When there are questions about whether someone can safely continue—or return to—driving, an objective evaluation can provide valuable information about what that person actually demonstrates behind the wheel.

Central Texas Driving School provides professional driving evaluations for individuals from Temple, Belton and surrounding Central Texas communities. Our Silver Driver Evaluation may be appropriate for older drivers as well as adults recovering from a stroke, brain injury, illness, surgery or other physical or cognitive changes that could affect driving.

Evaluations may be requested by the driver or family, or recommended by a physician, neurologist, therapist, rehabilitation professional or other healthcare provider.

When Is a Driving Evaluation Appropriate?

A driving evaluation can provide another source of objective information when there are questions about an individual's current driving abilities.

Families sometimes seek an evaluation after noticing changes in a loved one's driving. Other drivers want independent reassurance about their own abilities.

For healthcare and rehabilitation professionals, an on-road driving evaluation may be useful when considering return to driving after a stroke, brain injury, illness, injury, surgery or extended period without driving, or when physical or cognitive changes have raised concerns about driving safety.

The resulting written report documents observed driving performance and can be shared with the driver, family and appropriate healthcare professionals to help inform decisions about what should happen next.

A Resource for Temple Healthcare & Rehabilitation Professionals

Central Texas Driving School welcomes referrals from physicians, neurologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, rehabilitation professionals, case managers, social workers and other healthcare providers throughout the Temple area.

A patient may make excellent progress in rehabilitation while one very practical question remains:

What happens when this patient gets behind the wheel?

Our Silver Driver Evaluation provides an independent, real-world assessment of demonstrated driving ability.

This can be particularly useful for professionals working with patients following stroke, traumatic brain injury, neurological changes, orthopedic injury, surgery, extended hospitalization or other significant changes in physical or cognitive function.

We understand the distinction between a driving evaluation and a medical determination.

We don't determine medical fitness to drive. We evaluate what happens behind the wheel.

Our role is to observe the individual's actual driving performance and provide a detailed written report. That report can become another useful piece of information for professionals involved in rehabilitation, discharge planning, community mobility, return-to-driving decisions and ongoing patient care.

What Does the Silver Driver Evaluation Provide?

Each evaluation gives the driver, family and referring professional useful information about the individual's current driving knowledge and demonstrated behind-the-wheel abilities.

The Silver Driver Evaluation includes:

· Modified Written Assessment — A review of the driver's current knowledge of Texas traffic laws, traffic signs and rules of the road.

· 45-Minute Behind-the-Wheel Evaluation — Conducted in real traffic conditions with an experienced driver education professional.

· Observation of Practical Driving Skills — Including vehicle control, observation, positioning, speed management, intersections, lane changes, decision-making and interaction with surrounding traffic.

· Detailed Written Report — Documentation of demonstrated strengths, concerns and observed driving behaviors.

· Recommendations When Appropriate — Identification of skills that may benefit from additional training or practice, or driving situations that may present increased difficulty.

· Information That Can Be Shared — The completed report may be provided to the driver, family and physician or other healthcare professional involved in the individual's care.

A Respectful, Objective Evaluation

We understand that a driving evaluation can be an emotional experience, particularly for someone recovering from a medical event or facing changes in independence.

Our evaluators approach the process respectfully and objectively. The purpose is not to intimidate the driver or begin with a predetermined outcome.

Our job is to observe the driving, document what we see and provide useful information.

Sometimes an evaluation provides reassurance. Sometimes it identifies areas that need additional attention. In other situations, the findings may help the driver, family and healthcare team begin a conversation about whether changes in driving are appropriate.

We Know the Conversation Doesn't End With the Evaluation

If reducing or discontinuing driving becomes the appropriate next step, families often immediately face another question:

How will they remain independent?

Central Texas Driving School has assembled an Independence & Mobility Resource Guide to help families explore grocery delivery, rideshare transportation and other alternatives to driving.

Some of the resources are specific to the Waco area, but the guide can also help families understand the types of services they may want to seek in their own community.

Explore Our Independence & Mobility Resource Guide

Referring a Patient From Temple or Belton?

Central Texas Driving School welcomes referrals from healthcare and rehabilitation professionals throughout Temple, Belton and the surrounding Central Texas area.

Patients travel to our Waco-area location for the Silver Driver Evaluation. Healthcare professionals are also welcome to contact us before referring a patient if they have questions about the evaluation, the written report or whether our service may be appropriate for a particular situation.

Drivers and family members do not need a professional referral to schedule an evaluation.

Sometimes You Don't Need Another Opinion.

You Need to See What Happens Behind the Wheel.