Disabilities such as a broken arm or leg may not prevent you from driving, but you need to make sure that you are able to drive safely. For example, a plaster cast may make it difficult for you to control a vehicle. Seek your doctor’s advice on how the cast will affect your ability to operate all the vehicle’s controls.
Most people with a physical disability can be issued with a driver licence, and most people who had a licence before they acquired a disability can continue to drive. The disability may be caused by a medical condition, or may be the result of an accident. A person with a physical disability can drive if they are assessed as being safe to drive.
To obtain a learner permit or a driver licence, a person with a disability is required to meet the same requirements as a person who has no disability.
However, a person with a disability will need to provide a medical report that provides information to VicRoads on the nature and extent of the disability, and to ensure that there are no other medical concerns that may prevent the person from driving safely.
Some examples of disabilities and how they are managed include:
- Disability to or loss of foot or leg: The driver needs to show that he/she can reach and safely operate all foot controls such as brake, clutch and accelerator pedals. When neither leg can be used, hand controls are required.
- Disability to or loss of hand or arm: The driver needs to show that he/she can reach and operate all hand controls, grip the steering wheel and turn it through the full range of movement. Driving a car with manual transmission requires both arms.
- A driver with one arm may be able to drive a car with automatic transmission provided he/she can reach and operate all controls. A steering aid on the steering wheel may be required, and power steering may be necessary or advisable.
To apply for a learner permit, you must be at least 16 years of age if you intend to drive a car, and 18 years if you intend to ride a motorcycle.
You will have to complete an application in which you must notify VicRoads of any medical condition which may prevent you from driving safely. It is an offence not to disclose a medical condition.
If you have a medical condition, VicRoads will give you a medical form for your doctor to complete. This form can also be downloaded from VicRoads website.
The learner period allows you to try various adaptive equipment to determine what best suits your condition.
For more information about how to get your learner permit see ‘Getting your Ls’.
To apply for a probationary driver licence in Victoria, you must be at least 18 years of age and have held your learner permit for a minimum period of time.
If you obtained your learner permit before 1 July 2007 you will need to hold it for 6 months if you are under 25 years of age when you apply for your licence, and for 3 months if you are 25 years of age or older.
If you obtained your learner permit on or after 1 July 2007 and you are under 21 years when you apply for your licence you must hold it for 12 months, and you must also obtain 120 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours at night. If you are aged between 21 and 24 years when you apply for your licence the learner permit must be held for 6 months. If you are 25 years and over when you apply for your licence, the learner permit must be held for 3 months.
All licence applicants have to undertake a Hazard Perception Test and an on-road test.
You will have to complete an application in which you must notify VicRoads of any medical condition which may prevent you from driving safely. It is an offence not to disclose a medical condition.
If you have a medical condition, VicRoads will give you a medical form for your doctor to complete. This form can also be downloaded from VicRoads website.
When you obtain your licence, it will be marked to show any modifications required for your vehicle, or motorcycle, so that you can drive it legally.
For more information about applying for your driver licence see ‘Getting your Ps’.
If you become disabled whilst you are on your learner permit, you will need to provide a medical report that provides information to VicRoads on the nature and extent of the disability, and to ensure that there are no other medical concerns that may prevent you from driving safely.
If you become disabled whilst you hold a probationary licence, or a full driver licence, you will need to provide a medical report that provides information to VicRoads on the nature and extent of the disability, and to ensure that there is no other medical concerns that may prevent you from driving safely. You will also have to be assessed to determine if you can drive safely with your disability.
This test is administered by an occupational therapist specialising in driver assessment. Occupational therapists are health professionals who assist people with physical or mental disabilities to resume normal daily activities.
An occupational therapist can be found by contacting OT Australia Victoria (Australian Association of Occupational Therapists of Victoria):
Australian Association of Occupational Therapists of Victoria
PO Box 1286
North Fitzroy Victoria 3068
ph: 03 9481 6866
fax: 03 9481 6844
In most cases, the cost must be met by the licence holder. However, If your disability is the result of a motor vehicle accident the Transport Accident Commission may pay for the assessment.
If you hold a current learner permit you may learn to drive any type of vehicle, including a modified vehicle.
If you hold a current driver licence and want to learn to drive a modified vehicle you must be accompanied by a driver with a non-probationary licence who has held their licence for two years or more. It is advisable to display a “Driver Under Instruction” plate on the vehicle. These plates are 15 cm x 15 cm with black writing on a yellow background.
As disabilities vary between people, modifications must be made specifically to meet the needs of the individual driver. VicRoads will only issue a disabled person with a licence if their car has been fitted with the appropriate modification, or a prosthesis is worn to ensure the controls can be operated safely, unless the assessment shows that these are not necessary. Occupational therapists specialising in driver assessment can advise on what modifications or aids you may need and where the vehicle modifications can be fitted.
Typical vehicle modifications include a spinner knob which is fitted to the steering wheel for drivers who have a disability to, or have lost one arm, and left foot accelerators for those who have a disability to, or have lost their right leg.
You will only be able to legally drive a car or motorcycle with the modifications that are designed to account for your disability.
You will have to pay for the cost of any modifications made to your car or motorcycle.
You will need to apply to your local council for a Disabled Parking Permit. If you are eligible you will be issued with a parking permit to allow you to park in spaces reserved for disabled motorists.
You must display this permit whenever you park is a disabled parking area.
See Victoria's disabled persons parking scheme for further information.
If your physical disability improves you can have your situation reviewed. If appropriate, the modifications to your vehicle, and the information on your permit or driver licence can be removed or altered.
There is a separate assessment made for people who suffer from serious or chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.
People with medical conditions that may affect safe driving are required to pass a medical assessment before VicRoads can issue a learner permit or driver licence.
The Disabled Motorists’ Association can provide disabled drivers and riders with advice and assistance about driving with a disability.
For further information visit the Disabled Motorists' Association website.
VicRoads can also provide advice, call 13 11 71.
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