Considerations before going back to driving...  

After an injury or illness, your ability to drive may be affected by physical, visual, cognitive, or emotional changes. Before you resume driving, it is crucial to receive medical clearance from your healthcare provider to ensure that you are safe to do so.

    • After an injury or illness, your ability to drive may be affected by physical, cognitive, or emotional changes.  

    • Colorado and Wyoming are self-reporting states; therefore, individuals are responsible for reporting any medical conditions that could affect their driving. Failure to report may result in liability for the driver if they cause an accident due to their condition.  

    • Before you resume driving, it is crucial to receive medical clearance from your healthcare providers to ensure that you are safe to do so. This helps prevent accidents and protects you and others on the road. 

    • In essence, being in a self-reporting state places the onus of responsibility on the individual to ensure they are medically fit to drive, with legal and financial consequences if they fail to do so

  • In Colorado and Wyoming, you are required to obtain medical clearance to drive in the following circumstances: 

    • Following an injury (e.g., head trauma, spinal cord injury, loss of limb, etc.) 

    • Following an illness (e.g., stroke, heart problems, seizures, severe infection, lapses of consciousness, or any condition that could impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely) 

    • If there are changes in your physical, visual, or cognitive abilities (e.g., difficulty focusing, impaired vision, or reduced reaction time) 

  • Your healthcare provider will consider: 

    • Physical limitations: such as impaired movement, weakness, or pain that may affect your ability to operate a vehicle safely. 

    • Cognitive function: including memory, attention, and decision-making abilities. 

    • Vision: ensuring you can see clearly, both at a distance and up close. 

    • Medications: some medications may affect your ability to drive safely by causing drowsiness or impairing reaction time. 

  • If your doctor decides you are not yet able to drive: 

    • Follow the prescribed rehabilitation plan: This may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, driving rehab, or other interventions to help you regain the necessary skills for driving. 

    • Seek the guidance of a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS): Driving rehabilitation can be essential for individuals recovering from injury or illness to regain their independence while ensuring they reduce their risks with driving.

      • By addressing physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, driving rehab helps restore confidence, enhance driving skills, and ensure that individuals meet the necessary medical and legal criteria before returning to driving.

      • It provides essential support and training on adaptive techniques and equipment when needed.

    • Re-assess your condition: Regular follow-up appointments will be necessary to evaluate your progress and determine when it is safe for you to resume driving. 

    • Discuss alternatives: In the meantime, consider using alternative transportation options such as family, friends, rideshare services, or public transportation. 

    1. Consult with Your Healthcare Providers:

      • Schedule an appointment with your doctor or specialist to discuss your condition and recovery process. 

      • Your healthcare provider will evaluate or refer you to be evaluated for your ability to drive based on factors like mobility, strength, coordination, cognition, and reaction time.

      2. Complete a Driver's Evaluation (if necessary):

      • In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as an occupational therapist and certified driving rehab specialist (CDRS), for a formal driver’s evaluation. 

    2. Receive a Written Clearance (Colorado- DR2401, DR2402, or Wyoming- FSDI-914 or FSDI-915):

      • If your doctor determines that it is safe for you to drive, they will provide a written medical clearance to the DMV. This document should indicate that you are fit to resume driving. 

    3. Follow Recommendations:

      • Your doctor may provide additional recommendations or restrictions for driving, such as avoiding driving at night or in heavy traffic or limiting the use of certain types of vehicles. 

    4. Submit the Clearance to the Colorado DMV (if required):

      • In some cases, the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may request medical documentation if your condition is reported or if you are applying for a new driver’s license after an injury or illness. 

    5. Make sure to keep a copy of your medical clearance for your records. 

  • Driving rehabilitation can play a crucial role in helping individuals return to driving safely after an injury or illness. It focuses on assessing and addressing the physical, cognitive, visual, and emotional changes that may have occurred due to the injury or illness, better ensuring that individuals are capable of operating a vehicle and processing the traffic demands before resuming driving. Here’s how driving rehab can help:

    1. Comprehensive Assessment

    • Physical Function: Occupational therapists (OT) and certified driving rehab specialists (CDRS) evaluate a person’s physical abilities, including strength, range of motion, flexibility, and coordination. This is particularly important after conditions like surgery, fractures, neurological injuries (e.g., stroke), or musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., arthritis).

