Medical conditions and medications
New laws came into effect on 1 March 2006 (commonly known as 'Jet's Law') introducing a mandatory requirement for driver licence holders to report any long-term or permanent medical condition that may affect their ability to drive safely.You can no longer wait until it is time to renew your licence to report a long-term or permanent medical condition that adversely affects your ability to drive safely. As soon as the condition develops, or as soon as there is an adverse change to an existing condition, you need to take steps to inform the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
The department recommends that you talk to your health professional about your medical condition and any potential impact this may have on your ability to drive safely. Health professionals are qualified to check if you are medically fit to drive. They may provide a medical certificate or official letter stating your fitness to drive.
Drivers who fail to report their medical condition may receive a maximum A$6000 penalty or be disqualified from driving for a defined period.
The 'Popular information' section of this web page lists a number of forms to help you to inform the department of a medical condition. The Information sheet for health professionals (PDF**, 47KB) provides information about the reporting requirements and instructions to help you to complete the necessary forms.Use the following links to find the information you need:
- What should I do if I develop a permanent or long-term medical condition?
- Some medical conditions which may affect driving...
- Who is a health professional?
- How do I notify the department that I have a medical condition...
- When I declare my medical condition, how will my licence be affected?
- What happens if I do not surrender my licence or agree to the conditions on my licence?
- How can I manage my driving if I have a medical condition?
- Do I have to carry a medical certificate with me?
- What happens if I do not carry the certificate or drive outside the limitations of the certificate?
- How long does my medical certificate last?
- What if I continue to drive once my licence has been suspended or cancelled?
- Can health professionals currently report patients who are medically unfit to drive?
- What happens if the department receives information from a health professional stating that a Queensland driver licence holder is unfit to drive?
- What happens if the department receives information from a health professional stating that an interstate or overseas driver licence holder is unfit to drive?
- What other steps are being taken to ensure all Queensland drivers are fit to drive?
What should I do if I develop a permanent or long-term medical condition?
You should talk to your health professional. If the permanent or long-term medical condition is likely to adversely affect your ability to drive safely then you must let the department know as soon as you become aware of the condition or an adverse change to it.
Note: Drivers 75 years of age or older must hold a valid medical certificate at all times. There is more information on the holding your licence after you've turned 75 web page.
Some medical conditions that may affect driving (Note: this list is not exhaustive)
Some medical conditions that can adversely affect your ability to drive safely include:
- diabetes (early and late onset)
- epilepsy
- heart disease
- stroke
- arthritis and other joint problems
- eye problems (for example, cataracts)
- hearing disorders
- sleep disorders
- Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders
- dementia and Alzheimer's disease
- depression and other mental-health problems
- lung disease
- injuries and disabilities.
Other medical conditions, or combinations of conditions, may also be relevant. A booklet, Assessing Fitness to Drive, containing guidelines to assist health professionals determine a person's fitness to drive is available to download from the Austroads website*.
Who is a health professional?
A health professional can be a doctor, occupational therapist, optometrist, or physiotherapist. Health professionals are qualified to check if you are medically fit to drive. If required, they will provide you with a medical certificate or official letter stating your fitness to drive.
How do I notify the department that I have a medical condition that affects my ability to drive safely or have had an adverse change to an existing condition?
Commercial vehicle drivers
Commercial vehicle drivers are drivers of a vehicle that carries goods or passengers for hire or reward. When consulting with their health professional, commercial drivers must:
- complete the relevant sections of the Private and Commercial Vehicle Driver's Health Assessment (F3195)
- obtain a completed Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (F3712) from your health professional
- submit the Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver form to the department.
If you have not consulted with your health professional, and you are aware that you have a condition that may negatively affect your ability to drive (for example, you are required to wear corrective lenses whilst driving), you must:
- complete the Medical Condition Notification (F4355) and submit this form to the department.
Note: These requirements also apply to holders of licence classes MR, HR, HC, MC and UD.
Private vehicle drivers
When you are consulting with your health professional, you must:
- complete the Private and Commercial Vehicle Driver's Health Assessment Form (F3195) (you may complete this form before your appointment yourself, and take it to your health professional). This form can then be kept on file with your health professional for future reference
- obtain a completed Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (F3712) from your health professional
- submit the Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver form to the department.
