Changes to driving requirements in Qld

Sounds fair enough to me, if you are unfit to drive - medically or otherwise, get OFF the road as soon as you are aware of it.

Its a no brainer.

I'm rather bemused by the listing of "hearing disorders" and "depression" in the list of illnesses which may get you banned from driving. Given the 110dB I regularly hear coming from vehicle's music systems even if the driver had the hearing of a 2 year old he couldn't hear anything anyway. And as for depression... well... Winston Churchill suffered from manic depression but managed to drive a country and win a war.

Mike Harding

Neil and Lynne,
I think you're missing the point.
It gives the powers that be (including insurance companies) incredible power to shaft people over often irrelevant symptoms.
Sure there are people who should not be driving, but where do you draw the line??
Yes we've all heard and seen horror stories of elderly or infirm people driving when they should not be.
But let's say you see your GP about recurring headaches, or a cold, or whatever.
Then have a prang on the way home due no fault of your own, but then find your insurance refuses to pay because they say you were unfit to drive...despite the fact you felt quite Ok at the time.
It's likely to become guilty till proven innocent.

Guys, isn't there an over reaction here. This is part of what it says:

'The laws will be strengthened to ensure that drivers who suffer permanent or long-term medical conditions that adversely affect their ability to drive safely notify Queensland Transport as soon as possible.'

Note is says permanent or long term. The examples above (cold, sprained ankle etc )would not be considered long term.

I think this change flows from a Coroners Court investigation from an accident where an epileptic person had a seizure while driving. Veered to the wrong side of the road and from memory, at least 2 people were killed (but not the epileptic).

I think the court found that the driver was acting within the law. They or their doctor had no obligation to notify anyone about this condition or how it may effect safe driving.

If my understanding is right, then I support the change.

My wife has been a diabetic for 20 odd years and she has to take a medical certificate when she renews her license from the doctor saying she is fit to drive. I cannot see what the big deal is if you have a condition get a certificate and renew your license it is not only for your own safety but every one else as well Dags

Arpynoon Austravel,

It certainly raises a lot of issues, but I suspect not too many people would 'volunteer' to an inspection that may put them off the road, albeit for a short time.

One would hope that commonsense would prevail, p'haps not.

BTW a very good friend of mine only has one arm and has been driving for many years. To the best of my knowledge there is no restiction on his licence.

A very nice bloke but you would have to question just how good he would be in an emergency situation...indeed we have some strange laws.

It also seems strange to me that here in our small town some elderly people are restricted to 'town limits' due to their reduced driving skills/ability yet to my mind a fatal accident can just as easily happen in town.

Regards
Michael B (SA)

G'day Austravel, well I suppose I'm glad I have moved out of QLD, I have 5 of the listed 13
andy