    • Cognitive Function: For individuals recovering from brain injuries, strokes, or neurological conditions, driving rehab assesses cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, problem-solving, decision-making, and reaction times, which are crucial for safe driving.

    • Visual Function: Vision is one of the most critical aspects of driving. Rehab specialists assess visual acuity, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to track moving objects, which may be impacted by conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, stroke, or brain injury.

    2. Tailored Therapy and Exercises

    • Physical Rehabilitation: After an injury, rehabilitation exercises may focus on improving strength, flexibility, and coordination that are essential for tasks like steering, braking, and shifting gears.

    • Range of Motion: Patients recovering from surgery or injury may need therapy to improve head, neck, and upper-body movement to ensure they can turn their head while driving or react to sudden situations. Adaptive equipment in or on the vehicle may also be of benefit, which is a consideration for OTs and CDRS when assessing driving needs.

    • Fine Motor Skills: Exercises aimed at improving hand and finger strength and dexterity, which are crucial for safely gripping the steering wheel, operating controls, and using mirrors.

    3. Modifying Driving Techniques

    • Adaptive Equipment: For individuals with significant physical limitations (e.g., amputations, neuropathy, severe arthritis), certified driving rehab specialist may recommend and train on adaptive equipment such as hand controls, pedal extenders, or special seating arrangements to accommodate new driving abilities.

    • Modified Driving Techniques: In cases where a person’s abilities may be temporarily or permanently altered, CDRS’s can train the individual on adjusted driving techniques (e.g., using only one hand, adapting to slower reaction times, or driving shorter distances).

    4. Cognitive Training and Strategy Development

    • Attention and Concentration: People recovering from cognitive impairments, such as following a stroke or brain injury, may need help retraining their attention and concentration. This training can improve their ability to focus on the road, process traffic signals, and stay alert while driving.

    • Memory Aids: Cognitive rehabilitation may also involve memory exercises or tools, like reminders or visual cues, to help the driver remember directions, recognize road signs, and respond appropriately to traffic conditions.

    • Decision Making: For individuals with slower processing speed or judgment issues, driving rehab may focus on decision-making skills, route planning, and teaching strategies for managing stressful or unexpected driving situations.

    5. Road Testing

    • On-Road Evaluations: A certified driving rehab specialist will accompany the individual in the car for a practical road test to assess their ability to drive in real-world situations. This helps the therapist evaluate how the person handles traffic, intersections, lane changes, and reaction times under normal and more complex driving conditions.

    6. Safety and Confidence Building

    • Reducing Anxiety: For many individuals and their families, returning to driving can be emotionally challenging after an injury or illness. Driving rehab can help build confidence by providing a safe space for practice and gradually increasing the complexity of driving tasks.

    • Education on Safe Driving Practices: Rehab may include educational sessions about road safety, including proper seat positioning, vehicle adjustments, route planning, timing, using assistive devices, and understanding new physical limitations.

    • Emotional Support: Addressing psychological factors such as fear or anxiety related to driving post-injury is often a key part of the rehab process, with support from therapists to manage these emotions and build confidence.

    7. Legal and Medical Clearance

    • Medical Evaluation: A driving rehabilitation program may be crucial in obtaining medical clearance to drive, as many individuals will need a formal letter (DR2401 or DR2402) from their healthcare provider confirming that they are safe to drive. This clearance may require documentation from specialists who have assessed the individual’s driving readiness.

    • Guidance on Reporting: For individuals in self-reporting states, such as Colorado and Wyoming, therapists can guide the patient on when and how to notify the DMV or appropriate authorities about their condition, ensuring that all legal requirements are met.

    8. Long-Term Support and Monitoring

    • Ongoing Evaluation: Driving rehabilitation can provide long-term monitoring for individuals with chronic conditions. Regular follow-ups with the therapist may be necessary to ensure that the person’s driving abilities do not deteriorate over time and that they can adjust to any new medical changes.

    • Adaptations Over Time: As conditions evolve or change, driving rehab programs can assist individuals in adapting to new limitations, suggesting modifications or adjustments that reduce their risks on the road.