Health and driving rules

For most people, being able to drive a vehicle is a very important part of their daily life - for maintaining social contact, for getting to and from work and for accessing their everyday needs such as goods and services. Driving may be an essential part of some people’s jobs.

Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that they are fit to drive, so speak to your doctor if you are concerned about your ability to drive safely.

Certain health conditions can affect your ability to drive safely, either in the short term or more permanently.

Illnesses which affect safe driving

Various health conditions can affect your ability to drive safely, for example:

• Blackouts or fainting.
• Vision problems.

• Epilepsy.
• Heart disease.
• Sleep disorders.
• Diabetes.
• Psychiatric disorders.
• Age-related decline.

Usually this won’t mean that you can’t drive at all, but you may need to see your doctor more often, or you might need to restrict your driving.

Health and driving rules

Your doctor provides advice about how your particular health condition might affect your ability to drive safely and how it might be managed. Your doctor checks your physical and psychological health and also refers to a book of medical standards. You can view these standards at www.austroads.com.au

The RTA makes the final decision about your licence status. They will consider the advice of your doctor as well as other factors such as your accident history and the type of vehicle you drive (for example a truck, car or a public passenger vehicle).

Legal responsibilities

The law requires you to report to the RTA any permanent or long-term injury or illness that may impair your ability to drive safely. If you are involved in a crash and it is found that your health condition was a contributing factor, you may be prosecuted and your insurance may not be valid.

Your doctor will provide you with advice about your ability to drive safely as well as a letter or report to take to the RTA. Your doctor may also notify the RTA directly if he or she feels your condition poses a significant threat to public safety.

Temporary condition

Many temporary conditions will prevent you from driving. For example, following an anaesthetic your doctor will advise you not to drive for 24 hours or more. An injury, such as a broken leg may also prevent you from driving. In these situations, your doctor will advise you about the need to restrict your driving in the short term. In most cases your licence status will not be affected and you will not need to report to the RTA.

Conditional licence

A conditional licence means that you may continue to drive as long as certain conditions or restrictions are met. Conditions may include driving during daylight hours, the wearing of corrective lenses when driving, or attending your doctor for a periodic review and providing a report to the RTA. If you are issued with a conditional licence, it is your responsibility to comply with any driving restrictions or other conditions and to be reviewed by your doctor as required.

Commercial vehicles

Drivers of trucks, public passenger vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods must meet higher medical standards because of the demands of their work, the extensive hours spent on the road and the serious consequences likely to result from a crash. If you have an illness that is likely to impact on your ability to drive safely, it is important to tell your doctor what sort of vehicle you drive. It may be that with treatment and regular review you will be able to continue to drive on a conditional licence. A person who does not meet the health requirements to drive a commercial vehicle may still be eligible to drive a private vehicle.

Safety of a friend/relative

If you know of licence holders whose health might be affecting their ability to drive safely, it is important to get them to talk to their doctor.

For information about older drivers you can refer to the brochure Worried about the driving ability of an older driver, available at RTA motor registries.

For further enquiries phone 13 22 13 8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri and 8.30am-2pm Sat-Sun.