A Study on Driver Training Program for the Handicapped at the National Rehabilitation Center

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of driver training program for the handicapped. METHOD: Retrospective study on the 699 disabled who participated in the two-months driver training program at the NRC (National Rehabilitation Center) from January 1995 to May 1998. RESULTS: 1) Of these subjects, 70.4% were men and 29.6% were women. 2) According to the disability grading system by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Korea, 19.2% of the subjects had the first grade disability, 28.2% the second grade, 26.3% the third grade, 18.3% the fourth grade, 6.3% the fifth grade, and 1.4% the sixth grade. 3) The licensing rate was 74.6% for the first grade, 64.7% for the second grade, 70.9% for the third grade, 73.6% for the fourth grade, 55.8% for the fifth grade, and 70% for the sixth grade. 4) The licensing rate was the highest in the subjects with spinal cord injury (79.2%) and the lowest in the subjects with stroke (45.0%). 5) Overall, 78.2% of subjects licensed with automatic transmission and 21.8% with hand- control. On the other hand, in the subjects with spinal cord injury, 42.5% licensed with automatic transmission and 57.5% with hand-control. CONCLUSION: The mean licensing rate of this program was 69.2%. Further study is required for the effect of cognitive function on driving test and various driving aids to promote the licensing rate for the handicapped.