BACKGROUND:

In order to assess a specific medical/driver fitness issues it is expected that individual working groups (usually 4 to 5 members) will be established.

There may be several working groups working on different topics simultaneously.

All jurisdictions may participate depending on their specific interests.

MEMBERSHIP / CHAIR:

Chair: Appointed by DFOG from members of DFOG
Co-Chair: Medical Professional appointed by DFOG

Administrators from each province who specialize in driver fitness

Medical professionals from licensing authorities within each province and appointed at the discretion of their respective jurisdiction. This may include physicians, occupational therapists (OT’s), nurses.

Representatives of other organizations (e.g.: Canadian Medical Association, U.S. Federal Highway Administration, medical specialty societies) may be invited to participate as required.

REPORTING TO:

Driver Fitness Overview Group (DFOG)

MANDATE:

1. Develop new standards, as directed by DFOG, and recommend amendments to the CCMTA Medical Standards.

2. Recommend uniform medical standards to be used by administrators in assessing a person's medical fitness to operate a motor vehicle by using the following principles:

- Functionally-oriented, risk/evidence-based medical standards
- Validated medical standards
- Determining how to assess compensation
- Determining how to accommodate the impaired

3. Consult and liaise as required with medical specialty societies such as the Canadian Cardiovascular Society on specific conditions that affect the medical qualifications to drive a motor vehicle.

4. Review and assess, as directed by DFOG:

- Identify areas requiring research
- Identify new problems and trends
- Other countries' medical standards with a view to gaining insight and learning from them.

MEETINGS:

Meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis as warranted by specific task subject to the recommendations of the DFOG and the D&V Committee and approval of the Board of Directors.

It is expected the majority of this work will be conducted by conference call.

EXPENSES:

Travel and accommodation costs for committee members shall be paid by individual jurisdictions.

Funding for travel and accommodation may be requested from the Board similar to other project group requests from the Standing Committee Projects budget.

May 2008