Assessing Fitness to Drive Review

The review of the 2022 Edition of the Assessing Fitness to Drive Standards has now begun. Consultation is underway to identify key stakeholder issues, opportunities for improvement and evidence to support possible changes.  

Stakeholders are invited to make a submission via the Have Your Say module below or by emailing a submission to AFTDreview@ntc.gov.au.

Submissions will be open until [DATE].
 

The primary purpose of the Standards is to help manage road safety risks associated with driver ill-health, injury or functional limitations.

The Standards assist health professionals to:

• consider fitness to drive and mobility needs as part of routine patient care
• advise patients about the impact of medical conditions and functional limitations on driving
• conduct fitness to drive assessments and provide recommendations to licensing authorities
• manage and monitor health conditions to support patients’ ongoing fitness to drive or their transition to not driving.

The Standards are also used by driver licensing authorities to support consistent, fair and consistent road safety–focused licensing decisions.

The Standards are a joint NTC and Austroads publication and are available on the Austroads website.

Austroads works closely with the driver licensing authorities to support implementation, including delivering health professional education and providing information for drivers, health professionals and employers. Further information regarding implementation is available on the Austroads website.

We will engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including people living with medical conditions or disabilities, health professionals, industry stakeholders, road safety experts and licensing authorities. This will ensure the updated Standards reflect multiple perspectives.

The review will also draw on new medical and road safety evidence, stakeholder feedback and lessons learned since the 2022 edition.

This work supports safety for all road users, while ensuring people with medical conditions or functional limitations are considered individually and treated fairly and consistently.

Image

We are currently consulting to identify key stakeholder issues which will inform the review process. You can participate by completing this form [Link].

To find out more about the submission process see the FAQs below.

Further consultation will take place in 2027 once the revised Standards have been drafted.

The review will consider all content within the Standards, including medical criteria, assessment guidance and supporting information for practitioners and licensing authorities.

The review will draw on:  

• stakeholder consultation  
• contemporary clinical and road safety evidence  
• medical, health and road safety expertise  
• implementation experience from jurisdictions and users of the Standards  
• related national transport and health assessment projects.