This page highlights essential information about fitness to drive for private vehicle drivers. It includes your responsibilities as a driver, what to do if you are concerned about a driver, what to do if you do not agree with an assessment.
You will find this information and more in our fact sheet “Driving and your health”.
This page will be updated as new information and resources become available.
What are your responsibilities as a driver?
All drivers have a legal responsibility not drive if they are not fit to do so. Drivers also have a legal responsibility to report to their Driver Licensing Authority any health condition or disability that may affect their ability to drive safely.
Your doctor is best placed to advise you if you have any conditions that might impact on your ability to drive and whether you should make a report to the Driver Licensing Authority. Talk to them if you have any concerns. In the vast majority of cases, reports to the Driver Licensing Authority do not result in loss of license but do enable the licensing authority to work with you and your doctor to help you continue to drive as long as it is safe to do so.
What happens when you make a report to the Driver Licensing Authority?
Just because you have a disease or condition that might affect your driving, doesn't mean that you won't be able to drive at all. In fact the vast majority of reports do not result in a loss of licence. When you report to the Driver Licensing Authority, they will usually request a fitness to drive assessment from your doctor or specialist and will consider their recommendations.
Licensing authorities have an option to issue a conditional licence. This means that you may continue to drive as long as certain conditions or restrictions are met. Conditions may include driving during daylight hours or wearing corrective lenses when driving. They may also include attending your doctor for a periodic review and providing a report to the Driver Licensing Authority to demonstrate your health condition is well managed and you continue to be fit to drive.
Your doctor may make recommendations to the Driver Licensing Authority about a conditional licence but the authority will make the final decision. 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.
For more information about fitness to drive assessments, refer to the assessment and reporting process or contact your Driver Licensing Authority.
What can you do if you are concerned about a driver?
All Driver Licensing Authorities have mechanisms by which members of the public can make reports about drivers who may be a road safety risk. These reports can be made anonymously.
Any immediate risks to safety can also be reported to the police.
For more information, contact your local Driver Licensing Authority.
What to do if you do not agree with a fitness to drive assessment outcome?
Each state and territory has a different approach to appealing fitness to drive licensing decisions.
Austroads does not play any role in the assessment of drivers. We can only direct calls back to the licensing authority.
The Standards are informed by research and panels of medical experts. If you believe the standards are incorrect, please write to or email the National Transport Commission.