South East DriveAbility

An assessment determines whether you are able to continue driving in safety and comfort and whether any adaptations are required. We also offer assessments for those wishing to learn to drive.

Depending on your personal situation, an assessment serves a multitude of purposes.

For example, if you have never driven and you have a disability the assessment will determine what adaptations you would require in a vehicle in order to commence driving tuition.

If you have a condition that has been deteriorating over a period of time, the assessment will determine whether you are safe to continue to drive and whether further assessments should be conducted at regular intervals.

Advice on adaptations

• If adaptations advice / demonstration is required.
• If vehicle advice is required.
• If you have a disability.
• If there is no doubt over your ability to remain / resume driving.

This type of assessment will involve a Driving Advisor and Occupational Therapist.

This assessment may take up to 2½ hours. Contact us for more information on having an assessment.

Drive from wheelchair

• If you are unable to transfer from your wheelchair to the drivers' seat of a vehicle.
• If you want to remain independent and drive yourself.

The vehicle currently is a Renault Kangoo, which has the following conversions:

1. Lowered floor conversion to make it wheelchair accessible for a driver.
2. Access to and from the vehicle is remote control operated.
3. Automatic wheelchair ramp.
4. Automatic suspension lowering.
5. Manual wheelchair locking mechanism.
6. Wide range of driving adaptations to suit most requirements.

The criteria to have a drive from wheelchair assessment are:

1. You must be a wheelchair user.
2. If you choose to use your own power wheelchair as opposed to the provided chair, your chair must be suitably crash tested by the manufacturer and compatible with the tie-down system in the vehicle. Not all powered wheelchairs will be suitable. Contact us for more information on having an assessment.

The assessment process is as follows:

• Interview - the Driving Assessor will gather as much background and personal information about you as necessary. Questions regarding any medical condition and diagnosis / licensing details / personal circumstances and mobility details etc. may be asked.
• Physical assessment - the Occupational Therapist will ask you to perform a series of exercises. This is to assess the physical abilities of your limbs and to assess co-ordination. The physical assessment will also include questions relating to sensation, proprioception and pain.
• Vision - the Assessor will check to see whether you can read a standard vehicle number plate from 20.5 metres.
• Cognitive assessment - if it has been deemed necessary to include a cognitive assessment this is the point at which this will take place. Please refer to 'the cognitive assessment' section of the website for further information.
• Static assessment rig - depending upon whether your assessment is conducted at South East Drive Ability’s main centre based at Bellingham Way, Aylesford or an alternative location, this is the point at which the 'rig' will be used. Please refer to "the static assessment rig" section of the website for further information.
• In-car assessment - the Driving Assessor will check that you are able to reach and use all main and secondary controls of the car correctly i.e. gear stick / indicator switch etc. The Driving Assessor will also ensure that you are seated comfortably and are able to adjust the driver's seat, fasten your seatbelt and adjust the driving mirrors.
  In most cases, where a cognitive assessment has been conducted, the driving parts of the assessment will include the Occupational Therapist as an in-car observer.
• Quiet road assessment - in order to familiarise you with the vehicle the Driving Assessor will ask you to drive around the quiet car parking areas of the assessment location. Some manoeuvring and reversing exercises will be included in this drive.
• Public road assessment - if the Driving Assessor feels it is appropriate, you will be asked to drive our pre-planned assessment route. This will include dual carriageways, multi-lane multi-exit roundabouts, junctions, parking and an emergency stop. Throughout all parts of the driving assessment, the Driving Assessor will give clear instructions and guidance.
• De-brief - this is the final stage of the assessment process. The Driving Assessor and Occupational Therapist will summarise your performance and make any suggestions and recommendations. A written report will be produced and distributed to the relevant recipients within 14 days.

