On-Road Driving Remediation After Acquired Brain Injury: Driving Performance at Follow-Up
<b>Background.</b> Return to driving following acquired brain injury enhances participation in community-based occupations, yet may be difficult to achieve and not without risk. Evidence supports on-road driving remediation to achieve functional fitness to drive post-acquired brain injury. <b>Purpose.</b> To determine if skills acquired through on-road driving remediation are maintained. <b>Method.</b> Secondary analysis of randomized controlled trial findings compared functional fitness to drive status and driving performance as rated by on-road occupational therapy driver assessment post-intervention and six-month follow-up. <b>Findings.</b> Of 25 participants with acquired brain injury (26-65 years), 95% of the 19 deemed functionally fit and 50% of the six deemed not functionally fit to drive retained that status at follow-up. Four changed status, with most (<i>n</i> = 3) shifting from not fit to fit. No significant change in functional fitness to drive status or driving performance observed at follow-up (<i>p</i> = .625). Being fit to drive at follow-up was significantly associated with competent observation, awareness, speed control, planning, judgement, and self-navigation. <b>Conclusions.</b> Following on-road driving remediation devised by an occupational therapist with advanced training in driver assessment and delivered by a qualified driving instructor, skills were maintained six-month follow-up post-acquired brain injury.
Authors
- Darshan Shah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5254-219X)
- Matthew Molineux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6671-4140)
- Louise Bassingthwaighte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8847-8671)
- William Pinzon Pérez
- Ryan Bell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2634-156X)
- Louise Gustafsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5232-0987)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Published
- 2026-03-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/00084174261427989
- Primary Topic
- Older Adults Driving Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00