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Reporting a medical condition

If you have a medical condition and/or take any medication that may affect your ability to drive, you must notify the Department. Here you will find examples of medical conditions you should report and what conditions may be applied to your licence.

Index

• Driver’s licence renewals for people with a medical condition
• Examples of medical conditions
• Frequently asked questions
• Licence conditions
• What will be shown on your licence
• When and how to report a medical condition
• Why notification is important
• Your privacy and confidentiality

Driver’s licence renewals for people with a medical condition

Renewal terms for drivers with medical conditions may differ from the standard one or five-year renewal period.

You may also be required to undertake further medical assessments before we can renew your licence. We will determine the length of the renewal period based on the recommendations made by your doctor and in line wih Austroad's 'Assessing fitness to drive guidelines'.

If you are 80 years of age or over, please refer to senior driver's licence renewals.

Examples of medical conditions

Examples of medical disorders that may affect your suitability to hold a driver's licence
ADD and ADHD Alcohol dependency Alzheimer's disease Arthritis (chronic) and other joint problems  Dementia  Depression and other mental health problems, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis Diabetes  Drugs – illicit/prescription and over the counter  Epilepsy  Eye problems, like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration	Fainting Fits  Giddiness  Heart disease  High/low blood pressure  Injuries and physical disabilities, including limb amputation and partial or complete paralysis  Lung disease  Parkinson's Disease and other neurological disorders  Sleep disorders, like sleep apnoea  Stroke

Important note:

This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure whether your condition should be reported, please contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to frequently asked questions related to driving with a medical condition are provided below:

Mandatory reporting of medical conditions - Frequently asked questions	KB

Licence conditions

The following conditions are an example of those that may be imposed on your licence:

• The holder must wear corrective lenses at all times while driving
• The holder must drive only a motor vehicle fitted with specified driver aids, or modified as directed in writing by the Driver Licensing Authority
• The holder must take medication as prescribed
• A medical certificate is required before next renewal
• The holder is restricted to a 0.02% Blood Alcohol Concentration.

Refer to licence restrictions and conditions for licence codes and what they mean.

The Road Traffic Act 1974 (WA) indemnifies a person for reporting to the Department, in good faith, any person who is or may be considered unfit to drive.

State Law Publisher - Road Traffic Act 1974 (WA)

What will be shown on your licence

Specific details of any medical condition that you report to us will not be displayed on your licence. The only items that will be displayed on your licence are:

• Information concerning the need to take medication for a medical condition. No specific information about your condition or the treatment will be added to your licence. Your licence will be updated with the phrase: “To take medication as prescribed”.
• Information detailing any visual aids you need in order to drive safely. Your licence will be updated with the phrase: “To wear suitable visual aids whilst driving”.

When and how to report a medical condition

• For those who hold an existing WA driver's licence or learner's permit
• For those applying for a WA driver's licence for the first time
• For those transferring an overseas or interstate driver's licence

For those who hold an existing WA driver's licence or learner's permit

If you develop a medical condition, or you begin taking medication, you are encouraged to notify us at once. We will advise you of the correct course of action.

How to report a medical condition?

You have several options available to notify us of a medical condition:

• Online - use our online notification of a medical condition form
• Form - download and complete the 'Notification of driving impairment' form below, and post it to us
• Letter - send us a letter via post or facsimile. You will need to provide the following details:
  • Full details of the medical condition you are reporting
  • Full name and address
  • Date of birth
  • Contact numbers
  • Your driver's licence number.

What happens next?

Once we have received the information from you concerning your condition and your contact details, we will review the documentation and write to inform you on what action, if any, is required.

This notification may require you to do one of the following things:

• Have your driver’s licence updated detailing that you need to wear suitable visual aids whilst driving
• Undertake and pass a medical assessment; and/or
• Undertake and pass a practical driving assessment
• No further action (medical or practical assessments) is required.

Once you have taken the required action and completed the required assessments you will need to send us the results of these actions.

We will then review these results and notify you of the outcome.

• If you have satisfied the requirements sufficiently, you may be able to continue to drive.
• If you fail to satisfy the requirements of the testing requested by us, your licence could be suspended or cancelled.

For those applying for a WA driver's licence for the first time (including licence transfers)

If you are applying for a driver's licence for the first time, or transferring an overseas or interstate licence, you must provide information about any medical conditions or medication you are taking on the Driver's licence application form (in the 'Medical Questions' section).

At the time of submitting your application we will let you know if you need to undertake a medical examination.

What happens when you do need to undertake a medical assessment?

• We will provide you with a form to take to your regular doctor
• Your doctor will examine you, complete the form and forward it directly to us
• When we receive the form, we will determine our application based on:
  • Your doctor's report
  • The opinion of our Occupational Health Physician
  • The class(es) of licence you are seeking.
• Should we approve your application, we will update your medical status and conditions may be endorsed on your licence (see below).

Notification of driving impairment (Form M109A)	KB

Why notification is important

If your ability to drive is impaired, you risk your own safety and that of other road users.

Conditions or treatments for conditions which may stop you from driving safely are ones which adversely affect your:

• Perception
• Judgement
• Response time
• General physical capability.

If you hold a Western Australian driver's licence and suffer from a permanent or long term injury or illness that is likely to impair your ability to drive a motor vehicle, you are required by law to report this to us.

Mandatory reporting of this kind has already been introduced in every State and Territory in Australia.

Important note:

Just because you have a medical condition or take medication, it does not necessarily mean you cannot hold or obtain a driver’s licence. Your suitability to hold a driver’s licence will be determined on medical advice provided by your doctor, in accordance with the National standards for assessing a person’s fitness to drive.

Austroads - Assessing fitness to drive

Your privacy and confidentiality

Please be assured that all information given to us regarding medical conditions is kept private and confidential. Access to this information is strictly limited to staff who are directly involved in assessing your fitness to drive.