Drivers with medical conditions

Driving a motor vehicle is a complex task.

You need:

• good perception
• appropriate judgement
• adequate response time
• appropriate physical capability.

There are many medical conditions that could affect your ability to drive safely. These include injuries, disabilities and medical treatments.

If you have a medical condition that could affect your driving, you will need to complete an assessment of your fitness to drive with a health professional.

The assessment should confirm that you meet the medical standards to safely operate vehicles for the class of licence you hold.

Standards you must meet

The medical standards you must meet are listed in the national assessing fitness to drive guidelines on the Austroads website.

The guidelines have 2 sets of medical standards:

• private – if you hold a class C, R or LR licence
• commercial – if you hold a class MR, HR, HC or MC licence or an occupational authority (endorsement).

Some medical conditions need periodic review of your fitness to drive. If this applies, you will have an ‘XA’ condition placed on your licence.

The MVR is responsible for issuing, renewing, suspending, refusing, cancelling or reinstating a person’s driver licence.

Licensing decisions are based on factors relating to health and driving performance in line with the guidelines.

Types of medical conditions

The following medical conditions can affect a person's fitness to drive.

These are outlined in the national Assessing Fitness to Drive (AFTD) guidelines published on the Austroads website.

You have a higher risk of being involved in a serious vehicle crash if you have:

• blackouts
• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• hearing loss
• musculoskeletal conditions
• neurological conditions such as epilepsy, seizures, dementia and cognitive impairment
• psychiatric conditions
• sleep disorders
• substance misuse/dependency (including alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drug misuse)
• vision and eye disorders.

There may be other medical conditions or combinations of conditions not listed above that can also influence your ability to drive safely.

Read the checklist of other things to consider that can affect your driving.

Help for people with a disability

If you have a disability, there are options to help you get better access to parking and public transport.

If you need special parking consideration, you can get a disability parking permit. To find out more, contact your local council.

For information on riding a bus or taxi, read about getting around for seniors and people with a disability.

Medical suspensions

If a health professional informs the MVR that you are not fit to drive, your licence will be medically suspended.

The MVR will notify you if your licence is going to be medically suspended.

A medical suspension is usually only temporary. It may be lifted if new medical advice is provided that addresses the known condition and indicates you are now fit to resume driving.

The AFTD guidelines can also recommend non-driving periods for some medical conditions.

Your licence may also be medically suspended if you are subject to periodic medical reviews and don’t provide your next assessment by the due date.

Review of medical assessments

The MVR Medical Compliance Unit must review medical assessments provided to lift a medical suspension. The unit will review:

• previous medical advice
• the new advice and
• any re-licensing criteria within the AFTD guidelines.

This process can take up to 10 working days. The unit will contact you once a decision has been made.

Temporary medical conditions

If you have a short-term temporary medical condition, you don't need to notify the MVR. For example, a concussion, broken bone or are recovering from minor surgical procedures.

If you are unsure whether a temporary condition may affect your ability to drive, seek advice from a health professional.

Multiple medical conditions

If you have multiple medical conditions, or a condition that affects multiple body systems, there may be a more serious effect on your ability to drive safely.

You should tell your doctor so they can conduct an accurate assessment of your fitness to drive. You may be required to complete separate assessments of your fitness to drive with relevant specialists.

Alcohol, drugs, medications and driving

Alcohol, drugs and medications can significantly affect your driving skills and increase your risk of having a crash.

As a driver, you need to be alert and able to concentrate so you can react to what is happening on the road around you.

When your health professional prescribes you medication, you should ask whether it could affect your driving.

Many prescription and some over-the-counter medicines can affect your concentration, mood, coordination and reactions.

Do not drive if:

• you are taking medicines with a warning label that tells you not to drive or
• the medication has an effect on your ability to control a vehicle.

It is an offence to drive while under the influence of a drug. This can include prescription medications.

When you need a medical assessment

If you have a medical condition that could affect your driving, you will need to complete an assessment of your fitness to drive with a health professional.

The assessment should confirm that you meet the medical standards to safely operate vehicles for the class of licence you hold.

Find out how to get a medical assessment for fitness to drive.