A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the process for assessing drivers with medical conditions, particularly mental illness, and the impact on their licenses. The questions probe the efficiency, fairness, and effectiveness of the mandatory reporting system.

AnsweredQoN 3510Legislative Council
Asked
22 February 2011
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

(1) How many drivers in Western Australia in the 2009-10 financial year voluntarily completed the Mandatory Reporting of Medical Conditions M109B form?
(2) Of those from (1), who have voluntarily disclosed a Medical Condition, how many people have received a letter from the Department of Transport referring them to have a Medical Assessment Certificate – Fitness to Drive Form M107A completed by their GP?
(3) How many of those medical assessments identified people as having a mental illness?
(4) How many of those medical assessments identified people as receiving medication for a mental illness?
(5) How many people identified with a mental illness have received a letter, stating their licence status is amended as under, -
(a) daylight driving only;
(b) to drive an automatic car only; and
(c) to take medication as prescribed?
(6) How many people assessed as having a mental illness under the Medical Assessment Certificate Fitness to Drive Form M107A, have been termed ‘unfit to drive’, and have had their licence suspended?
(7) Over what period of time does that suspension apply?
(8) Have they been given access to Taxi vouchers under the Taxi voucher scheme for the duration of their suspension?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister outline the appeals mechanism for people assessed throughout this process who have a grievance?
(11) Is the Minister for Transport aware that from the moment a person completes the Mandatory Reporting of Medical Conditions M109B form, it can take up to three months to get a final letter confirming any conditions being placed on a person’s licence?
(12) Does the Minister for Transport consider this acceptable?
(13) If yes to (12), why?
(14) Is the Minister confident that this legislation is catching all the people who it was designed to take off the road to improve road safety in Western Australia?
(15) If no to (14), what further measures does the Minister intend to take?
(16) For those who complete the Mandatory reporting of Medical Conditions, what are the criteria used to assess people with mental health conditions?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
6 April 2011
Responded by
Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Transport
Response time
43 days
The
Department of Transport
advises:
(1) 12 900 approximately.
(2) 4 500 approximately.
(3 - 4) Type of medical condition not recorded.
(5 - 9) Not applicable
(10) The Department of Transport's Internal Review and/or the State Administrative Tribunal.
(11 - 12) Yes
(13) Reports are assessed case by case and seriousness of the condition.
(14) The legislation is one medium designed to improved road safety.
(15) Not applicable
(16) Reports are assessed case by case and seriousness of the condition.
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