Simulator provides a safe way to determine patients’ ability to drive
A new cutting-edge driving simulator which aims to help people with physical disabilities learn how to drive again on their own has been unveiled in the Algarve.
The simulator, only the second of its kind in Portugal, offers a “lifelike driving experience”, enabling patients to assess their driving abilities in a safe and controlled environment. It is based at the São Brás rehabilitation centre (CMR Sul) and can be used by patients from all over the country, although it will prioritise patients based in the Algarve, who up to this point had to travel nearly 300 kilometres to use an identical simulator at the Alcoutão rehabilitation centre in Lisbon.
Speaking to Portugal’s Lusa news agency, the president of the Algarve Local Health Unit (ULS), João Ferreira, revealed that patients should be able to transition from the simulator to real adapted vehicles by the end of the year.
Demand for the simulator is already on the rise, with 11 patients on the waiting list, and more expected to follow.
The project is the result of a collaboration between the Algarve University Hospital Centre (CHUA) and the municipal council of São Brás de Alportel, which jointly invested around €100,000 in the initiative. The municipality contributed €25,000 to the project, recognising its broad impact.
“This service doesn’t just benefit our residents or the region; it’s a service for all Portuguese citizens who need it,” said São Brás de Alportel mayor Vítor Guerreiro.
The simulator offers several realistic driving scenarios, enabling patients to safely train and rebuild their confidence before transitioning to actual driving in adapted vehicles.
“After the evaluation, we can collect objective data, such as reaction times during braking or the force applied when turning the steering wheel. This data provides doctors with essential information to determine whether a patient is fit to drive,” explained Clarisse Mendes, coordinator of ULS’s support projects.
The CMR Sul (Centro de Medicina e Reabilitação Sul) is a leading national centre for physical medicine and rehabilitation, specialising in providing care to patients with a range of conditions, including spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, strokes, and other neurological, orthopaedic, cardiovascular and respiratory issues.
