A professional driver can be hired to drive a motor vehicle for people who cannot drive or wish to be chauffeured using either their own personal vehicle or a hire car for transport. Some types of professional driver available include:
- a driver attending the workplace or home on a small moped style motorbike, folding this up and placing it in the vehicles boot to enable them to drive the car where required and then transport themselves to the next clients location. This may not be suitable if a wheelchair or scooter also needs transporting within the boot
- some hire car companies also offer the option of cars being hired along with a professional driver if working away from home. Drivers usually charge an hourly fee or set fees plus a cost per kilometre. Professional drivers generally come fully insured
- carers can sometimes act as a driver for a person with disability, taking them to and from work or to appointments. Colleagues within the workplace may also act as a driver if multiple employees are attending a meeting or appointment external to the office and are going in one vehicle.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Providing a driver may be necessary if a person is unable to drive due to their disability and they have no alternative to assist with transport. This will enable them to get to and from work and to travel to other locations for work purposes.
Some taxi companies also provide wheelchair accessible vehicles. If an employee travels to various locations to perform job tasks and activities during the work day but is unable to drive due to their disability, support options to consider include providing a driver, the support of a carer, the use of taxis or the use of public transport.
If a person is unable to drive at work as their work vehicle is not suitably modified to cater to their disability requirements, possible modifications can be undertaken to vehicles. Funding assistance may be available through the Employment Assistance Fund for work vehicle modifications. More information on the Employment Assistance Fund is available at the following link:
More information on transport options can be found at the following links:
References
Department of Planning and Infrastructure 2010, Media Statement: ‘Incentive will see more taxi drivers for people with disabilities’, Department of Planning and Infrastructure, Government of Western Australia, Perth, viewed 25 May 2011, http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/aboutus/14612.asp.
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