Practical guidance to support fitness to drive assessments and patient conversations about driving
General practitioners play a vital role in supporting safe driving, including helping patients understand how their health may affect their driving, advising about licensing and supporting patients to continue to drive for as long as it is safe to do so.
Developed to enable proactive management of fitness to drive and patient-centred conversations, this module provides practical guidance on applying the national Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022) Standards in everyday clinical practice. The module builds foundational knowledge on how medical conditions, injuries and disabilities may affect the driving task, as well as the principles that underpin the assessment and management of fitness to drive. It outlines key practice steps, communication approaches, and options for maintaining safe driving, including conditional licences, driving adjustments, and, when necessary, planning for a supported transition away from driving.
This module forms part of Austroads’ work to facilitate implementation of the national Standards, which it publishes on behalf of Australia’s transport agencies, collaborating closely with the National Transport Commission who leads development and maintenance. Together, they support implementation through practical resources to help health professionals apply the Standards in clinical practice.
Why this training matters
Driving is essential for many people’s independence, and GPs are often the first to identify when a medical condition, injury, or disability may affect someone’s ability to drive safely. This module equips clinicians to proactively manage health and driving and support their patients to drive for as long as it is safe to do so.
This module supports practitioners to:
- navigate complex clinical decisions using structured, consistent guidance
- communicate more effectively with patients and carers
- understand how health conditions affect the driving task
- provide clear, safe, and defensible advice about driving
- help patients manage driving changes over time, including transitions away from driving when needed
Who the module is for
This course is designed for health professionals involved in assessing or supporting decisions about fitness to drive, including:
- general practitioners
- medical specialists
- nurses
- allied health professionals involved in driver assessment or rehabilitation
There is no prerequisite learning.
What you’ll learn
By completing this module, clinicians will gain confidence in:
- applying the Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022) Standards in clinical practice
- understanding how medical conditions, injuries and disabilities may impact driving
- using a structured approach to fitness to drive assessments
- navigating clinical and licensing pathways
- discussing safe driving with patients and carers
- supporting drivers who need to adjust their driving habits or transition away from driving
- identifying useful resources for both clinicians and patients
Module content
The training presents clear, practical, clinically relevant guidance, including:
- key principles underpinning fitness to drive assessments
- the driving task and how it is influenced by various health conditions
- clinical and procedural steps for assessing driver health
- roles and responsibilities of health professionals, drivers and licensing authorities
- case examples and reflective activities to support practical understanding
- communication strategies for sensitive or complex conversations
- approaches for maintaining safe driving, including conditional licences, restrictions and rehabilitation programs
Accreditation
This training is accredited for continuing professional development by both major GP colleges:
ACRRM
- Activity ID: 36980 – Assessing Fitness to Drive
- Total: 2 hours
- 1.5 hours Educational Activities
- 0.5 hours Reviewing Performance
RACGP
- Activity ID: 1227415 – Assessing Fitness to Drive
- Total: 2 hours
- 1.5 hours Educational Activities
- 0.5 hours Reviewing Performance
Delivery, duration and cost
- online, self-paced
- approximately 1.5 hours
- $150 (inc. GST)
Need support or have questions? Please contact us at aftd@austroads.gov.au.
Frequently asked questions
The module is designed primarily for general practitioners but is also valuable for medical specialists, allied health professionals and nurses involved in fitness‑to‑drive assessments.
No. Only health professionals authorised under each jurisdiction’s legislation may determine fitness to drive for licensing purposes. Completing this course does not change authorisation requirements.
Yes. The module explores the responsibilities of drivers, practitioners and licensing authorities, and provides practical strategies to support clear and effective conversations with patients and carers.
Yes. The course outlines how the Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022) Standards apply to commercial driver licensing and fitness‑for‑duty assessments.
Austroads is the association of the Australian and New Zealand transport agencies, representing all levels of government. It supports consistent and improved registration, licensing and road‑safety systems across both countries.
Austroads publishes the national Assessing Fitness to Drive Standards on behalf of Australia’s transport agencies, and supports their implementation, including developing resources to help health professionals apply the Standards in practice.
The module has been developed by Austroads and Benchmarque Group, a healthcare education provider that designs and delivers learning programs to strengthen clinical skills and support high‑quality patient care.