Information for health professionals
In March 2012, new medical standards came into effect for drivers of private and commercial vehicles. The standards are contained in the document Assessing Fitness to Drive 2012, which replaces the previous standards (Assessing Fitness to Drive 2003).
The Assessing Fitness to Drive 2012 is available as a PDF download from the Austroads website.
A variety of medical conditions may impair a person’s driving ability. A health professional may be required to assess a person’s fitness to drive based on the relevant medical standards.
Medical assessment
The Private and Commercial Vehicle Driver’s Health Assessment (form F3195) assists a treating doctor to assess if their patient has a mental or physical incapacity. The medical assessment should be based on the standards set out in the Assessing Fitness to Drive for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers publication from the Austroads website. The treating doctor should assess the patient’s overall medical fitness to drive, but if they are uncertain of a condition’s impact, they may refer the patient to another health professional (for example, a specialist).
Health professional information sheets
The below information sheets assist health professionals from specific fields to assess the impact of a patient’s medical condition/s on their driving ability.
Assessment outcome
The treating doctor should complete part two of the Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (form F3712) after the assessment. This allows them to provide their opinion on whether the patient meets the medical criteria for a driver licence, recommend any conditions or restrictions and indicate if a periodic review is required.
Medical condition reporting
The patient is responsible for lodging the completed Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (form F3712) with the department. Health professionals should advise their patient that they must take immediate steps to notify the department of their medical condition.
If the patient notifies the department that they do not meet the medical criteria for a driver licence, the health professional will receive receipt notification. Receipt notification helps identify patients who have failed to notify the department that they are medically unfit to drive and who may still be driving.
If the health professional does not receive a receipt notification, they are strongly encouraged to voluntarily report the patient in the interests of public safety. They should complete the Health Professional Medical Condition Notification eForm.
Alternatively, the health professional can also print and complete the Health Professional Medical Condition (form F4842) or write to the department. These types of notifications should be posted, emailed or faxed to:
Post: Department of Transport and Main Roads
Locked Bag 2000
Red Hill Rockhampton Qld 4701
Fax: (07) 4931 1624
Email: mcr@tmr.qld.gov.au
For further information on medical condition reporting, please contact the Manager (Licensing), on (07) 3066 2129.
