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Diabetic drivers win ail grandfather rights by Nicky Clarke •

4th June 1998, Page 10
4th June 1998
Page 10
Page 10, 4th June 1998 — Diabetic drivers win ail grandfather rights by Nicky Clarke •
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Campaigners have forced the Government to drop its plan to ban insulin-dependent drivers from holding Cl licences and to grant grandfather rights.

However, the ban will stay in force on D1 licences, for minibuses with 16 or more seats.

Insulin-treated drivers of vehicles in the 3.5-7.5tonne range were to lose their Cl licences under the EC Driving Licence Directive that came into effect at the beginning of the year.

It was feared that diabetic drivers could suffer hypoglycaemic attacks at the wheel and lose consciousness.

But following a campaign by the British Diabetic Association and MPs from all parties, the Government has agreed to look again at the evidence for its ban on Cl licences.

In March, Roads Minister Baroness Hayman announced that 40 accidents in the first quarter of the year were found to involve insulin-treated diabetics who had collapsed at the wheel while driving.

But now drivers who have lost their licences since the law was introduced, and those who lose them before the revocation takes effect, will be individually assessed.

They will be able to reclaim their driving licences if they meet stringent medical criteria, including annual health checks by specialists.

LI It is likely to take up to a year for lost licences to be returned as the new proposals are subject to consultation with industry and Parliamentary approval.