Dr Moy, with support from Committee of General Practice Chair Dr Bridget Sawyer, is discussing possible updates to the ‘fitness to drive’ form with South Australia Police (SAPOL), the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and representatives from Optometry Australia. They’re considering two key changes:

1. Requiring optometrists or ophthalmologists to complete the eyesight component of the certificate
2. Including an objective cognitive test as part of the baseline testing.

Dr Moy says these recommendations would alleviate concerns for general practitioners who complete the assessments.

‘The current process is very subjective,’ Dr Moy says. ‘It’s in the interests of all road users to ensure thorough and rigorous medical assessments are carried out.’

Dr Sawyer agrees the proposed changes will assist GPs who conduct the assessments, especially in borderline cases.

‘I strongly believe that by establishing a formal pathway, medical assessors will be better able to decline a medical assessment until further opinion has been sought,’ Dr Sawyer says.

Dr Moy and Dr Sawyer met SAPOL representatives on 8 August. The meeting was attended by road Safety Educator Senior Constable Michael Krawczyk and his colleagues Senior Sergeant Susan O’Connor and Brevet Sergeant Jason Thiele.

Dr Moy has previously met with representatives from Optometry Australia and on 12 September Dr Moy and other members of the Road Safety Committee met with DIT representatives to discuss issues of concern including revision of the form.

Senior Constable Krawczyk has since advised he is pursuing the issue with DIT.

Dr Moy has thanked Senior Constable Krawczyk for his input and has advised that AMA SA will continue its conversations with DIT, Optometry Australia and SAPOL regarding form re-design.

In the meantime, Senior Constable Krawczyk has asked that SAPOL information sheets be made available to doctors who may find them useful in counselling patients about their fitness to drive. Click here to read more