Assessing Fitness to Drive (AFTD) is a joint NTC and Austroads publication that contains nationally-agreed medical standards for granting a driver's license. AustRoads is responsible for implementing AFTD, to find out more on implementation visit their website.
Access an online copy, order printed copies or download a PDF version on the Austroads website.
The 2022 edition of AFTD came into effect from 22 June 2022.
In a statement issued by Austroads, Austroads confirmed neurodevelopmental disorders have been included in the AFTD standards for many years. The licensing criteria for assessing a person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were not changed in the 2022 edition of AFTD.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) does not have a role in applying the medical standards. While the AFTD guidelines are developed by the NTC with Austroads, and implemented by Austroads, how these are applied in determining fitness to drive is a matter for driver licensing authorities in each state and territory.
For questions regarding the application of the AFTD guidelines in your state or territory, please contact your local driver licensing authority. We apologise for any concern caused by misreporting in the media.
Health professionals use AFTD to help assess a patient's medical fitness to drive. Driver licensing authorities then consider this information to make licensing decisions.
It includes advice on how medical conditions may impact a person’s ability to drive safely. The guidelines are based on the latest medical knowledge and input from:
We review the medical standards approximately every three years. The most recent review was done in 2021. Email us to suggest a change for consideration in the next review.
The current version of AFTD differs from the previous (2016) edition. Learn more about the changes on the Austroads website.
The medical standards in AFTD apply in all Australian states and territories. They are used in private and commercial driver license decisions for:
Austroads is seeking feedback on Assessing Fitness to Drive Standards.
Austroads has an online feedback form you can use to alert Austroads to any issues that could be addressed by Austroads in the ongoing development and implementation of the Assessing Fitness to Drive Standards.
The NTC partners with Austroads to manage AFTD. We are responsible for developing the content of the guidelines. Austroads is responsible for publishing the guidelines and working with organisations who use them.
For questions about how AFTD impacts decisions about your driver license, contact the driver licensing authority in you state or territory. Contact details can be found in Appendix 9 of the current AFTD.
For questions about how to use the guidelines, contact Austroads.
If you have a suggestion about something we should consider in the next AFTD review, please email us.
Through engagement to develop the latest version of AFTD, the heavy vehicle industry raised two issues that were out of scope. These issues will be addressed through future NTC projects:
Learn more about how these issues will be addressed and share your input.