Driving a motor vehicle is a complex task involving perception, appropriate judgment, adequate response time and appropriate physical capability. A range of medical conditions, disabilities and treatments may influence these driving pre-requisites. Such impairment may adversely affect driving ability, possibly resulting in a crash causing death or injury. The primary purpose of this publication is to increase road safety in Australia by assisting health professionals to: • assess the fitness to drive of their patients in a consistent and appropriate manner, based on current medical evidence; • promote the responsible behaviour of their patients having regard to their medical fitness; • conduct medical examinations for the licensing of drivers as required by State and Territory Driver Licensing Authorities; • make recommendations regarding conditional licences; • recognise the extent and limits of their professional and legal obligations with respect to reporting fitness to drive. (Author/publisher)
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