The Victorian government and VicRoads are looking at ways to improve the agency's communication with motorists after the ABC revealed many drivers were unaware their licence had been suspended on medical grounds.
All Victorian drivers who have a medical condition that could impact their ability to drive are legally required to notify VicRoads.
Each year VicRoads assess around 90,000 motorists' fitness to drive through a medical review process.
Of these, around 85 per cent continue to drive, either without further reviews or on a "conditional licence".
This means, on average, 37 Victorian motorists have their licence suspended on medical grounds every day.
Some of these drivers have told the ABC they did not know their licence had been suspended until they were pulled over by police.
The ABC understands an automated reminder service for important VicRoads notifications, including medical reviews, is being explored.
The government is also looking to fast-track and expand the digital delivery of some services offered by VicRoads.
"We are always looking to continually provide better services to the community around licensing requirements," a government spokesperson said.
"Keeping everyone safe on our roads is our number one priority — that is why there is a stringent medical review process in place to ensure all motorists are fit to drive."
The acting head of road safety for VicRoads, Marcelo Vidales, told ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program the authority would be looking at "how we do this better".
"We will explore all the options that we have, and how we can actually connect to our community," he said.
"But ultimately it's about what our systems will permit us to do at this point in time."
Neither VicRoads nor the Victorian government indicated when improvements to communication would be introduced.
Action urgently needed
Several motorists, including Elizabeth Kendal-Riches, told the ABC that improvements in how VicRoads communicated needed to be made "urgently".
Last June, Ms Kendal-Riches was pulled over by police and told she was driving while her licence was suspended.
When she called VicRoads, she was told her driver's licence had been suspended on medical grounds two years earlier, in 2019.
"I was absolutely floored," she said.
"They said it was sent in the post, but I never received anything."
Ms Kendal-Riches spent thousands of dollars hiring a lawyer to fight charges related to driving without a valid licence.
In May this year, the charges against Mrs Kendal-Riches were dismissed and she was given a good behaviour bond.
"Get rid of the post, it's not worth it," she said.
"Everything should be done electronically, and then at least you're assured that the person is informed."
