With the Easter bank holiday underway & large numbers expected on the roads this extended weekend, drivers need to check that their details are correct & current. People with certain medical conditions must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or face fines up to £1,000 for failing to comply. Drivers can check whether their condition needs DVLA notification through Gov.uk where they will find the required forms and questionnaires. Different forms exist for various conditions and disabilities and the DVLA can be contacted directly if you are unsure about the process according to the Mirror. Gov.uk states that you must tell DVLA if you have a driving licence and develop a notifiable medical condition or disability or if a condition or disability has worsened since you got your licence. It adds that you could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely.
You could also be prosecuted if you have an accident. Notifiable conditions include anything that could affect safe driving ability. These include diabetes or insulin use, syncope which is fainting, cardiac conditions including atrial fibrillation & pacemakers, sleep apnoea, epilepsy strokes and glaucoma. According to the DVLA more than 180 medical conditions may affect safe driving and a list of over 100 is available below. You can find the full A to Z list on Gov.uk. Diabetes requires DVLA notification if your insulin therapy extends or is expected to extend beyond three months. You also need to notify them if you had gestational diabetes during pregnancy and your insulin therapy continues beyond three months after giving birth. Notification is also required if you suffer from incapacitating hypoglycemia which is low blood sugar or a medical expert has warned of the risk of it developing.
For cancer or lymphoma you only need to inform the DVLA if you have issues related to your brain or nervous system. You also need to notify them if your doctor advises that you may not be fit for driving. Notification is required if you are limited to specific vehicle types or need vehicle adaptations due to your condition. You must also inform them if your medication causes side effects that could impact your ability to drive safely. If you are unsure whether cancer might impact your ability to drive you should consult your doctor for advice.
Medical Conditions and Driving Licenses
There are certain situations that mean you may need to surrender your license to the DVLA. You must hand in your license to the DVLA under specific circumstances. These include when your doctor tells you to stop driving for three months or longer. You also need to surrender it if your medical condition affects your driving safety & lasts for three months or more. Also you must give up your license if you cannot meet the required driving standards because of your medical condition. You can reapply for your license once you meet the medical standards for driving again. After you notify the DVLA about your health condition Gov.uk explains what happens next.
You will receive a decision by letter. Your application may need additional information from a healthcare professional depending on your condition. The DVLA may contact your GP or consultant to gather more details. They might arrange a medical examination or request a driving assessment. In some cases they may require an eyesight test or a driving test. The process may take longer than usual if your application needs to be referred to a doctor. This does not apply if you are applying for a bus or lorry license. You can usually keep driving while the DVLA considers your application.
