R708-7-10. Use of the Safety Assessment Level

  (1) Health care professionals who evaluate their patients' health status for purposes of the patient obtaining a Utah driver license, shall report safety assessment levels on forms provided by the division.

  (2) In assessing patient health and completing these report forms, health care professionals shall apply the standards and related information contained in the following lists, charts, and tables, which standards and guidelines are referred to in a booklet entitled, "Functional Ability in Driving: Guidelines And Standards for Health Care Professionals." Specific categories are:

  (a) "Category A" - diabetes and other metabolic conditions; narrative listing and table;

  (b) "Category B" - cardiovascular; narrative listing and table;

  (c) "Category C" - pulmonary; narrative listing and table;

  (d) "Category D" - neurologic; narrative listing and table;

  (e) "Category E" - epilepsy and other episodic conditions; narrative listing and table;

  (f) "Category F" - learning, memory and communications; narrative listing and table;

  (g) "Category G" - psychiatric or emotional conditions; narrative listing and table;

  (h) "Category H" - alcohol and other drugs; narrative listing and table;

  (i) "Category I" - visual acuity; narrative listing and table;

  (j) "Category J" - musculoskeletal abnormality or chronic medical debility; narrative listing and table;

  (k) "Category K" - alertness or sleep disorders; narrative listing and table; and

  (L) "Category L" - hearing and balance; narrative listing and table.

  (3) Copies of these guidelines are printed in a booklet and distributed by the division in addition to being published on the Driver License Division webpage. These booklets may be obtained at no cost for health care professionals or $5 per booklet for all other individuals. Copies may be obtained in person or by written request to the Driver License Division Medical Section at P.O. Box 144501, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4501.

  (4) Report forms completed by a health care professional and received by the division are to be used as a screening tool in assessing an individual's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

  (a) Some safety assessment levels as identified in the "Functional Ability in Driving: Guidelines And Standards for Health Care Professionals", may result in the division requesting an individual to complete a driver review, which may include a driving skills test in order to demonstrate the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle before determining whether the individual will maintain the privilege to drive. In some cases when a privilege to drive is granted, driving restrictions may be required in order to ensure public safety.

  (b) A health care professional may also request that the division evaluate an individual's driving skill level at the health care professional's discretion.

  (5) The division shall notify an individual that their privilege to drive is denied upon receipt of the following:

  (a) a medical report that is completed in the categories A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, or L, for which the driver is assessed at a level "8" in accordance with the "Functional Ability in Driving: Guidelines And Standards for Health Care Professionals", or other documentation which indicates that the health care professional recommends that the individual does not drive; or

  (b) a medical report that is completed in the category I for which the driver is assessed at a level "10" in accordance with the "Functional Ability in Driving: Guidelines And Standards for Health Care Professionals", or other documentation which indicates that the health care professional recommends that the individual does not drive.

  (6) Upon receipt of a notice of denial of the privilege to drive, an individual may request a review of the division's decision by a panel of board members. All of the actions of the director and board are subject to judicial review.