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SPONSORED LINKS
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PATTY RANDALLS'S WEBSITE
http://www.longtermcarecanada.com
Find information on caring for aging parents or planning for your own care-years.
VISIT WEBSITE |
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DO YOU HAVE A PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE CONTENT OF THIS PAGE? Contact us to advertise here!
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IMPORTANT RESOURCES |
Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA)
VISIT WEBSITE
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Driver Fitness and Monitoring
Main Floor, Twin Atria Building
Alberta Transportation
4999 - 98 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6B 2X3
Ph: 780- 427-8230 (toll free in Alberta 310-0000)
Fax: 780- 422-6612
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MEDICAL STANDARDS |
MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR DRIVERS:
CANADIAN COUNCIL OF MOTOR TRANSPORT ADMINISTRATORS 2009
>>(READ WHOLE DOCUMENT)<< OR >>READ THE BRIEF SUMMARY<< |
Dementia is a clinical term describing what is usually a progressive and irreversible impairment of
memory, intellect, and personality and is most commonly due to degenerative cerebral disease or
multiple strokes. Dementia must be differentiated from conditions causing cognitive impairment which
are treatable, reversible, or non-progressive. Factors in determining degree of Dementia include:
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Some Memory
Impairment but
Dementia Not
Definitively Diagnosed |
Mild Dementia |
Moderate
Dementia |
Severe Dementia |
- forgets name, location
of objects
- may have trouble
finding words
- may have difficulty
traveling to new locations
- may have difficulty
with problems at work |
- Has difficulty
with complex tasks
or instrumental
activities of daily
living (eg finances,
shopping, planning
dinner, cooking,
taking medication,
telephoning etc.) |
- Has difficulty with
basics activities of
daily living (eg
eating, dressing
hygiene)
- Needs help
choosing and putting
on clothing
- Requires
prompting and
assistance when
bathing
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- Decreased ability
to use toilet and is
incontinent
- Vocabulary
limited
- Loses ability to
walk and sit
- Unable to smile |
There is no single clinical test or measurement which correlates with the ability of an individual with
dementia to safely operate a motor vehicle. There is, however, a general correlation between driving
ability and degree of functional impairment. The driver with evidence of memory impairment(dementia may not have yet been definitely diagnosed) or with mild dementia (defined as having
difficulty with complex tasks such as managing finances, shopping, taking medication, cooking) may
be able to drive a private vehicle.
This is best determined by performing a professional assessment of
driving ability. Such drivers should be reassessed annually because of the progressive nature of most
dementing illnesses.
Once an individual has progressed to moderate dementia (difficulty with basic activities of daily living
such as eating, dressing, and hygiene, OR severe cognitive impairment on formal testing such as
MMSE score < 15), the degree of cognitive impairment is sufficient to preclude safe operation of any
motor vehicle.
STANDARD: MEMORY IMPAIRMENT OR MILD DEMENTIA – ELIGIBLE FOR CLASS
5 LICENCE, SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY DRIVING ASSESSMENT. ANNUAL REASSESSMENT IS RECOMMENDED.
MODERATE OR SEVERE DEMENTIA – INELIGIBLE FOR ANY CLASS
OF LICENCE
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RESTRAINT SYSTEM EXEMPTIONS
15.1 Medical Conditions Warranting Exemptions
15.1.1 Seat Belts and Motorcyclist Helmets
The medical profession in Canada has declared itself unequivocally in favour of the use of
restraint systems in all motor vehicles at all times by drivers and passengers. (CMA 20.1)
There are no medical or physical conditions that call for exemption from using seat belts
(CMA 21.4) or helmets for motorcyclists. |
Medical Conditions That May Affect Safe Driving
Medical advisors and administrators from all Canadian provincial and territorial driver-licensing bodies developed the medical standards used in Alberta. Alberta Transportation is responsible for determining driver fitness and making decisions regarding a person’s privilege to drive.
A person who holds or applies for a driver’s licence must immediately disclose to the Registrar a disease or disability that may interfere with the safe operation of a vehicle. A medical report is required when applying or renewing a Class 1, 2 or 4 commercial vehicle licence (see Driver Handbooks for details).
Commercial drivers require a higher level of fitness because of the nature of their cargo, types of vehicles being driven, nature of physical work, exposure due to significantnumber of kilometres driven and the consequence of a collision involving a large vehicle.
Some of the diseases or disabilities that may interfere with the safe operation of vehicles can be found in these categories:
Vision (e.g. minimum correct vision, double vision, telescopic lenses)
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Hearing (e.g. vertigo, issues particular to commercial drivers)
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Cardiovascular Diseases (e.g. heart disease, heart attack)
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Cerebrovascular Diseases (e.g. stroke)
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Peripheral Vascular Diseases (e.g. aneurysm and veins)
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Diseases of the Nervous System (e.g. seizures, sleep disorders, dementia)
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Respiratory Diseases (e.g. lungs)
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Metabolic Diseases (e.g. diabetes, parathyroid, pituitary, adrenal)
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Renal Diseases (e.g. kidney)
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Musculoskeletal Disabilities (e.g. arms, legs, spine, paraplegia, quadraplegia)
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Psychiatric Disorders (e.g. mental, emotional, personality, psychotic)
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The Effects of Drugs (e.g. sedatives, tranquillizers, antidepressants, narcotics)
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The Effects of Alcohol (e.g. alcohol dependency)
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Aging Issues (e.g. loss of strength, slow reaction time, lack of attention, poor judgement, confusion, progressive dementia)
The presence of a related medical condition does not necessarily mean that a person’s ability to drive will be restricted. However, in order to determine the effect of the condition on driver fitness the department must review the related factors such as term of illness, treatment, medications and other factors.
To download this information in PDF format (pdf 169K)
For more information about medical standards for drivers:
Comprehensive summary of medical standards (pdf 14K)
CCMTA Medical Standards for Drivers (pdf 131K)
For more information, please contact:
Driver Fitness and Monitoring
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