Drivers could be prosecuted for not informing the DVLA about changes to their health if they get into an accident
Drivers could be risking their licence and facing fines of up to £1,000 if they’re diagnosed with certain medical conditions and don’t tell the DVLA. These five common conditions can subtly impact your ability to drive safely and legally, with around 10 million people in the UK diagnosed.
The DVLA has a full A-Z list of conditions online where drivers can search for their own diagnosis to check if they need to inform the DVLA and how to do this, either online or by sending a paper form. Experts from cinch advised drivers to also share any new medical information with their insurance provider too in case their condition may have an effect on their coverage.
Ben Welham, motoring expert at cinch said: “The DVLA’s online checker only takes a few minutes, so it’s worth doing to avoid losing your licence or getting stuck with a £1,000 fine if you don’t report any relevant medical conditions.”
Diabetes
Around 4.6 million people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes according to Diabetes UK and it could affect their ability to drive safely. For most people it shouldn’t be an issue unless they develop diabetes related complications that make it harder to drive such as hypoglycemia without being able to recognise the warning signs, retinopathy affecting their vision or nerve damage.
Diabetics need to inform the DVLA of their condition if:
- Their insulin treatment lasts (or will last) over 3 months
- They had gestational diabetes (diabetes associated with pregnancy) and their insulin treatment lasts over 3 months after the birth
- They get disabling hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) – or a medical professional has said they are at risk of it
Cancer
Over 3.5 million people in the UK are living with cancer according to Macmillan Cancer Support. Being diagnosed with this condition doesn’t automatically mean you have to inform the DVLA but some circumstances may mean you need to .
Welham urged: “It’s always worth checking with your doctor about whether your diagnosis or treatment could impact your ability to drive.”
This can include if you develop problems with your brain or nervous system; your doctor says you may not be fit to drive; you need to have a vehicle that has been adapted for you; or your medication causes side effects that may affect your driving.
Sleep apnoea
The British Lung Foundation estimates that 1.5 million adults in the UK have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This condition can cause excessive sleepiness which will impair your ability to drive, as Welham warned: “With excessive sleepiness causing poor concentration and reaction times, the effects of sleep apnoea can be very dangerous behind the wheel.”
Other sleep conditions that may require drivers to inform the DVLA include narcolepsy, cataplexy or any other sleep condition that has caused excessive sleepiness for at least 3 months.
Glaucoma
Findings from Glaucoma UK show that over 700,000 adults have been diagnosed with glaucoma in the UK. But many more may not even be aware that they have it, so having regular eye exams is vital.
This condition impairs your peripheral vision, making it hard to see objects outside your direct line of sight, such as pedestrians, other cars and more hazards common when driving. You will need to tell the DVLA if you have eye conditions that affect both eyes, or just one if you only have vision in one eye to begin with, and if you have been told you may not meet the visual standards for driving by a GP, optician or eye specialist.
Pacemakers
More than 500,000 people in the UK have been fitted with a pacemaker and must inform the DVLA as soon as possible after it’s fitted. You don’t need to inform the DVLA if you have a pacemaker battery change.
If you don’t tell the DVLA about a condition that may affect your driving you could be charged with a £1,000 fine. If you end up in an accident and it’s found you didn’t update the DVLA you may even face prosecution.
After you inform the DVLA about your condition, the department will decide if you need to:
- Get a new driving licence
- Have a shorter driving licence, valid for one, two, three or five years
- Adapt your car with special controls fitting
- Give up your licence and stop driving
