Re: Tpe 1's and DVLA changes
I can't get the link to work to the news article, but I have found this on the Diabetes UK site:
" Drivers experiencing recurrent severe hypoglycaemia shall not be issued a licence – ‘severe recurrent hypoglycaemia’ is now defined as ‘a second severe hypoglycaemia during a period of 12 months’
Any Severe Hypoglycaemic event, even when not driving, must be reported and will now lead to driver reassessment.
Drivers with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia will not be issued licences, nor be able to renew. Impaired awareness is now defined as a total absence of warning symptoms.
Group 1 Drivers with tablet treated diabetes will not be required to inform the DVLA unless they develop visual complications or hypoglycaemia. This is on the basis that they are under regular medical review – based on NHS prescribing reviews taking place every 12 months.
Drivers treated by insulin will now be able to apply for Group 2 licences based on the 5 point criteria and an annual review undertaken by an expert diabetologist.
Diabetes UK has responded on behalf of our members and all people affected by the proposed changes. Current UK Driving Regulations and application procedure should be adhered to until the DVLA enact these changes."
My question is what is defined as 'a severe hypoglycaemic event'?
As far as I can see, the only difference from the current rules is that the severe hypo is counted if it happened when not driving. I don't think it was before, which was a bit scary. One severe hypo when driving indicates a lack of control or care on the part of the driver. It doesn't say there is a requirement to test at times relevant to driving, which I think is a condition nowadays too. That is not good, you should always test to drive if there is the slightest chance that you could be a bit low. And really, every time you drive. My living depends on being able to drive, so it is very relevant to me. I think the HGV allowance is wonderful - I take it Group 2 licences are for HGV and PSVs. A European guidance, that this country took as an absolute ruling, took all licences away from insulin dependent HGV and PSV drivers some years ago. Later it was extended to anything over 3 1/2 tonnes, so I lost my accident and point free licence to drive a 7 1/2 tonne vehicle, after around 20 years of holding it. Diabetes UK has been campaigning ever since to reverse this and finally the Powers that Be have realised that these things should be decided on an individual basis, which is what Europe recommended in the first place.
I have had my medical, got the agreement of my Diabetes consultant and psychiatrist and am sorting out the records for the last three months tests so I can get my 7 1/2 tonne licence back. It is stupid that I can get in a Ferrari and drive it at goodness knows what speed down a motorway, but I can't drive a horsebox. Horseboxes generally don't have accidents.
I think this is a good step forward except for losing the 'test before driving' bit. Statistically diabetes sufferers do NOT have more accidents than healthy motorists, so blanket discrimination is ridiculous. In fact they are generally safer because we take so much care not to go hypo when driving as it is SO important.
I haven't dug for the official government document on the subject, but when you read a news article about anything, you need to look at the original because the press nearly always take the 'sensational' out of context just to shock and scare people. You will find the detail on the government sites and it will be accurate. I cannot judge what the news article you have linked to says, though, because I can't get on their site for now.
PS: I wrote this after reading only page 1 of the thread. I missed that there was a page 2!
