Medical conditions default review periods (for health professionals)
In accordance with advice from the Assessing Fitness to Drive and key specialist societies, Transport for NSW has determined a default review period for all medical conditions relevant to driving.
Overview
There are two classes of default review periods, ‘private’ and ‘commercial’. The commercial class may be more stringent to reflect the higher risk to road safety associated with driving heavy vehicles, dangerous goods or carrying public passengers.
Whilst Transport for NSW uses a default review period for specific medical conditions, a medical practitioner may recommend a bespoke review period for their patient at any time. When considering a bespoke review period a medical practitioner should consider:
- Longer review periods may be appropriate for patients with long-term stable conditions.
- Shorter review periods may be appropriate for patients with limited insight, frequent exacerbations, unreliable history or compliance with treatment, or expected to deteriorate over time.
- Clinical guidance contained in the Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines and associated references.
- Results of practical tests.
Note: Transport for NSW has annual medical review requirements for the following:
- Class C, R, LR, MR, HR, HC – from age 75 and over
- Class MC – from age 70 and over
Cardiovascular Conditions
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) | 12 months | 12 months |
| Aneurysms (Abdominal and Thoracic) | 12 months | 12 months |
| Angina | 12 months | 12 months |
| Anticoagulant Therapy | 12 months | 12 months |
| Atrial fibrillation | 24 months | 12 months |
| Cardiac arrest | 12 months | 12 months |
| Cardiac pacemaker | 12 months | 12 months |
| Congenital Disorders | 12 months | 12 months |
| Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) | 12 months | 12 months |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy | 24 months | 12 months |
| Heart Failure | 24 months | 12 months |
| Heart Transplant | 12 months | 12 months |
| Hypertension | 24 months | 12 months |
| Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | 12 months | 12 months |
| Implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) | 12 months | 12 months |
| Pacemaker | 12 months | 12 months |
| Paroxysmal arrhythmias | 12 months | 12 months |
| Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) | 12 months | 12 months |
| Syncope | 12 months | 12 months |
| Valvular Heart Disease | 12 months | 12 months |
| Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) – BiVAD | 6 months | N/A - Unfit |
| Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) – Left | 6 months | N/A - Unfit |
| Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) – Right | N/A - Unfit | N/A - Unfit |
Diabetes
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes controlled by diet only | No default | No default |
| Tablets and/or other non-insulin agents | 60 months | 12 months |
| Insulin treated diabetes (except gestational diabetes) | 24 months | 12 months |
Hearing Loss
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing loss | No default | 24 months |
Mental Health Conditions
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety disorder | 60 months | 12 months |
| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | 60 months | 12 months |
| Bipolar affective disorder | 60 months | 12 months |
| Chronic depression | 60 months | 12 months |
| Personality disorder | 60 months | 12 months |
| Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | 60 months | 12 months |
| Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) | 24 months | 12 months |
| Schizophrenia | 36 months | 12 months |
| Tourette Syndrome | 12 months | 12 months |
Musculoskeletal Conditions
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic Pain | No default | No default |
| Deformities | No default | No default |
| Loss of Digits | No default | No default |
| Loss of Limbs | No default | No default |
| Severe Arthritis | No default | No default |
Neurological Conditions
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Dementia/cognitive impairment | 12 months | 12 months |
| Aneurysm | 12 months | 12 months |
| Blackout of uncertain nature | 12 months | 12 months |
| Brain Tumours/space occupying lesions | 60 months | 12 months |
| Cerebral Palsy | 12 months | 12 months |
| Head/brain injury | 60 months | 12 months |
| Intellectual and development disability | 60 months | 12 months |
| Intracranial Surgery | 12 months | 12 months |
| Meniere’s disease | 12 months | 12 months |
| Multiple sclerosis | 12 months | 12 months |
| Neuromuscular condition | 12 months | 12 months |
| Parkinson’s disease | 12 months | 12 months |
| Stroke | 60 months | 12 months |
| Subarachnoid Haemorrhage | 60 months | 12 months |
Sleep Disorder
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Narcolepsy | 12 months | 12 months |
| Sleep apnoea syndrome, excessive sleepiness, or other sleep disorder | 24 months | 12 months |
Substance Misuse
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol dependency | 12 months | 12 months |
| Substance use/misuse | 12 months | 12 months |
Vision or Eye Conditions
| Medical Condition | Private | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Cataracts | 24 months | 24 months |
| Diabetic retinopathy | 24 months | 24 months |
| Diplopia/double vision | 24 months | 12 months* |
| Glaucoma | 24 months | 24 months |
| Keratoconus | 24 months | 24 months |
| Macular degeneration | 24 months | 24 months |
| Monocular vision | 12 months | 12 months* |
| Poor night vision | 24 months | 24 months |
| Quadrantanopia & hemianopia | 12 months | 12 months* |
| Visual field defect | 12 months | 12 months |
*Only if AFTD criteria is met.
List of Transport for NSW default review periods (printable version).