Everything You Need To Know About Driver Medicals

man inside a car while driving

For many adults, driving is a huge part of daily life that gets them from point A to point B. However, it is important to remember that whilst on the road, you are not only responsible for the safety of yourself and your passengers, but also the other commuters around you.

There are many factors that come into play in regards to safety on the road, but arguably the most prominent is the health and fitness of the person controlling the vehicle. Whilst this is important for everyone on the road, it is even more essential for those who transport others for a living. Essentially, anyone who transports others needs to meet certain medical standards to ensure that their health does not increase their crash risk.

The tests that these professionals must undergo are most commonly referred to as driver medicals. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about driver medicals from Modified Driving Solutions.

 

Who needs to get a driver medical?

Although it is important for everyone to be safe when they are on the road, not all drivers will need to obtain an assessment.

These health checks are reserved for those who make a living out of transporting others, such as those who are involved in the public transport industry. It is also important for professionals who control heavy vehicles to pass a health assessment.

 

What is the assessment process?

In order to complete a driver medical, an individual must meet certain health standards; these standards are then reported to the driver licencing agency.

When going through the assessment with a medical professional, both long term or disability conditions and temporary conditions will be considered. A qualified medical professional will go through a thorough check and take into account any issues that may increase the risk of an accident on the road.

The assessment will lead to one of four results:

 

Unfit in the short term

In this situation, the person being assessed may have a temporary condition that means they are not able to safely control a vehicle. The medical professional will often advise the patient of all temporary restrictions on their licence. Whilst professionals will need to inform their employer, his is not a licencing issue and informing the licencing authorities is not necessary.

Fit with restrictions/conditions on licence

This outcome essentially means that an individual is allowed to control a vehicle, but there will be certain personal restrictions on their licence. In this situation a medical professional will advise that the patient notifies the correct authorities.

Not fit

If a medical professional deems a patient unfit, this means that they will be unable to control any vehicle. The driver licencing authority will need to be contacted and notified.

Unsure of fitness

If a medical professional cannot decide if someone is safe to control a vehicle they will not be able to pass or fail an individual on their driver medical. In this situation the individual may be referred to a specialist or be asked to undertake a practical assessment.

 

What conditions can affect the ability to transport others?

There are a wide range of conditions that may have an impact on a person’s ability to safely transport others.  Interestingly, some conditions are short term and therefore only require short term restrictions, whilst others are permanent.

Some of the most common issues that can affect a person’s safety on the road are:

  • Blackouts or fainting
  • Vision problems
  • Heart disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Sleep disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Neurological disorders
  • Age related declines

Whilst driver medicals may seem extreme for many professionals, they are incredibly important. The aim of these assessments is to ensure that everyone on the road is fit and does not have any conditions that would enhance their risk of a collision.