Welcome to CENTRAL COAST DRIVERS’ SAFETY EVALUATION (CCDSE) program.
We realize that Independence is Key to quality of life; this includes independence in driving. Our basic philosophy is to help clients maintain independence in driving, as long as they are safe to do so.
CCDSE’s program carefully assesses mature drivers, as well as potentially at risk drivers, taking the guesswork out of whether they are capable of driving safely. In addition to assessing drivers’ safety, David Jeffrey, a licensed occupational therapist, will also develop a plan to help those clients who are capable return to safe driving. CCDSE Works in partnership with physicians, nurses, health care providers, and concerned family members to determine whether a return to safe driving is possible.
This unique approach provides a realistic, practical and objective assessment of a client’s present driving skills. It also assesses future potential for return-to-driving and provides recommendations and possible intervention strategies to help clients regain safe driving skills.
Who can benefit from this program?
All drivers wanting an accurate evaluation of their driving skills, including:
- senior drivers
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Head Injury
- Seizure
- Stroke
- Visual Impairment
- Any diagnosis or aging process that has impaired one’s cognitive, motor skills, visual/perceptual, or functional ability to drive.
What does the evaluation include?
Our objective is to reduce potential stress associated with taking a driving evaluation at an unfamiliar location. So WE COME TO YOU. We provide clinical testing in the comfort of your own home. The clinical evaluation can be performed on your own kitchen table. The driving portion of the evaluation will include your neighborhood streets and roads that you are familiar with.
Two types of evaluations are offered: Clinical Evlauation only, and the Clinical / Behind-the-wheel Evaluation:
CLINICAL EVALUATIONS measure vision, perception, cognition, reaction-time, motor planning, safety judgement, coordination, and full upper and lower extremity active range of motion and strength.
BEHIND-THE-WHEEL TESTING is conducted in a dual-controlled vehicle, in appropriate neighborhood streets, local roads and freeway settings.
Why choose a Central Coast Driver’s Safety Evaluation?
- CCDSE is the only state licensed occupational therapy based driving evaluation program offered in San Luis Obispo County.
- The majority of SLO county neurologists, physiatrists and family practice physicians rely upon the clinical and behind the wheel test results provided by CCDSE to determine a driver’s ability to return to safe driving.
- Many Neurologists and Rehabilitation Centers in Santa Barbara County also refer their patients to CCDSE.
- Driving evaluations by CCDSE look beyond a simple snap-shot evaluation given by some driving schools to assess a client’s ability to drive safely. The comprehensive clinical evaluation given by CCDSE is empirically predictive as to a client’s long-term ability to drive.
- CCDSE is committed to help client’s retain their safe driving ability for as long as possible by making recommendations and formulating specific clinical plans, with physician over-site and approval that will help
resolve specific problems that prevent safe driving.
Only occupational therapy based driving evaluations can assess the need for adaptive driving equipment and also provide functional training in the safe use of these devices