Drivers must report 10 'surprising' medical conditions or risk void insurance
British drivers can risk ending up with null insurance if they don't tell the DVLA certain medical conditions - or even particular medication they're taking.
That means anyone caught up in an accident who hasn't told the Government about a number of specific conditions could end up having to foot the hefty bill themselves. And while some of these conditions may be obvious and well-known about when it comes to driving, others are less so.
Quotezone.co.uk experts have set out the full list of conditions which could legally stop drivers from getting behind the wheel or void their insurance policies, leaving them unprotected in accidents or crashes. It's not just your insurance you risk either, as motorists can face fines of up to £1,000 and even be prosecuted if they don't disclose any ailments or prescribed medication which could affect their judgment.
While the answers as to what exactly constitutes a condition impacting your driving ability may not be clear cut, Quotezone founder Greg Wilson says the risk is too big not to check out. "A serious medical diagnosis on top of the fear of losing transportation and independence can be devastating," he said.
"However, many conditions and medications won’t impair driving, which the DVLA and insurance providers recognise – but they do need to be keep up to date with any changes. Taking all precautions to be safe on the road is extremely important and drivers must play their part to ensure their wellbeing and the wellbeing of other road users is protected to the best of their knowledge."
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The DVLA has a list of a total of 110 conditions which could impair or impact driving ability, Greg added. “If drivers have been diagnosed with any of these conditions they need to inform both the DVLA and their insurance provider, since having inaccurate details on the insurance policy can void the insurance and leave drivers unprotected.” Here are 10 of the medical conditions that drivers must declare to the DVLA:
1. Diabetes
Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause serious health complications which seriously impact your judgement and reaction times on the road. Hypoglycaemia, when blood sugars are dangerously low, causes people to become drowsy and even get blurred vision. While it's not a condition which rules you out of driving completely, the DVLA does need to know.
2. Sleep apnoea
This is another condition which can make people drowsy at any time, which poses a serious risk. Any illness known to result in bouts of drowsiness need to be declared to the DVLA.
3. Heart conditions
Heart attacks and cardiac arrest have been known to cause serious road tragedies, and any heart conditions must be reported to the DVLA. It's not just the risk of heart attacks, either. Arrythmia, for example, can affect a driver's ability to stop safely, which is distracting.
4. Eye conditions
It goes without saying that problems with eyesight can pose a risk to road safety. Most eye conditions, such as glaucoma, must be reported to the DVLA, and it is up to their discretion what procedure to carry out regarding your licence.
5. Stroke
Those who have recovered from a stroke are not allowed to drive for a month afterwards, while the risk of another is still high. It doesn't mean the end of driving forever, though. Anyone who has returned to normal health afterwards is allowed to get back behind the wheel provided they inform the DVLA. They also need to know if any health problems continue for longer than a month afterwards.
6. Seizures and epilepsy
You must be seizure-free for at least 12 months in order to be able to drive, according to Epilepsy Action. Anyone who's had one while awake and lost consciousness will have their licence revoked. You can reapply if you go six months without a seizure and medical advisors have given their input. If a seizure happened in other instances, such as while you were asleep, you may be able to retain your licence depending on DVLA and government guidelines.
7. Vertigo
Recurrent or sudden dizziness must be reported to the DVLA.
8. Syncope
A lesser-heard of condition, but one which also potentially could pose a risk on the road. Syncope causes people to temporary lose consciousness. Any fainting condition, including syncope, must be reported to the DVLA.
9. Certain operations
Operations on certain body parts, including your legs, can exempt you from driving, yet this can be up to the discretion of the doctor, who should inform you on driving procedures after leaving the hospital.
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10. Driving on medications
If you are on strong medications, it is likely that you will be recommended to avoid driving. Opioid painkillers, tranquillisers, and certain antidepressants are examples of medicines that can affect driving ability – as well as those that cause drowsiness or say ‘do not operate heavy machinery’.
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