The Latest VicRoads COVID-19 Update

The following information is the latest update from VicRoads on 22 July, 2020.

VicRoads coronavirus (COVID-19) update
In line with advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has announced that Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions will be reinstated across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. There are only four reasons for people living in these areas to leave home – shopping for food or other essential supplies, to provide care or to seek medical advice, for exercise or outdoor recreation and work or study – if it can’t be done from home. Restrictions are in place to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and save lives. For more information visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

In response, VicRoads has made changes to our operations as outlined below. For more information on these changes visit our Coronavirus information page. Based on current advice, the changes outlined below will be in place for at least six weeks from 11:59 pm on Wednesday 8 July 2020.

Services for customers living within metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire
VicRoads has suspended all licence testing, including computer-based tests, for customers who live within metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. We’re contacting customers in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire directly to advise that their appointments have been postponed, and we’ll be contacting them again to re-book once we’re advised that it’s safe to resume licence testing in these areas. This includes customers whose appointments were originally postponed on 25 March and haven’t yet been re-booked. Appointments for vehicle registration will still be available for customers and where possible they’ll be scheduled at their closest VicRoads Customer Service Centre.

Services for customers living outside metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire
All licence testing and appointments for customers who live outside metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire will continue, as part of VicRoads return to service plan. Visit Resumption of service for licence testing for more information.

Our Customer Service Centres
All our Customer Service Centres (CSCs) remain open for business, however we strongly encourage customers to resolve all matters online or over the phone and only visit in person if the matter is urgent. Customers who have to visit a CSC should visit the closest one to their home where possible.

We will be implementing additional safety measures, including temperature checks and recording customer details for contact tracing, at all our metropolitan Customer Service Centres and at the Seymour Customer Service Centre. For more information go to Safety operating procedures for licence testing.

Medical review
Medical review driving test assessments have been suspended for the entire state (as VicRoads testers typically move frequently between metropolitan and regional areas). VicRoads is postponing requests for occupational therapy driving assessments for customers who live within metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire.

Hardship and special circumstances
Customers can continue to apply for licence approval testing under the existing hardship and special circumstances policy. These tests will continue to be conducted at all Customer Service Centres, including those within metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, and scheduled at the nearest CSC where possible.

Change of address
We have updated our systems to require documentary evidence from customers living within metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire requesting to change their address to a location outside Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.

INFORMATION FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

Occupational Therapy Driving Assessments
VicRoads is postponing requests for occupational therapy driving assessments for customers who live within metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.  Customers who live outside Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire should contact their occupational therapy driving assessor to discuss availability of assessments.

Based on a case-by-case assessment of road safety risk, a customer may be provided with a ‘conditional licence’ with restrictions, while they are waiting for their on-road assessment. If the customer has previously been issued with a conditional licence with restrictions, these conditions will remain in place until they undertake and pass the occupational therapy driving assessment, when restrictions are eased.

VicRoads is aware that not all Occupational Therapy Driving Assessors have resumed driving assessments. If your customer has been contacted by VicRoads requesting an occupational therapy driving assessment, and you are delaying your return to service for an extended period, please advise your customers so they can make suitable arrangements, including contacting VicRoads to seek an extension of the due date if an assessment cannot be completed. Extension requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the VicRoads Medical Review team.

Occupational Therapy Driving Assessors will need to carefully consider whether they provide assessments to existing customers. Residents living within metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire have been strongly advised to stay at home. Any driving should only be for one of the four reasons to leave home – shopping for food and supplies, care and caregiving, exercise, study and work – if it can’t be done from home.

When conducting assessments, maintain strict hygiene standards and keep referring to the Department of Health and Human Services website for the latest public health information and advice, including recent changes to recommendations regarding wearing face masks.

Driving lessons
The DHHS website is providing information separately for those under restrictions and those outside of restricted areas. Everyone is allowed to take a driving lesson with a qualified driving instructor, both within metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire and outside these restricted areas/ rest of Victoria.

We encourage OTDAs to contact VicRoads Medical Review if you have any further questions or concerns.