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DVLA Petition- Action for Diabetic Drivers
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<blockquote data-quote="Davyb" data-source="post: 691317" data-attributes="member: 35131"><p>Much of the history of anything related to diabetes in the DVLA can be read in the Minutes/Agendas of the DM Committee <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/secretary-of-state-for-transports-honorary-medical-advisory-panel-on-driving-and-diabetes-mellitus" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/secretary-of-state-for-transports-honorary-medical-advisory-panel-on-driving-and-diabetes-mellitus</a> which go back to 2012 and minutes going back to 2000 are in the national archives (linked from the above page)</p><p>That committee meets every 6 months. The committee has 2 lay members, one, the Dr, is Diabetes UK's representative, and anyone writing to the panel should consider copying their letter to the lay member.</p><p></p><p>The reference document for anything DVLA medical is the "At A Glance guide", (AAG) a PDF (intended audience is doctors) <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/at-a-glance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/at-a-glance</a> - the link to the document (currently 74 pages, latest is 2014-11-27, Chapter 3 Diabetes, starts at page 47)</p><p></p><p>There has been much discussion of the definition of what a serious hypo is, in those minutes (including referrals to the EU - Item 8 in the 14_oct_2104 minutes is this subject)</p><p>DEFINITION: "no episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person has occurred in the preceding 12 months" - 27 Nov 2014 AAG</p><p></p><p>If it were not for the Third EU directive diabetic drivers would not be allowed to hold Group 2 (vocational) licences, until November 2011 diabetes on insulin the maximum entitlement was 7.5T LGV only. and for Group 2 drivers a single severe hypo event will cause your license to be revoked.</p><p></p><p>Unfortunately we in the UK tend to copper bottom and gold plate any EU directive as were have a rigorous centralised implementation of driver licensing. Most other countries implement with a degree of latitude and allow much wiggle room.</p><p></p><p>Any of the DVLA staff who answer phone calls are not medical professionals, they are merely experienced call centre staff who have been trained for driving licence medical queries. DVLA also have a policy of not using faxes (outgoing), even to GP surgeries, due to confidentiality / data protection. DVLA have expected times for most cases, for Diabetic driver licensing the estimate is usually 3 months.</p><p></p><p>My own personal experience is twice their time estimates (targets) is to be expected. In 2 cases so far. It took 5 months for me to get group 2 (7.5 Tonne and provisional entitlement for classes C, D reinstated when I was on tablets) and its been 5 months and counting for Group 2 entitlement reinstatement now I'm on insulin. The decision has been made (success) but I'm waiting for them to issue and send me the license.</p><p></p><p><strong>One area that concerns me is that Vocational drivers of Taxis (i.e. Licensed as Hackney Carriages) and Private Hire (i.e. pre booked by phone or at the operational base). These are supposed to have the same medical standards as Group 2 drivers, but they do not have to go through the same rigorous medicals as LGV/PCV drivers since the administration of taxi licensing is with Local Authorities (i.e. Councils).</strong></p><p></p><p>Currently for Group 1 drivers on insulin can be issued for 1, 2 or 3 years and 1 year for Group 2 drivers.Unfortunately for Group 2 drivers transitioning to insulin treatment (first time section 88 of the Road traffic act does not apply - this bit of law allows you to drive while DVLA is processing your application when the application is expected to be successful) this currently means they are not allowed to drive for 3 months minimum, if you stick to "the not allowed to drive until a decision has been made", if you do you risk driving without valid insurance, and I can see every insurer there is, weaselling out in the event of a claim in those circumstances.</p><p></p><p>Personally I think that the validity of licenses for all, Group 1 and 2 drivers affected by diabetes treatment with insulin, should be 5 years (same as a Group 2 driver who does not suffer from a medical condition) but with a condition for many drivers including group 2 drivers, similar to the eyesight correction requirements, that they should have gone through (or going through) the medical assessment procedure within the last 12 months (or other periods specified for Group 1) drivers.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Davyb, post: 691317, member: 35131"] Much of the history of anything related to diabetes in the DVLA can be read in the Minutes/Agendas of the DM Committee [url]https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/secretary-of-state-for-transports-honorary-medical-advisory-panel-on-driving-and-diabetes-mellitus[/url] which go back to 2012 and minutes going back to 2000 are in the national archives (linked from the above page) That committee meets every 6 months. The committee has 2 lay members, one, the Dr, is Diabetes UK's representative, and anyone writing to the panel should consider copying their letter to the lay member. The reference document for anything DVLA medical is the "At A Glance guide", (AAG) a PDF (intended audience is doctors) [url]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/at-a-glance[/url] - the link to the document (currently 74 pages, latest is 2014-11-27, Chapter 3 Diabetes, starts at page 47) There has been much discussion of the definition of what a serious hypo is, in those minutes (including referrals to the EU - Item 8 in the 14_oct_2104 minutes is this subject) DEFINITION: "no episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person has occurred in the preceding 12 months" - 27 Nov 2014 AAG If it were not for the Third EU directive diabetic drivers would not be allowed to hold Group 2 (vocational) licences, until November 2011 diabetes on insulin the maximum entitlement was 7.5T LGV only. and for Group 2 drivers a single severe hypo event will cause your license to be revoked. Unfortunately we in the UK tend to copper bottom and gold plate any EU directive as were have a rigorous centralised implementation of driver licensing. Most other countries implement with a degree of latitude and allow much wiggle room. Any of the DVLA staff who answer phone calls are not medical professionals, they are merely experienced call centre staff who have been trained for driving licence medical queries. DVLA also have a policy of not using faxes (outgoing), even to GP surgeries, due to confidentiality / data protection. DVLA have expected times for most cases, for Diabetic driver licensing the estimate is usually 3 months. My own personal experience is twice their time estimates (targets) is to be expected. In 2 cases so far. It took 5 months for me to get group 2 (7.5 Tonne and provisional entitlement for classes C, D reinstated when I was on tablets) and its been 5 months and counting for Group 2 entitlement reinstatement now I'm on insulin. The decision has been made (success) but I'm waiting for them to issue and send me the license. [B]One area that concerns me is that Vocational drivers of Taxis (i.e. Licensed as Hackney Carriages) and Private Hire (i.e. pre booked by phone or at the operational base). These are supposed to have the same medical standards as Group 2 drivers, but they do not have to go through the same rigorous medicals as LGV/PCV drivers since the administration of taxi licensing is with Local Authorities (i.e. Councils).[/B] Currently for Group 1 drivers on insulin can be issued for 1, 2 or 3 years and 1 year for Group 2 drivers.Unfortunately for Group 2 drivers transitioning to insulin treatment (first time section 88 of the Road traffic act does not apply - this bit of law allows you to drive while DVLA is processing your application when the application is expected to be successful) this currently means they are not allowed to drive for 3 months minimum, if you stick to "the not allowed to drive until a decision has been made", if you do you risk driving without valid insurance, and I can see every insurer there is, weaselling out in the event of a claim in those circumstances. Personally I think that the validity of licenses for all, Group 1 and 2 drivers affected by diabetes treatment with insulin, should be 5 years (same as a Group 2 driver who does not suffer from a medical condition) but with a condition for many drivers including group 2 drivers, similar to the eyesight correction requirements, that they should have gone through (or going through) the medical assessment procedure within the last 12 months (or other periods specified for Group 1) drivers. [/QUOTE]
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