RoadSafety BC Update

RoadSafetyBC has revised the reporting form used by medical practitioners with patients who may have a condition that affects their ability to drive safely. This was completed in consultation with several physicians across the Province, is now a fillable PDF located on the RoadSafetyBC website.

Amendments to Section 230 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act are still not in force, and as such, occupational therapists still do not have a legal responsibility to report concerns of a person’s fitness to drive as a result of a medical condition or functional impairment.   Occupational therapists must comply with COTBC Practice Standards and Bylaws respecting disclosure of client information.

What has changed:

• The reporting form now enables practitioners to provide more medical detail so a licensing decision can be made with less delay and fewer requests from RoadSafetyBC for further information;
• Medical practitioners can now include a fax number to receive a confirmation fax (if requested), and RoadSafetyBC has implemented a new expedited report review process; and,
• There is information on back of the form to assist with completion and to assist with assessment of cognitive impairment.

To assist with any questions that arise around medical reporting, RoadSafetyBC has also created a fact sheet located on the website. Additional information is available on the RoadSafetyBC website, including a PowerPoint and a flowchart with information on how the program functions and the medical information that RoadSafetyBC needs to make licensing decisions.

RoadSafetyBC wants to thank the Driver Fitness Advisory Group and specifically Dr. Ian Bekker for significant contributions to this project. Please share this form and fact sheet with as many of your members as appropriate, and thank you for your contributions to road safety.