In 2021, we reviewed the medical standards within Assessing Fitness to Drive (AFTD). The review examined advances in medical knowledge related to safe driving, and changes were made within AFTD to reflect these advancements.
This project resulted in a new version of AFTD - which came into effect on 22 June, 2022. Access the new version on the Austroads website.
AustRoads is responsible for implementing AFTD, to find out more on implementation visit their website.
We received valuable input and advice from stakeholder across Australia, including:
All feedback received was considered in developing the latest version of AFTD. Public consultation held during the project uncovered insights on:
The review resulted in improved guidance regarding the principles of assessing fitness to drive contained in Part A of AFTD. Changes were made to clarify assessment of:
Changes to fitness to drive criteria have been made to several conditions, including:
The latest edition of AFTD also includes extensive guidance on medicinal marijuana (cannabis). This is in response to cannabis being prescribed more often to treat conditions in Australia.
A detailed overview of the differences between the 2016 and 2022 editions can be found on the Austroads website.
There were two out of scope issues we heard through engagement that will be addressed through other NTC projects.
Request to provide guidance on mandatory screening for heavy vehicle drivers
In March 2022, infrastructure and transport ministers directed the NTC to investigate options to improve the diagnosis of sleep apnea, diabetes and cardiac risk levels in heavy vehicle drivers. Findings of this work may be incorporated into Assessing Fitness to Drive in the future.
Request to include guidance on “fitness for duty” for heavy vehicle drivers
The NTC is considering the definition of “fitness for duty” through their work on the Heavy Vehicle National Law Safety and Productivity Program.
To ask a question about either of these projects, or provide input for consideration, please email us.
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 to use the guidelines, contact Austroads.
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.
If you have a suggestion about something we should consider in the next AFTD review, email us.
This draft document is an early version of the document we shared for consultation purposes in 2021.
A summary of changes we proposed through the May 2021 draft AFTD guidelines for consultation purposes only.