More moves on licences
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• In response to Commercial Motor's Loss of Licence campaign, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency says drivers who have lost their licences for medical reasons, only to have them given back, can apply for compensation. But it blames the law and drivers' doctors for many of the unnecessary licence revocations.
Some of the drivers who temporarily lost their licences because of childhood epilepsy as well as those penalised because they formerly had heart problems could be eligible.
The DVLA has accepted that the regulations on epilepsy and heart conditions are too harsh and they are now being relaxed (CM 16 April). So some drivers who have had their licences taken away in the past year should get them back and can apply for compensation.
Other drivers who will be able to apply for compensation are those who had their licences taken away on medical grounds, only to get them back when the DVLA realised it had not taken into account all the medical information, or had been misled by information from doctors.
Dr John Irvine, of the DVLA's medical advisory branch, blames drivers' doctors for many decisions to revoke licences which were then given back. He says doctors often do not provide the full story, with more medical information only coming to light following revocations.
Irvine says that letters telling drivers they have lost their licences will soon be improved tc include details of the medical grounds on which the licence has been refused.
These letters had previously caused distress because they did not explain the reasons behind the refusal.