What is Assessing Fitness to Drive?
Short answer
Assessing Fitness to Drive is the national medical-standards and guidance publication used by health professionals and driver-licensing authorities when assessing whether a person is medically fit to drive.
Plain English
AFTD guides medical assessment, but it is not a single national licensing law. Each state or territory gives the standards legal effect through its licensing framework, and commercial-driver assessment requirements can also vary with licence class, age, medical condition, accreditation and employment arrangements.
What this means operationally
Drivers should follow their licensing authority’s notification and medical-assessment rules, disclose relevant conditions to the treating practitioner and licensing authority when required, and comply with restrictions. Operators should have a fair fitness-for-duty process and must not allow a driver to drive while fatigued or otherwise unfit.
Who it applies to
Drivers, health professionals, driver-licensing authorities, employers and operators. The commercial medical standards apply to commercial vehicle drivers as described by AFTD and the relevant jurisdictional framework.
Example
A driver with a newly diagnosed condition checks the licensing authority’s notification rules and is assessed by a health professional using AFTD; the licensing authority decides whether a conditional licence or other action is required.
Exceptions and traps
There is no universal rule that every Australian heavy-vehicle driver must obtain a medical certificate at every licence renewal. The trigger and frequency depend on the jurisdiction, licence class, age, condition and any accreditation or employment requirement.
What changed
The current edition took effect on 22 June 2022. The NTC began the next review in March 2026, closed initial consultation on 17 July 2026, plans draft consultation in 2027 and is working toward a 2028 edition.
Previous rule
The 2016 edition and its amendments preceded the current 2022 edition. Until a replacement is formally adopted, the 2022 edition remains the current national guidance publication.
Legal foundation
State and territory driver-licensing laws and standards; Heavy Vehicle National Law s 228 from 1 August 2026
Sources & primary documents
- austroads.gov.au/drivers-and-vehicles/assessing-fitness-to-drive
- austroads.gov.au/drivers-and-vehicles/assessing-fitness-to-drive/for-commercial-drivers
- www.ntc.gov.au/project/assessing-fitness-drive-review
- www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2012-hvnlq
WWTG verification: Austroads, NTC, Queensland legislation
Frequently asked questions
Is AFTD itself a single national law?
No. It is national medical guidance given legal or administrative effect through state and territory licensing frameworks.
Does every heavy-vehicle driver need a medical certificate at every renewal?
No. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, licence class, age, medical condition and other schemes.
Who decides whether a licence is issued or made conditional?
The relevant state or territory driver-licensing authority, using medical evidence and its legal framework.
Which edition is current?
The 2022 edition remains current while the next edition is being reviewed.
What is the 2026-2028 review timeline?
Initial consultation closed in July 2026, draft consultation is planned for 2027 and a new edition is planned for 2028.