Drivers Services Outcomes

In calendar year 2009, there were 814 clients seen for driving assessment, training, or both. Clients are seen in Burnsville, Duluth, Forest Lake, Golden Valley, Monticello, Rochester, St. Cloud, Spring Lake Park, and Stillwater.  We see clients of all ages, starting with drivers in training at age 15 through drivers in their 80s. 

Long-Term Follow-Up

We call Drivers Assessment and Training clients who were seen for equipment recommendations or for driving training six to nine months after clients finish services. We got satisfaction information from 145 respondents who received services from August 2008 to July 2009, and they were called from May 2009 to January 2010. 

There are two components to the evaluation: Driving Lessons and Adaptive Equipment Evaluation. The first two sections look at these groups together (client can be in one group or both groups) and the last three look at the groups independently (client is only in one of the three groups).

Driving Lessons

Of the 105 respondents that took lessons, 79 took the lessons in order to past the state road test. Of those, 54% had taken the test, and 46% had not yet taken the road test.  Of those that took the road test, 88% passed (30 passed the first time, eight passed the second time they took the test.) Of those who have not yet taken the test, nine want to improve skills, three are taking a break, 12 gave other reasons to delay the test - including medical reasons, not having equipment, money, not able to drive, decided they didn’t want to drive, or they had no car.

Of the 38 who passed the State Road Test, 34 own their own vehicle, and 32 are currently driving, a median of four days a week.  Nineteen drive to work, 17 drive for health related activities, 31 drive for social activities, and 21 drive for shopping and groceries. 

Adaptive Equipment Evaluation

Of the 75 respondents that had equipment recommended. Seventy-three percent had the equipment installed, and 100% were satisfied with their service.  Of those 55 who had the equipment installed, 44 were driving at the time of the survey, a median of five days a week.  Twenty-four drive to work or school, 33 drive to health-related appointments, 41 drive to social activities, and 39 drive to grocery and other shopping. 

Driving Lessons and Equipment Recommended

Of the 54 respondents that had lessons and had equipment recommended, 43 had to retake the test. Of the 43 that had to retake the test, 23 took the test and 20 passed the test.  Those 20 had equipment installed in their car.  For those who did not have to take the test, 10 of 11 had the equipment installed.

Equipment Recommended without Lessons

Of the 18 respondents who had equipment recommended, 16 had it installed. Ninety-four percent were satisfied or very satisfied with the equipment.