General guidelines for drivers with medical conditions
Why it is important for you to notify the Department of your medical conditions?
If you hold a Western Australian drivers 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. Please see the Mandatory reporting of medical conditions page for more information.
If your ability to drive is impaired, you risk your own safety and that of other road users.
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.
For further information please see the information in the sections below or you can also refer to the Assessing fitness to drive section on the Austroads website.
Medical conditions
The following are examples of medical conditions that you may wish to disclose as they may affect your suitability to hold a driver’s licence (including, but not limited to):
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Chronic arthritis and other joint problems
- Eye problems, like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration
- Sleep disorders, like sleep apnoea
- Parkinson's Disease and other neurological disorders
- Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
- Depression and other mental health problems, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis
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- ADD and ADHD
- Lung disease
- Injuries and physical disabilities, including limb amputation and partial or complete paralysis
- Alcohol dependency
- Drugs – illicit/prescription and over the counter
- Fainting
- Fits
- Giddiness
- High / low blood pressure
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If you have a medical condition that is not listed above, or are unsure whether an existing condition could affect your driving, you should contact us.
If you are applying for a driver’s licence for the first time (or transferring your interstate or overseas licence)
If you have a medical condition or you are taking medication to treat a medical condition, you must provide this information on your Driver’s Licence Application Form in the ‘Medical Questions’ section.
If we require you to undertake a medical assessment, we will give you 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 it, we will determine your application based on:
- your doctor’s report;
- the opinion of our Occupational Health Physician; and
- 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 Licence Conditions.
If you already have your driver’s licence or learner’s permit
If you develop one of the conditions listed under medical conditions, or you begin taking medication that may affect your driving ability, you are encouraged to notify us at once.
To do this, then contact us. We will advise you of the correct course of action.
If we require you to undertake a medical assessment, we will give you a form to take to your regular doctor and / or specialist.
The doctor / specialist will examine you, complete the form and forward it directly to us.
According to the recommendations of your doctor and our Occupational Health Physician, we will update your medical status and any relevant driver’s licence conditions. See Licence Conditions.
If you are renewing your driver’s licence
Please note that renewal terms for some 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.
Conditions 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.
The Road Traffic Act 1974 indemnifies a person for reporting to the Department in good faith information that discloses that another person is or may be unfit to drive.
