You indicate, check the mirror, and go to look over your shoulder. Your neck stops halfway. You have started to avoid merging, or you reverse out of the driveway by feel.

This article explains why head turning matters, what helps, and when an occupational therapist (OT) can help.

Why does head turning matter?

Mirrors do not show everything. Every car has blind spots, areas beside and behind you that a mirror misses. The only way to see them is to turn your head.

The national standard, Assessing Fitness to Drive, says: “The ability to rotate the head is important for scanning the environment including when reversing.” You use it when you merge, change lanes, turn at a roundabout and back out of a car park.

What causes a stiff neck?

Many things. Arthritis in the neck is one of the most common. Others include a past neck injury or surgery, and conditions that affect posture or movement. Your doctor or physiotherapist can tell you what is behind yours.

If your stiffness comes with other joint problems, see Driving with Arthritis or Stiff Joints in Queensland. If it comes with a movement condition, our post on Driving with Parkinson’s in Queensland may be relevant.

Does limited neck movement mean I must stop?

Not automatically. The national standard says that “some loss of neck movement is allowable if the vehicle is fitted with adequate internal and externally mounted mirrors.” It also expects that the driver meets the vision standards and has no thinking or insight problems that would get in the way.

So the question is not how far you can turn. It is whether you can still see what you need to see, and whether you actually do it each time.

What do we look at?

We come to your home. In the off-road part, we check how far your neck and trunk move, your vision, your thinking skills and your general physical function.

In the on-road part, you drive about an hour in a driving instructor’s car, fitted with dual controls. We sit in the back. We watch for things that matter more than the angle of your neck:

• Do you check blind spots before changing lanes or merging?

• Do you turn your shoulders or body to make up for your neck?

• Do you use the mirrors well and often?

• Can you reverse safely, including out of a driveway or a car park?

• Do you notice vehicles and people on your side that you cannot see in the mirror?

If you move differently from before, we note what works and what does not.

What may help?

Several things can help, and some are simple.

• Wider mirrors. Wide-angle or blind spot mirrors can show more of the area you cannot turn to see.

• Reversing camera or sensors. These can help when backing out. They do not replace looking, but they add information.

• Seat position. Raising or moving the seat can make mirrors and the road easier to see.

• Body turning. Turning your shoulders, not only your head, can help.

• An automatic car. This frees your attention from gear changes so you can focus on scanning.

Some of these are changes to the car. Vehicle Modifications for Drivers in Queensland explains how the process works.

Treatment for the neck itself is outside our scope. Your doctor or physiotherapist is the right person for that.

What about my eyes?

Your eyes matter too. If you have not had an eye check recently, see an optometrist. Choosing glasses is outside our scope. If vision loss is part of the picture, read Eyesight and Driving in Queensland.

Could my licence be affected?

It may. Queensland drivers must give Transport and Main Roads (TMR) a medical certificate when they have a permanent or long-term condition that affects driving. Neck stiffness that is lasting and limits how you check traffic may count. Ask your doctor.

If limited head turning is the issue, TMR may decide on a condition after your doctor’s certificate. What Do the Condition Codes on My Queensland Licence Actually Mean? explains how conditions work. TMR decides, not the OT.

When you may not need an assessment

If your neck movement is stable, you can see around you with your mirrors and a quick shoulder turn, and your doctor is comfortable, you may not need one.

An assessment is worth considering if you have started avoiding merging or reversing, had a near miss when changing lanes, or if your family has noticed you do not look over your shoulder any more.

Ready to book an OT driving assessment on the Gold Coast? Steer Driving is a mobile assessment service covering the Gold Coast and surrounding areas. Whether you already have a referral or you’re just getting started, get in touch and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

This article was written by Elise, an AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist and driver assessor. Elise is the founder of Steer Driving, a mobile OT driving assessment practice.