RoadSafetyBC to gradually resume DMER disbursements to drivers

July 29, 2020

Now that services are slowly coming back for British Columbians, so too are the previously suspended Drivers’ Medical Examination Reports. Originally halted March 27 because of the pandemic, RoadSafetyBC began to reintroduce them the week of July 26, many will have extended time periods. To ensure public safety and prevent further backlogs the process will be gradual:

  • July 26 – RoadSafetyBC has begun to write to drivers, who had previously been issued a DMER but had their requirement suspended, to inform them their DMER is no longer on hold and it now needs to be completed. These drivers must complete their DMER within 60 days.

  • August 8 until December, 2020 – RoadSafetyBC will resume regular DMER issuance as well as begin to send batches of DMERS to drivers that were put on hold, doubling normal weekly volumes. This will be conducted in a staged manner to not overwhelm the medical community. Completion timeframes for these DMERS will be extended from 60 to 120 days.

There will be ongoing consultations between RoadSafetyBC and Doctors of BC to ensure the physicians are not overwhelmed by DMER volumes.

Going forward, RoadSafetyBC’s Driver Medical Fitness Transformation work will continue and includes an assessment of digital DMER options. Consultation with physicians will take place as the work progresses. 

Enhanced Road Assessments and Priority Doctor Reports

Through ICBC, Enhanced Road Assessments and road tests are now operational. Physicians can resume recommending them where appropriate when completing a DMER or Priority Doctor Report. 

With regard to Priority Doctor Reports, they can continue to be sent to RoadSafetyBC for a prompt licencing review of potentially medically unsafe drivers.