Overview

Driving a motor vehicle is an essential component of achieving or maintaining your independence. It can be important in restoring your self-confidence and is a practical necessity for getting to places you may need or want to go. Driving is a PRIVILEGE for which you must qualify. Not a right granted to all who may apply. The Evaluator Driving Company provides comprehensive behind the wheel driving evaluations and adaptive equipment training.

Contact Information:

Office Phone: 919-423-1611

Fax: 919-913-0691

Driving Evaluations

People use many skills in driving.  A head or spinal cord injury may impact those skills.  Ninety percent of the information we process while driving is taken through our visual system. Our hearing, muscular and joint movements as well as balance and speed of movement, are also very important.  Obstacles to safe driving may arise from damage to any of the systems that receive or process sensory information. Cognitive and behavioral functions can also impact reaction time and driving ability. A typical BTW (behind the wheel) evaluation includes but is not limited to the following areas:

• Steering
• Stops and starting
• Right and left turns in residential and urban/business districts
• Use of vehicle controls
• Backing, parking (perpendicular), and shopping center parking
• Speed control
• D.O.T. (department of transportation) road signs and signals
• Memory assessments
• Perceptual skills and decision making
• Transfer status – ability to get in and out of the vehicle
• Biopic eye use (if needed)

A driving evaluation determines whether you can drive at the time of the evaluation.  If the evaluator believes you are currently unable to drive safely, he/she will determine when or if it may be appropriate to evaluate your driving capabilities again.  Restrictions may be recommended to be added to your driver’s license or it may involve surrender of your driving privileges.

Adaptive equipment training

Training with adaptive equipment is required before installation at most retail locations. The Evaluator provides training lessons with hand controls and a spinner knob installed in Durham. Left foot accelerator training is also available. The Evaluator will assess your needs to determine the type of training required. After training, a letter is sent to the retailer of your choice indicating that you have been trained successfully.