If your condition or illness is of a neurological nature or there has been evidence to suggest neurological impairment, you will be required to have a cognitive assessment. Such conditions can include:

• Brain injury
• Stroke / more than one mini stroke
• Parkinson's disease
• Huntingdon's disease
• Any dementia
• Memory problems
• Some forms of psychiatric diagnosis
• Some forms of Multiple Sclerosis
• Possibly ischaemic heart disease / other cardiac diagnosis

The Senior Occupational Therapist conducts the cognitive assessment.

The cognitive assessment is a series of paper and pencil type exercises that will assess the following:

• Memory
• Attention / concentration
• Speech and language
• Voluntary motor movement
• Executive thinking skills
• Visual perception.

The Occupational Therapist will usually accompany you for the driving parts of the assessment for observation purposes.

Depending upon your personal circumstances, the DVLA may instigate an assessment.

We would receive a referral from the DVLA requesting that arrangements be made for you to have a driving assessment.

The only differences with a DVLA referred assessment are as follows:

• The DVLA cover the cost of the assessment.
• You will not receive a copy of the assessment report, although they will usually send a copy of the report upon written request.
• The DVLA, depending upon our recommendations once the assessment is complete, have the option of revoking your driving licence.
• If you refuse to have an assessment that has been requested by the DVLA this may result in the revocation of your licence.

For further information regarding the DVLA please visit the DVLA website.

The SAR is situated in the main centre.

It is basically a representation of a vehicle i.e. it has a driver’s seat, foot pedals, steering wheel, gear stick, handbrake etc, however, it is immobile.

The Driving Assessor will ask you to complete a variety of exercises i.e. turning the steering wheel to the left / right, accelerating / decelerating etc.

The SAR can be used with a variety of adaptations to suit your personal requirements.

The SAR has a built-in computer which records your reaction times and strength of limbs. A printout of the results is produced and attached to your final assessment report.

The SAR is a valuable piece of equipment that allows the Driving Assessor to assess your driving abilities without actually being on a public road. The SAR is particularly useful for assessing clients' abilities if they do not have a licence permitting them to drive an actual motor vehicle on a public road.

A charge is made for driving assessment services. Please contact the centre for details.

We provide assessments at the following locations:

• Bellingham Way, Aylesford, Kent
• Outreach in East Sussex
• Outreach in east Kent
• Outreach in north Kent
• Outreach in Eastbourne coming soon

You can request an assessment at a location most convenient for you.

Should your circumstances make it difficult for you to attend any of these locations please contact us and we may be able to make alternative arrangements.

In order to have a full driving assessment you must meet the following requirements:

• Be in possession of a current licence
• Be able to read a standard vehicle number plate from 20.5 metres.
• You must not have had any type of epileptic seizure / solitary fit / blackout during the last 12 month period.

South East Drive Ability has a selection of assessment vehicles ranging from standard manual and automatic transmission vehicles, to vehicles fitted with the latest state-of-the-art adaptations. Whatever your personal circumstances, we usually have a vehicle with the specific adaptations available to meet your requirements.

A review assessment is a recommendation made by our assessment team for you to return after a suggested period of time e.g. 12 months, in order for a further assessment to be carried out.

This is usually the case if you have a condition that may deteriorate over time.

If your initial assessment was instigated by the DVLA and our assessment report indicates that we advise a review at set intervals, you will not be charged for this. However, should you choose not to return, this may result in the revocation of your licence by the DVLA.

A review assessment may also be carried out if you have been advised to undertake driving tuition following an adaptation assessment, this is to ensure you are safe to drive with the adaptations recommended at your driving assessment. Again, you will not be charged for this.

If, for some reason, you were unable to complete all parts of your driving assessment on the day of your appointment, a 'follow-up assessment' will be arranged.

This is so that we are able to conclude your assessment and write our report.

Typical reasons for a follow-up assessment may be that the Driving Assessor felt a further period of recovery is necessary to have a true reflection of your driving ability. Another reason may be that you become fatigued or unwell, and it is necessary to suspend the assessment.

There is no additional charge for a follow-up assessment.