Drivers are being warned they face a risk of fines of up £1,000 for not reporting a series of unexpected medical conditions.
On top of the potential fine, drivers who fail to notify the authorities and end up in an accident could also find themselves in court, reports the Mirror.
The DVLA has a list of specific conditions it considers serious enough to warrant an update so they can assess drivers' fitness to get behind the wheel safely.
Whilst some – such as epilepsy and head injuries – are a clear cause for concern, others are a little more obtuse.
The DVLA website says you must tell DVLA 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.
Among the more unusual to be included are conditions such as insulin-treated diabetes and a condition linked to déjà vu - the sensation that you've experienced something before.
Six conditions you are required to report
Diabetes - If you have diabetes treated by insulin and your insulin treatments last or will last more than three months, you need to tell DVLA. This applies if you had gestational diabetes too during pregnancy. You should also let them know if you get disabling hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) or if a medical professional has told you that you’re at risk of developing it.
Vertigo - If you experience dizziness that is sudden, disabling, or recurrent, you must tell DVLA. This applies to car, motorcycle, bus, coach and lorry drivers
Seizures/epilepsy - If you have seizures or epilepsy that cause déjà vu you need to tell DVLA. Déjà vu is a neurological anomaly related to epileptic electrical discharge in the brain, creating a strong sensation that an event or experience currently being experienced has already been experienced in the past. You should talk to your doctor if you’re not sure if your déjà vu is related to seizures or epilepsy
Sleep apnoea - There are several sleep disorders that you should tell DVLA about, including confirmed moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), narcolepsy, cataplexy, and any other sleep condition that has caused excessive sleepiness for at least three months. You should also notify them if you’re taking medication that has caused excessive sleepiness for three months
Labyrinthitis - You must tell DVLA if you have labyrinthitis, which is an inner ear disorder that can cause dizziness, nausea, and loss of hearing
Heart palpitations - If you regularly have heart palpitations - heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable and may feel like pounding, fluttering, or irregular beating - the DVLA require you to inform them.
The DVLA tells drivers there are different forms for different conditions and disabilities.
It urges people to contact DVLA if you’re not sure what to do.
You could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely. You could also be prosecuted if you have an accident.
You must surrender your licence to DVLA if your doctor tells you that you need to stop driving for three months or more because of your medical condition.
You can apply to get your licence back when you meet the medical standards for driving again.
A spokesperson for StressFreeCarRental.com told the Mirror: “If you forget and are involved in an accident as a result of your health condition, it could even lead to prosecution – so it’s really imperative to make sure you’re abiding the rules.
“The rules for certain health conditions differ for bus, coach or lorry drivers, so it’s always best to double-check.”
