Driving vehicles may be required to get to and from work or as a requirement of work such as driving trucks, cars, forklifts, stackers or earthmoving machinery.
Drivers with vision impairment or deterioration may have impaired reaction times, perceive traffic situations differently or may not see hazards such as other vehicles on the road. Challenging driving conditions such as bad weather, night time driving or road works can also pose extra danger for drivers with vision impairment.
For people in the workplace with vision impairment that are required to drive as part of their role, a vision assessment may be required to ensure the safety of the employee, colleagues, other road users or to prevent damage to equipment or vehicles.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
If people have an existing visual impairment or are experiencing deterioration in vision, assessment by a vision and/or sight specialist such as an optometrist may be beneficial. The assessor can make recommendations as to whether sufficient vision exists for driving and what aids or modifications would be beneficial for improved safety when driving.
Driving assessments can be completed by an Occupational Therapist to determine the driving needs and supports for people with disability:
Car or vehicle modifications can sometimes be undertaken to enable an individual with a disability to independently drive or operate a vehicle. These modifications may be as simple as installing audible warning alerts such as:
If glare is a problem when driving the following can be considered:
Other considerations may include ensuring both sunglasses and the windscreen are clean, and when driving at night, avoid looking directly into oncoming lights.
In situations where people with disability require vehicle modifications that enable them to carry out their work, they may be eligible to apply for funding assistance for these modifications through the Employment Assistance Fund. Funding assistance is not available for car modifications that only assist an individual getting to and from the workplace. The below link provides more information on the Employment Assistance Fund:
- Employment Assistance Fund
References
Centrelink 2009, Mobility Allowance, Australian Government Department of Human Services, Canberra, viewed 29 March 2010, http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/mobility.htm
OT Australia 2010 , OT and Independent Living, Australian Association of Occupational Therapists, Fitzroy, viewed 29 March 2010, http://www.ausot.com.au/inner.asp?relid=7&pageid=134.
Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) 2009, Health and medicals, New South Wales Government, Sydney, viewed 29 March 2010, http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/healthmedicals/index.html.
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 2005, Driving, Vehicle Modifications and Transport, Sydney, viewed 29 March 2010, http://www.scia.org.au/faq/driving,_vehicle_modifications,_and_transport.