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Psychiatric conditions can affect behaviour, thinking and perception which may impact a person’s ability to drive safely. If you have a diagnosed psychiatric condition, you are legally required to notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles as soon as practicable.

Common Psychiatric Conditions

These may include but are not limited to:

  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Personality disorders

How these conditions can affect driving

Symptoms associated with psychiatric conditions can impair driving ability in various ways including:

  • Difficulty maintaining concentration or attention
  • Slower cognitive and perceptual processing
  • Fatigue
  • Hallucinations or delusional thinking that may interfere with safe driving
  • Panic attacks

These symptoms should not be ignored when driving as they can significantly increase the risk of accidents.

Precautions you can take

To help ensure your safety and the safety of others:

  • Take any prescribed medications as directed
  • If you feel overwhelmed, anxious or unable to concentrate, pull over safety and take a break

Need more information?

For detailed information on driving with a psychiatric condition, refer to the Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines.