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Q I understand that there has been a change in
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the medical requirements for hgv driving licence applicants since the regulations were first issued. I believe the changes are particularly concerned with applicants who have suffered epileptic attacks. Could you give me the full details and explain how a doctor is expected to know if the applicant suffers from epilepsy if he does not declare that fact?
AA change has been made to The Heavy
Goods Vehicles {Drivers' Licences) Regulations 1969. Paragraph 4 (6) of these regulations which stated an applicant "shall not suffer from any disease or physical disability likely to cause the driving by him of a heavy goods vehicle to be a source of danger to the public" has been extended in The Heavy Goods Vehicles (Drivers' Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1971 to include the words "he shall not at any time since he attained the age of three years, have had an epileptic attack".
We cannot say by what means a doctor would be aware that a person whom he had medically examined had suffered one or more epileptic attacks or indeed whether there are any means by which he can tell as a result of a physical examination.
There are, however, two important points in connection with your question. First, a severe penalty would be imposed on an applicant who knowingly made a false statement in an attempt to get a licence in such circumstances. A warning is given on the hgv driving licence application form that if -any person for the purpose of obtaining the grant of a licence to himself or any other person knowingly makes any false statement, he becomes liable to a fine of £100 or to imprisonment for a term of four months or to both such fine and imprisonment".
Secondly, if the examining doctor is not sure about an applicant's previous medical history, particularly in regard to epilepsy, he can consult the Licensing Authority who, if he so wishes, can refer the case to a medical panel which has been established by the DoE for dealing with special medical cases in connection with hgv driving licence applications.