For Doctors / Medical Professionals


The holder of, or new applicant for a QLD driver licence is required by law to tell QLD Transport if they have a permanent or long term medical condition that is likely to affect their ability to drive safely.

Understandably, a wide range of medical conditions will impact upon fitness to drive, some of which include:

  • Dementia
  • Acquired Brain Injury
  • Cognitive concerns
  • Mental Illness or Psychiatric Conditions
  • Epilepsy
  • Vision Problems
  • Neurological Conditions
  • Musculoskeletal Conditions

As a health professional, you are encouraged to voluntarily report a patient if you believe they won’t notify QT, fail to undertake medical treatment, continue to drive against your advice, pose a safety risk to themselves or others on the road, or it is in the public interest to notify QT.  The Transport Operations Act 1995 provides indemnity against liability, both civilly or under an administrative process for health professionals who give information in good faith to QT about a person’s medical fitness to hold, or to continue to hold a QLD driver licence.

However, many doctors are understandably not willing to report their patients to the transport authorities, as this may damage the doctor-patient relationship.  The articles printed in the Medical Journal of Australia recommend the use of an independent specialist, such at an Occupational Therapist to bridge this challenge, and to provide an unbiased opinion on fitness to drive.  Please see the “News / Mediawatch” section of this website for several articles, including material recently published by the MJA.

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Determining Fitness:

Please refer to national standards (Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers) Assessing Fitness to Drive 2003 (the AFTD, or commonly known as Austroads, available from www.austroads.com.au or QLD Transport) prior to completing Part 2: Medical Assessment, Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver” (QLD Transport form F3712).

If you are uncertain of the impact of any medical condition on the person’s ability to drive safely, the person should be referred to a specialist or occupational therapist for further assessment.  Advice can be provided to you to assist with the Medical Certificate.

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The OT is specifically trained in assessing and understanding the physical or cognitive impact of a wide range of medical conditions.  If medical conditions are present, an Occupational Therapy Driver Assessment is preferable to an assessment solely with a driving instructor, who often has very limited or no understanding of the impact of medical conditions on driving.

The OT Driving Assessment is conducted in two parts, with an off road clinical assessment and an on-road assessment completed in a dual control vehicle, where the driver is accompanied by a driving instructor.

If you are concerned about your patient, however do not feel that a full driving assessment is warranted, you can refer for a short  CarFit® checkup, a brief assessment for those over 75 years of age.

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