Drivers in health blitz
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• The Government has made it harder for drivers with medical conditions to hold an HGV or PSV licence.
Rules published this week, which come into force in April, extend the number of ailments which bar the holding of a vocational licence to include insulin-treated diabetes and sight in only one eye.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency says the tighter regulations are necessary because accidents involving larger vehicles are more likely to lead to death or serious injury than those involving cars.
This follows the DVLA's initial proposals, which came out last December. Although responses were invited, the proposals are almost unchanged. They are part of a DVLA fact sheet called Driver Licensing in the 1990s.
The DVLA says diabetics re
ceiving insulin treatment will not be issued with vocational entitlement — but it will allow such drivers who declare their condition to their Traffic Commissioner before 1 January to keep or receive a licence.
A new driver will also be expected to have a "visual acuity" of not less than 6/9 on the Snellen scale in his better eye, and not less than 6/12 in his weaker eye. If drivers wear glasses or contact lenses, they must have an uncorrected acuity of not less than 3/60. This, says the DVLA, will prevent monocular drivers from holding a licence.
Under the new system decisions made by the DTp's medical advisers will be final, and drivers who are refused a licence will have no right of appeal. However, they will still be able to take their cases to court. Contact the DVLA on (0792) 772151.