Learner drivers should need medical certificates, SA coroner recommends after fatal crash

South Australia's coroner has recommended that learner drivers be required to obtain a medical certificate before being issued a license. This proposal stems from a fatal crash in November 2020 that claimed the lives of Ned and Nan Walker, both 80 and 70 respectively, and their 55-year-old daughter, Sue Skeer.

The collision occurred on the Princes Highway near Mount Gambier when a 16-year-old driver, identified only as TB, momentarily lost concentration and veered into the oncoming lane. This action caused Mrs. Walker to swerve, leading TB to correct his vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision with the Walkers' Ford Territory.

An inquest revealed that TB had not disclosed his diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Tourette's Syndrome, and other behavioral and developmental issues on his learner's permit application. His mother believed these conditions did not affect his driving ability. The deputy state coroner, Naomi Kereru, found that the application's reliance on self-reporting was problematic and potentially encouraged non-disclosure. She recommended a system where a medical practitioner directly submits a certificate to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for all first-time applicants.

TB was later found guilty of multiple counts of aggravated driving without due care causing death and harm. The coroner emphasized that the ease with which a single driver's lapse could result in three fatalities highlights the need for this added health certification step in the licensing process.

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The fact that one person’s momentary health episode can so easily claim the lives of three other people demonstrates the value in a health certificate step being added to the licence qualification process.