as extended indicator switch or electronic indicator
may need to be fitted to the vehicle.
Usually a steering wheel aid (spinner knob) is required (eg where
there is a loss of more than three fingers on one hand) and power
steering may be necessary or advisable.
The operation of the parking brake as an emergency brake is not
essential if a dual-circuit braking system is fitted (as in all cars
built since 1972). A licence condition 'Vehicle to have dual circuit
brakes or handbrake operable by left/right hand' may be endorsed on the
licence.
Neck/head disabilities
If the applicant has a severe restriction to head rotation, wing
mirrors or a panoramic/fisheye rear vision mirror must be fitted to each
side of the vehicle to improve rear and side vision. It is not
necessary for drivers with additional mirrors installed only to
undertake a disability driving test, but appropriate licence conditions
for the use of mirrors will need to be endorsed on the driver licence.
Vehicles modified for people with disabilities
There are very few production vehicles made for people with
disabilities. In most cases, standard production vehicles are specially
modified to cater for drivers and passengers with disabilities.
Modifications can range from simple additions of a steering wheel
spinner knob to major modifications to the vehicle body structure such
as extending the body length and altering the roof of the vehicle.
Customers requiring simple vehicle modifications or appliances, (such
as left foot accelerator, steering wheel aid, panoramic/fisheye
mirrors) should attend a RMS registry to have any appropriate
modifications and conditions added to their licence. RMS will decide, in
consultation with the licensee of what appropriate modifications are
best suited to the customer’s disability.
Customers requiring the use of major modifications, (such as hand
controls, vehicle body structure changes) are recommended to undertake
assessment and training with a recognised and driver trained
Occupational Therapist, before having a vehicle modified. Occupational
Therapist will be able to assist with finding the right modifications
suited to the specific disability and assist in having the modification
fitted in the vehicle by a RMS approved installer.
The
Australian Association of Occupational Therapists is
able to supply a list of the locations of Occupational Therapists with
the appropriate training. It is always recommended that customers seek
the advice of an Occupational Therapist, qualified in driver assessment
and training.
For Information about vehicles modified for people with disabilities, download
Vehicle Standards Information Sheet - 21 or contact RMS Technical Enquiries on 1300 137 302.
First time drivers with a serious disabiltiy
When a customer with a serious disability applies for a licence for
the first time, the customer will be asked to provide a satisfactory
medical report from their treating doctor before any licence is issued.
This is to ensure that RMS is fully aware of the condition, and to
provide the doctor with an opportunity to recommend any specific licence
conditions, vehicle modifications or any relevant further assessments
(such as an occupational therapist driving assessment).
Any licence issued to the customer will need to be endorsed with any
relevant licence condition(s) suitable to the disability. If vehicle
modifications are required, it will be necessary for the modifications
to be fitted to the vehicle during the learner licence process. Once the
customer has complied with all other relevant learner driver
requirements, it will be necessary for a disability driving test to be
completed prior to upgrading to a Provisional class of driver licence.
Current licence holders with a serious disability
A current licence holder notifying RMS of a serious disability for
the first time (i.e. a newly acquired condition) will be required to
provide RMS with a medical report from their treating doctor to confirm
their current condition and medical fitness to resume driving.
Customers should consult with their doctor at this time about the
potential impact that their disability may have on safely operating a
motor vehicle and should not re-commence driving until RMS has been
notified and appropriate approval has been given.
Once a satisfactory medical report has been provided, RMS may require
for the driver to undertake a disability driving test before resuming
driving. Depending on the type of serious disability, RMS may need to
restrict or revoke the driver licence until the driving test has been
completed.
If the customer requires special aids, appliances and/or vehicle
modifications, their licence will need to be endorsed with special
conditions appropriate to the disability. The condition(s) will be
chosen by RMS in consultation with the licensee. In circumstances where
the customer requires major modifications it is recommended that an
assessment with a driver trained occupational therapist is undertaken
before the customer resumes driving.
www.darshandrivingschool.com.au
