2010 BC Guide in Determining Fitness to Drive

Medical practitionersMedical practitioners also play a role in screening. Under section 230 ofthe MVA, registered psychologists, optometrists and medical practitionersmust report to OSMV if:a patient has a medical condition that makes it dangerous to thepatient, or to the public, for the patient to drive a motor vehicle, andcontinues to drive after the psychologist, optometrist or medicalpractitioner warns the patient of the danger.The full text of section 230 is included in Appendix 2.In addition to this reporting duty, medical practitioners conductassessments and provide information to OSMV on a patient’s prognosis,treatment and extent of impairment. Sometimes medical practitioners areasked to comment directly on driving ability.Allied health care practitionersAllied health care practitioners such as occupational therapists, driverrehabilitation therapists and physiotherapists may be asked to conductassessments of drivers.Individual driversWhen applying for or renewing a British Columbia driver’s licence of anyclass, individuals are asked if they have any medical conditions that affectdriving. When an applicant reports a medical condition that could affectthe functions necessary for driving, a DMER is generally issued. Theindividual is responsible for taking this to their doctor to be completed.Based on information provided by the physician on the DMER, anindividual may be required to submit to additional assessments for OSMVto determine their fitness to drive.Once a determination is made, individuals must comply with anyconditions or restrictions imposed by OSMV or, if their licence iscancelled, surrender the licence to ICBC. Individuals are informed ofconditions, restrictions and licence cancellations in a letter from OSMV.Commercial drivers who wish to drive outside of BCCommercial drivers who wish to drive outside of BC must familiarizethemselves with any medical condition-related restrictions or prohibitions13