Resources
Occupational Therapy Community Solutions Brochure 2026
Learn more about OTCS driving assessments in our brochure. It provides information about who may benefit from an assessment, what to expect during the off-road and on-road assessment process, referral pathways, and how OTCS supports safe driving, independence, and informed decision-making. Contact details and referral information are also included.
Occupational Therapy Assessments and Driving
This resource explores the role of occupational therapy in assessing and supporting fitness to drive. It explains how occupational therapists evaluate the cognitive, visual, physical, and functional skills required for safe driving, and how assessment findings can help guide decisions about driving, rehabilitation, vehicle modifications, and future mobility options.
Ideal for individuals, whānau, and healthcare professionals seeking a better understanding of the occupational therapy driving assessment process.
OTCS Driving Assessment Consent Form
This consent form outlines the driving assessment process, the collection and sharing of relevant health information, and the rights and responsibilities of clients undergoing an occupational therapy driving assessment. It also provides information about privacy, assessment outcomes, reporting requirements, and the role of NZTA in fitness-to-drive decisions. Individuals are encouraged to read and understand the information before proceeding with an assessment.
Predictive validity and clinical relevance of DriveSafe DriveAware as a cognitive assessment of fitness to drive in medically at-risk drivers 2026
New research suggests the DriveSafe DriveAware (DSDA) assessment is a highly accurate tool for screening fitness to drive in medically at-risk drivers. In a study of 138 drivers, DSDA achieved 93% accuracy and correctly identified all drivers classified as "Likely to Fail", supporting its use as a valuable aid for occupational therapists alongside clinical judgement and on-road assessment.
Cognitive clinical assessments to predict performance on an on-road assessment: a scoping review 2025
Which cognitive assessments best predict real-world driving performance? This scoping review examined 77 studies and 56 assessment tools, finding that very few demonstrated both strong predictive accuracy and practical clinical utility. While on-road assessment remains the gold standard, DriveSafe DriveAware emerged as the only tool to meet both psychometric and clinical utility criteria, highlighting its potential to support evidence-based fitness-to-drive decisions.
Medical office-based cognitive assessment as a screening tool for fitness to drive in older adults
Can a cognitive test determine whether an older adult is safe to drive? A recent NZTA-commissioned review found that no single office-based cognitive assessment can reliably predict real-world driving performance. While tests such as the Trail Making Test can assist screening, assessments specifically designed for driving, such as DriveSafe DriveAware, showed greater accuracy. The report emphasises that clinical judgement, health history, vision, physical function, and where needed, on-road or occupational therapy driving assessments remain essential when evaluating fitness to drive.