Driving Assessment
The Scottish Driving Assessment Service (SDAS) was established in 1983 to help people who wish to start (or resume) driving after illness or accident, and to provide assessment/advice on an individual’s fitness to drive in relation to any medical issues.
What We Do
We offer driving (and passenger) assessment to Scottish residents at the request of their medical practitioner, which can be either a GP or hospital-based doctor.
We also carry out assessments at the request of the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) when they are considering an individual’s medical fitness to drive as part of a Driving Licence application.
A national information and advice service is provided by telephone on all aspects of driving and car travel for people with medical conditions and/or disabilities.
More Information
Driving assessments are carried out by an occupational therapist, physiotherapist or doctor (or sometimes a combination of these).
An initial consultation takes place with the patient in their own home via an NHS ‘Near Me’ video call (or telephone call if this is not possible), to gather information and carry out some basic parts of the assessment. This also gives the opportunity for the patient to be introduced to their assessor.
The next stage of the process is attendance at the SMART Centre, which generally includes:
- Visual acuity test (ability to read a car number plate at 20m) and basic check of visual fields.
- Physical assessment, i.e. range of joint movement, muscle strength/sensation and co-ordination, to establish the best method of controlling a vehicle.
- Cognitive assessment: table top tests of aspects such as memory, attention and concentration.
- Static unit assessment: conducted with the patient sitting in a test rig which can be adjusted to individual requirements. This allows selection of the most appropriate methods of control for steering, braking and acceleration. Reaction times are also measured by moving from accelerator to brake pedal in response to lights.
- In-car Assessment (where appropriate): carried out in one of the centre’s vehicles. It starts in the hospital grounds, giving the driver time to get used to an unfamiliar vehicle or method of driving. If / when judged appropriate, the drive will usually then extend onto public roads in the surrounding area. The assessor will take account of the fact that the car and/or traffic environment may be unfamiliar to the person being assessed.
A range of automatic and manual vehicles are available, all fitted with dual control footbrakes. The service also has vehicles fitted with some of the most frequently used modifications.
Gallery
One of nine vehicles available for assessment
Static Assessment Unit
Secondary control unit for steering and operating lights, wipers etc. with one hand
Push/pull hand control lever with steering wheel spinner
How to Refer
Referrals are accepted from NHS doctors in any Scottish NHS Board area.
- GPs should refer via SCI Gateway (NHS Lothian / Astley Ainslie Hospital / Rehabilitation Medicine / SMART- Driving Assessment).
- Hospital-based doctors should refer by letter to Dr Lynne Hutton, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, Scottish Driving Assessment Service, SMART Centre, Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh EH9 2HL. Alternatively, the referral letter can be sent as an attachment to the generic e-mail address: loth.scottishdrivingassessmentservice@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Patients are generally referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service when there is either a concern about their medical fitness to drive and/or a potential need for vehicle modifications, or if the patient is seeking advice on whether to apply (or reapply) for a Driving Licence. Passenger assessments can also be undertaken.
Referrals are accepted for patients with any medical condition or disability, as long as there is no legal bar to holding a Driving Licence according to the DVLA guidelines. Examples of de-barring issues include recent seizure(s), poor visual acuity (i.e. inability to read a car registration plate at 20m), diplopia, visual field defect, clinically apparent visual inattention or disabling dizzy spells (full guidance can be found on the DVLA website).
Referrals should include all medical information which may be of relevance to driving or accessing a vehicle. Of particular importance are the following: (a) dates of any medical events / surgical procedures; (b) details of any physical impairment which could affect car control; and (c) information about any cognitive or visual impairment.
FAQs
How do I arrange a driving assessment?
You should ask your General Practitioner (or Hospital Consultant) to send us a letter, requesting an assessment and giving relevant medical details. Once we receive this, your name will be placed on our waiting list and we will send you a letter to confirm this.
In some cases, the DVLA refer people directly to our service when they require an assessment as part of their Driving Licence enquiries. If you are referred by the DVLA, you do not need to ask your doctor to send us a letter.
Which areas in Scotland does the service cover?
We are a national service and accept referrals from all NHS doctors in Scotland. Assessments are carried out at the SMART Centre in Edinburgh.
Do I need a Driving Licence to be assessed?
In order to have a full assessment (i.e. including the in-car component), you must have a valid Driving Licence.
If you do not have a licence (e.g. if you are a novice and have not yet applied for a Provisional Licence, or if your licence has been revoked), we may be able to carry out a partial assessment. In these instances we will not be able to take you out in a car, but we can give an opinion as to whether it is appropriate for you to make a licence application / reapplication to DVLA.
Will DVLA be notified of the outcome of the assessment?
DVLA will only be notified of the outcome if it was DVLA who asked us to see you. If your GP or hospital doctor refer you to us, we will only write back to him/her and will not contact DVLA, but may advise that you notify them yourself.
Read our general FAQsContact
Marlene Mackenzie
Scottish Driving Assessment Service
SMART Centre
Astley Ainslie Hospital
133 Grange Loan,
Edinburgh, EH9 2HL
Phone: 0131 537 9192