Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Recent publicity relating to the management of driver licensing for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has raised concerns among drivers, potential drivers, their families and health professionals. This statement from Austroads clarifies how neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD are intended to be managed according to the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards.
What are the reporting requirements for people with autism spectrum disorder?
For all health conditions and disabilities, if the symptoms of a condition are likely to impact a person’s ability to drive safely, they are obliged to report this to the licencing agency in their state or territory. This is a requirement of state and territory road safety laws throughout Australia.
The range and severity of ASD symptoms vary considerably. Some people diagnosed with ASD will not have symptoms that impact their ability to drive safely. A diagnosis of ASD or another neurodevelopmental disorder does not compel a person to report.
- Adults who are diagnosed with autism and who hold a licence, are not required to report the diagnosis if their symptoms are not likely to affect their capacity to drive safely.
- Novice drivers and those learning to drive who are diagnosed with autism are not required to report the diagnosis if their symptoms are not likely to affect their capacity to drive safely.
How do you know if your condition impacts on driving?
For all health conditions and disabilities, it is the role of the treating health professional to advise about the potential impacts on driving and road safety. For neurodevelopmental conditions, they will consider the impact on a range of attributes required for safe driving, such as visuospatial perception, insight, judgement, behaviour, attention, comprehension, reaction time, memory, sensation, muscle power, coordination and vision.
To gain an understanding of the impact of a person’s condition on driving, the health professional may refer them for a practical driver assessment or for an appropriate allied health assessment. Practical driver assessments are used to supplement the clinical assessment and are used for many health conditions to inform fitness to drive decisions.
Anyone concerned or uncertain about the impacts of their condition on driving should consult their treating health professional.
What has changed in the 2022 edition of Assessing Fitness to Drive?
Neurodevelopmental disorders have been included in the Assessing Fitness to Drive standards for many years. The licensing criteria for assessing a person with ASD were not changed in the 2022 edition of Assessing Fitness to Drive.
However, acknowledging the need to provide improved guidance for health professionals, and at the suggestion of various stakeholders, some additional guidance is now included. This material was subject to expert review and public consultation during the development of the standards.
Periodic reviews of the Standards consider current evidence, including evidence of crash risk associated with medical conditions and evidence relating to the assessment and management of medical conditions that are likely to affect safe driving. Reviews also consider inputs from the public and health professionals. The next review is scheduled for 2025.
Feedback about the standards can be made via this form.