The Driving Rehabilitation Services program is a provincial rehabilitation service with an emphasis on driver evaluation and vehicle adaptation assessment. The driving evaluation helps to determine the client's potential to begin or resume driving. The program enables clients with a motor, perceptual or cognitive disability to maintain or regain their vehicle driving abilities, to help them develop the skills to drive and evaluate their vehicle adaptation needs if required.

Who is eligible for Driving Rehabilitation Services?

• Clients ages 16 and over whose physical or cognitive impairments may interfere with the safe operation of a Class 5 vehicle.
• Clients who require accessible vehicles or equipment to help them transfer into a vehicle or transport their wheelchair in a vehicle.

Who conducts the driving evaluation?

• Evaluations are completed by an occupational therapist (OT) who has completed the McGill University Graduate Certificate in Driver Rehabilitation.
• The driving evaluation is not a medically insured service and there is a fee of $200. You can claim the cost that you pay as a health expense on your income tax.
• There is no fee for the vehicle adaptation assessment for a passenger.

What does the driving evaluation include?

• An in-clinic evaluation which takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. The client's physical, cognitive and perceptual abilities are evaluated. Rules of the road are also evaluated.
• An on-road evaluation (functional evaluation) is completed by the occupational therapist in collaboration with a licensed driving instructor. The on-road evaluation may begin in a parking lot. The evaluation is completed in a vehicle equipped with a dual brake and the necessary adaptive driving equipment if recommended. It takes approximately one hour to complete.

What if I need to drive with adaptive equipment or require training to improve my skills?

• Driver training may be recommended for those clients who need to learn a new skill (driving with an alternative method) and/or improve driving habits and behaviors. 
• There is a cost for training.

Who receives the results of my driving evaluation?

• The results of the evaluation are reviewed with the client and a family member before being forwarded to the referring physician (or other client requested professionals) and the Department of Justice and Public Safety Motor Vehicle Branch (if required).

How can I be referred?

• A physician including ophthalmologist and nurse practitioner referral isrequired.
• Other documents that may be requested include reports from: Ophthalmology, Occupational therapy, Psychology, Physiotherapy, and Speech language pathology.

Contact Us

Attn: Driving Rehabilitation Services
Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation
800 Priestman Street
Fredericton, N.B. E3B 0C7

Tel: 506-447-4214

Fax: 506-447-4160

Email: Danielle.Coleman@HorizonNB.ca