The licence holder or applicant must notify DVLA of any medical condition that could affect their ability to drive safely.
If asked for an opinion about a patient's fitness to drive, the doctor should consult DVLA guidance to determine whether the patient should inform DVLA of their condition, what the DVLA's decision is likely to be, and whether the patient should continue to drive in the meantime. The advice given should be documented.
Driving must cease if adversely affected by any drug being taken.
If the licence holder cannot, or will not advise DVLA of their condition, the doctor should consult GMC guidelines.
The table below summarises DVLA recommendations for conditions commonly encountered in primary care, as relevant to holders of a Group 1 licence (i.e. for motor cars and motor cycles).
| Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive | ||
|---|---|---|
| CONDITION | GUIDANCE | NOTIFY DVLA? |
| ALCOHOL/DRUG-RELATED CONDITIONS | ||
| Alcohol/drug misuse or dependence | Licence witheld until patient has been free of problems for: – ≥6 months (persistent alcohol misuse; misuse of cannabis, amphetamines other than metamphetamine, ecstasy, psychoactive drugs) or – ≥1 year (alcohol dependence; misuse of heroin, morphine, methadone, cocaine, metamphetamine, benzodiazepines) | Yes |
| CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS | ||
| Acute coronary syndromes | Cease driving after coronary angioplasty for ≥1 week if procedure successful or ≥4 weeks if unsuccessful. | No |
| Angina | Cease driving if symptoms occur at rest, with emotion or at the wheel. | No |
| Arrhythmia | Cease driving if the arrhythmia has caused or is likely to cause incapacity. Can resume driving when underlying cause has been controlled for ≥4 weeks. Cease driving for ≥2 days after successful catheter ablation. | No, unless symptoms are distracting or disabling |
| CABG | Cease driving for ≥4 weeks. | No |
| Cerebrovascular disease (including TIA) | Cease driving for ≥1 month (multiple TIAs over short period may require 3 months free from further attacks before resuming driving). | No, unless multiple TIAs occur over short period or neurological deficit persists 1 month after episode |
| Hypertension, heart failure | Can continue driving (heart failure: unless symptoms are distracting). | No |
| Pacemaker implant | Cease driving for ≥1 week. | Yes |
| PCI | Cease driving for ≥1 week. | No |
| DIABETES | ||
| Diabetes mellitus | Can continue driving unless disabling/frequent hypoglycaemia occurs or impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia develops. Can resume driving when control/awareness achieved. | No, unless insulin needed or visual/circulatory complications develop |
| NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS | ||
| Chronic conditions e.g. Parkinson's disease, MS | Can be licensed if medical assessment confirms that driving performance is not impaired. | Yes |
| Epilepsy | Epileptic attack whilst awake: cease driving for ≥1 year (6 months if first attack/solitary fit, specialist assessment completed and no abnormality identified). Epileptic attack whilst asleep: cease driving for ≥1 year (can be licensed if original attack occurred >3 years previously and no awake attacks have occurred since). When treatment is being withdrawn, patient should generally cease driving until 6 months after treatment cessation. | Yes |
| PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS | ||
| Dementia | If patient has poor short-term memory, disorientation, lack of insight and judgement, he/she is unlikely to be fit to drive. | Yes |
| Mania or hypomania | Cease driving during acute illness. Following an insolated episode, patient can be licensed when he/she has remained stable for ≥3 months (6 months if ≥4 episodes of mood swing during previous year), if necessary criteria met. | Yes |
| Psychotic disorders (acute) | Cease driving during acute illness. Patient can be licensed if he/she has remained well and stable for ≥3 months, if necessary criteria met. | Yes |
| Schizophrenia (chronic) | Cease driving unless patient has had stable behaviour for ≥3 months, adequate treatment adherence and no adverse effects of medication (subject to favourable specialist report). | Yes |
| VISUAL DISORDERS | ||
| Visual impairment | Cease driving if cannot read in good light (with visual aids if worn) a vehicle number plate from 20m distance. | Yes |
For further advice, contact: The Medical Adviser, Drivers Medical Group, DVLA, Longview Road, Morriston, Swansea, SA99 1TU. Tel: 01792 782337. Email: medadviser@dvla.gsi.gov.uk.
The full guideline is available at www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/medical/ataglance.aspx
