A Wamuran family is calling for regular eyesight assessments for Queensland drivers, following the death of local cyclist Carol Ismail in a collision in 2020.
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Carol, 55, and her husband Adam, 56, were cycling at the intersection of Boden Road and Harrison Road on August 16, 2020, when a vehicle struck them. Queensland Police said Carol was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with critical injuries and later died. Adam was taken to the same hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Their daughter, optometrist Brittney McDonogh, is campaigning for compulsory eyesight checks to be introduced at set stages of a driver’s life. The proposal has become known as Carol’s Law.
A Queensland Parliament petition lodged by Adam Ismail on October 13, 2026, calls for assessments by an optometrist or ophthalmologist when a person first applies for a driver licence, at ages 50 and 60, every five years until age 75, and annually from then on.
The petition, numbered 4736-26, asks Parliament to introduce the changes through amendments to transport regulations. It remains open until January 31, 2027. The proposal is not current Queensland law.
How the proposal differs from current rules
Queensland already requires drivers to report permanent or long-term medical conditions likely to affect their ability to drive safely. Depending on the condition, a medical certificate may also be required.
However, the current arrangements do not impose routine, age-based eyesight tests on private vehicle drivers at the milestones proposed by Carol’s Law. A private driver’s eyesight must be assessed by a health professional if the applicant declares a vision or eye disorder, or if the licensing authority requires it.
Drivers aged 75 and over must obtain an annual medical fitness assessment from their doctor to continue driving. This is a broader assessment of medical fitness and is not automatically a specialist eyesight examination.
Other states have different requirements. In New South Wales, drivers must pass an eyesight test when first applying for a licence, every 10 years if under 45, every five years from age 45, and annually from age 75.
The Queensland petition argues that relying on motorists to recognise and report deteriorating vision can leave gaps in the licensing system. It cites Carol’s death as the reason for seeking scheduled assessments, rather than relying solely on self-reporting.
The proposal would require consideration by Parliament and any necessary changes to Queensland’s transport rules before it could take effect. The petition’s closing date is January 31, 2027.
Published 2-November-2026
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