MEDIA RELEASE
In response to several phone calls and emails to his office by distressed diabetics, including a North West based taxi driver, Senator Parry is advising that they have nothing to fear from recent changes to the National Transport Commissions (NTC) Assessing Fitness to Drive publication.
The publication, which provides guidance to medical professionals and driver licensing authorities, was recently amended to provide greater guidance on what “satisfactory control” of diabetes meant.
“The changes are a result of medical professionals contacting the NTC seeking clarification on what “well controlled” diabetes meant,” Senator Parry said.
“In response to this feedback, the NTC established a working party of representatives from several peak diabetes associations and medical professionals. As a result the current edition of Assessing Fitness to Drive was amended and now recommends that a person who has insulin-treated diabetes is eligible for a conditional private driver licence if his or her diabetes is “satisfactorily controlled”. It also provides guidance for the first time as to what “satisfactorily controlled” means,” Senator Parry said.
“There has been some alarming media over the last couple of months surrounding these revisions and many diabetics have become distressed believing that they may lose their licence. The reality is the NTC has confirmed that Assessing Fitness to Drive is a guideline only and allows medical practitioners to make their own clinical judgements on a case-by-case basis as they have always done,” Senator Parry said.
Senator Stephen Parry Deputy President of the Senate Liberal, Tasmania
