2010 BC Guide in Determining Fitness to Drive

Appendix 2: Excerpts from the MVA that are relevant to the DriverFitness ProgramAppendix 3: Aging Drivers, which describes the research in support ofroutine screening of drivers who are 80 years of age and olderAppendix 4: Licence Classes, which describes the various classes ofdriver’s licencesAppendix 5: Drafting and Approval Process, which describes how themedical condition guidelines were drafted and approvedAppendix 6: The Relationship between BC Driver Fitness Policy andPolicy in other Jurisdictions, which is primarily of relevance tocommercial drivers who wish to drive in the United States, and1.2 Purpose of this ManualThis Manual documents the Driver Fitness Program policy and proceduresof the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. It is to be used byOSMV staff when making driver fitness determinations.1.3 A changing approach to driver fitnessPrior to the publication of this Manual, OSMV and health carepractitioners in BC relied on the 1997 Guide for Physicians inDetermining Fitness to Drive a Motor Vehicle, 7 th edition (the Guide).The Guide was drafted in partnership between OSMV and the BritishColumbia Medical Association (BCMA) and was published by the BCMAfor use by both physicians and OSMV.The guidelines in the 1997 Guide were based on a diagnostic model fordetermining driver fitness. That is, guidelines were based primarily on themedical condition and the presumed group characteristics of people withthat condition rather than on how the medical condition affected thefunctions necessary for driving on an individual basis. In terms of anevidentiary basis, the Guide reflected the consensus opinion of practicingphysicians including members of specialty sections within the BCMA.Since the 1997 edition, three developments have had a significant impacton driver fitness policy in BC:3