If you’re like most responsible drivers, you may worry about how an underlying medical condition may affect your ability to drive safely and legally. Knowing what the implications are and taking the right steps will help people to remain on the road without breaking the laws. Here’s a straight-forward guide to steer through the maze of medical conditions and driving laws.
First of all, in the event that you do have a medical condition capable of affecting your driving, you should inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Trust me; this is no fast pass. If you fail to report it, there will be a fine up to £1,000, but much more importantly, if you have an accident and it is shown your medical condition was a partial cause, then you could face prosecution. Yikes!
So, what counts as a ‘notifiable’ condition? Well, pretty much everything that can impede your ability to drive safely. Common conditions include diabetes especially being treated with insulin heart conditions like atrial fibrillation or having a fitted pacemaker, and even some mental health conditions. This list is pretty exhaustive, so make sure to check if your condition is on it.
This information is sometimes even online. If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you can find out if your condition needs to be reported using this online service. Yep, there’s even an A to Z list on the Government’s website of medical conditions. Just type in your condition, follow through the steps to report it. Easy peasy.
It’s a bit different if you’re a bus, lorry or coach driver. You’ll need to tell the DVLA about your condition on paper forms. And if you live in Northern Ireland, you’ll need to contact the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) instead.
You may be thinking at this stage, “What if I don’t feel fit to drive anymore?” In this case, there’s the chance to voluntarily give up your licence. This may sound daunting, but often it is the sensible step to take if your doctor has recommended to stop driving for three months or more, or your condition affects your driving during this time. You need only notify the DLVA and send them your licence.
Don’t worry, you can apply to get it back once you meet the medical standards for driving again.
This is where things get a little bit more complicated. After you’ve reported your condition, the DVLA will look at all your medical information and decide what to do next.
They may:
Give you a shorter licence for one, two, three or five years
Ask you to adapt your car with special controls
Tell you to stop driving and give up your licence
If you really do have to surrender your licence, do not lose heart. Provided you meet the required medical standards, you can just reapply. You will need to complete a D1 application form together with whatever specific form applies in your case. Send these to the DVLA and once everything is found to be in order, you will be back driving in no time.
Remember, informing the DVLA doesn’t keep you safe; it keeps others safe too. According to RoSPA, a large number of road accidents resulting in casualties are caused perhaps contributed to by illnesses or disabilities. So it has much to do with public safety.
What happens after you tell the DVLA You’ll get a decision letter, but sometimes they may need more information. They may contact your doctor for such information, ask you to take a driving assessment, or arrange for you to be examined. This will delay the process, so make sure that you have all your medical documentation in order to speed things up.
You’ll also want to remember your car insurance: many policies require you to declare any medical condition that may affect your driving. If you make a claim, and it then comes to light that you have not declared your condition, your claim might well be invalidated. So, it’s a good idea to keep your insurer in the loop, too.
While doing this, you are not only obeying the law but also looking out for your safety and that of everyone else on the road. That seems like a hassle, but it’s worth it for peace of mind and legal protection.
Also remember that if ever any doubts follow you in later life, there is the DVLA. You can contact them by email, webchat, phone, or post. They are pretty responsive and will help you through the process if needed. Safely out there, and with an eye on your health, too. Happy driving!