Motorists are risking fines of more that a £1,000 for withholding information about medical conditions from the DVLA.
There are a number of medical conditions that, if you suffer from, you must tell the DVLA about. You could also be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident, the DVLA has said. The conditions relate to a number of things that may impact someone's ability to drive safely.
A massive fine is the potential punishment for not keeping the agency up to date with any changes to your medical conditions. Motorists could also be forced to surrender their licences in a number of scenarios. To help you further understand what you need to be informing the DVLA of, Lincolnshire Live put together this handy guide. Here's everything you need to know:
Medical conditions you must tell the DVLA about
The DVLA says it is important you tell them if you have a driving licence and:
- you develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition or disability
- a condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence
Notifiable conditions are anything that could affect your ability to drive safely. They can include:
- diabetes or taking insulin
- syncope (fainting)
- heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and pacemakers)
- sleep apnoea
- epilepsy
- strokes
- glaucoma
If you need to check whether your condition should be reported, you can do so in one of two ways. These are:
- using the online service to check if your condition needs to be reported
- checking the A to Z list for your condition
You’ll then be told how to report your condition. This will either be in the online service, or by printing off and sending a paper form.
When can the DVLA revoke a licence?
You must give up your licence if any of the following are true:
- your doctor tells you to stop driving for 3 months or more
- your medical condition affects your ability to drive safely and lasts for 3 months or more
- you do not meet the required standards for driving because of your medical condition
Once you meet the medical requirement again, you can apply to get your licence back. Full details on that process are available here.
