30 Apr Revive and stay alive.
The Austroads guidelines outline criteria for determining the fitness of individuals with sleep disorders, particularly more severe sleep apnoea, idiopathic hypersomnia, central disorders of hypersomnolence, and narcolepsy, to hold a driver’s license. For those with more severe sleep apnoea and significant daytime sleepiness, an unconditional license may be withheld, if treatment compliance is unsatisfactory and a conditional license could be considered instead.
Similarly, individuals with confirmed narcolepsy may be deemed unfit for an unconditional license, but a conditional license might be granted if certain conditions are met, including absence of cataplexy, regular medication use, and normal sleep latency on tests. The responsibility for licensing decisions rests with driver licensing authorities, who consider health and driving performance factors.
Furthermore, conditional license issuance requires health professionals to provide detailed medical information and proposed monitoring requirements. In addition, the nature of driving tasks influences licensing decisions, with distinctions made between commercial and occasional heavy vehicle use. Patients must be informed of their condition’s impact on driving and their obligation to report it, with health professionals also having a reporting role. Overall, these guidelines prioritize road safety while accommodating individuals’ medical needs and treatment compliance.
https://austroads.com.au/publications/assessing-fitness-to-drive/ap-g56/sleep-disorders/medical-standards-for-licensing-9#:~:text=Sleep%20apnoea%2C%20excessive%20sleepiness%20and%20other%20sleep%20disorders&text=A%20person%20is%20not%20fit,excessive%20daytime%20sleepiness*)%3B%20or