If you have not consulted with your health professional, and you are aware that you have a condition that may negatively affect your ability to drive (for example, you are required to wear corrective lenses whilst driving), you must:
- complete the Medical Condition Notification (F4355) and submit this form to the department.
When I declare my medical condition, how will my licence be affected?
How your licence is affected by the declaration of your medical condition depends on the condition itself and the recommendations of your health professional.
Your licence may be:
- suspended
- cancelled
- amended to include a condition requiring you to only drive while carrying, and in accordance with, a medical certificate — a code 'M' on your licence will indicate this requirement.
If your medical condition means you cannot drive anymore, you should surrender your licence.
What happens if I do not surrender my licence or agree to the conditions stated on my licence?
If you refuse to surrender your licence or refuse to agree to the conditions imposed on your licence, the department will begin 'show cause' procedures. This may involve legal proceedings where you will be required to justify your actions and explain why the department should not take the action proposed.
How can I manage my driving if I have a medical condition?
Your health professional may suggest limitations or restrictions to your driving such as:
- daylight driving only
- driving an automatic car only.
This acknowledges that you are still fit to drive — just not in all conditions.
In this situation, the department will issue a conditional licence (code 'M') amended to state the restrictions, and you will need to drive according to those limitations.
Do I have to carry a medical certificate with me?
Yes. If you have a code 'M' on your licence, or if you are 75 years of age or older, you must carry a current medical certificate stating that you are medically fit to drive and show the certificate to a police officer when asked to do so. You must also comply with any conditions on that medical certificate.
What happens if I do not carry the certificate, or if I drive outside the limitations of the certificate?
You may be given an on the spot ticket of A$100 and incur one demerit point for failing to comply with a condition stated on a licence when driving. Alternatively, if a matter goes before a court, you may be fined up to A$2000.
How long does my medical certificate last?
How long your medical certificate lasts depends on:
- your condition
- how often you need to be monitored.
This is a decision that only your health professional can make. A medical certificate may be issued for a few months or for up to five years.
You will still be eligible to get a driver licence that lasts for five years, if you ensure your medical certificate confirming your fitness to drive remains current for the duration of your licence.
Fines apply for driving without holding a current medical certificate and driving outside the conditions of your licence.
What if I continue to drive once my licence has been suspended or cancelled?
You would be driving unlicensed and committing an offence. Queensland law contains substantial penalties for people who drive without a current driver licence.
Can health professionals report patients who are medically unfit to drive?
Health professionals are not compelled to report medically unfit drivers to the department. However, they may report a patient if they are concerned that their advice is being ignored and the patient is still driving.
Health professionals are afforded protection from liability for providing information in good faith about a person's medical fitness to hold, or continue to hold, a Queensland driver licence.
What happens if the department receives information from a health professional stating that a Queensland driver licence holder is unfit to drive?
The department will contact the person and ask them to show cause. If they do have their licence suspended or revoked they can contest the decision by applying for a reconsideration of the decision. The person will be informed of any further decision in writing.
The department has the right to immediately withdraw a person's authority to drive on Queensland roads where advice is received from a health professional that the person has a medical condition which may affect their ability to drive safely. The person will still have the right to contest the decision.
What happens if the department receives information from a health professional stating that an interstate-or-overseas driver licence holder is unfit to drive?
The department will contact the person advising them that their authority to drive in Queensland is being withdrawn. They can contest the decision by applying for a reconsideration of the decision. The person will be informed of any further decision in writing.
What other steps are being taken to ensure all Queensland drivers are fit to drive?
The department is working with health professionals to increase their patients' awareness of the impacts of medical conditions on their ability to drive.
National guidelines that help health professionals with reporting issues are also under review.
Popular information
- Jet's Law Brochure (PDF**, 381KB)
- Fact sheet: Jet's Law (Driver licence holders and medical condition reporting) (PDF**, 164KB)
- Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (form F3712)
- Private and Commercial Vehicle Driver's Health Assessment (form F3195)
- Medical Condition Notification (form F4355)
Related documents
- Eyesight test — regarding the eyesight test to obtain a driver's licence
- Medications — what medications can interfere with your ability to drive safely
- Older drivers — holding your licence after you've turned 75
- Health professionals — providing a medical opinion on a patient's fitness to drive
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Last updated 30 June 2009
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