DVLA issues new driving guidelines

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has today (21 June) issued new guidelines aimed at making it easier for drivers with insulin-treated diabetes to understand the new driver licensing rules recently introduced to comply with a new European Directive on driving licences.

Diabetes UK worked closely with the DVLA to make sure that the information available to drivers is clear and easy to understand.

Following concerns raised by Diabetes UK that the application form for a driving licence was misleading, the DVLA agreed to implement a number of changes to the form, such as making it clearer what is meant by a "severe hypoglycaemic event".

Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said, "We were concerned about the impact of recent changes to the medical standards for drivers with diabetes. Some people did not understand the implications of some of the questions on the medical questionnaires and were providing wrong answers that meant that their licences could not be granted.

"We raised our concerns with the Road Safety Minster and we are pleased by how the Government has listened to our concerns and been prepared to work with us to develop forms that are easier for people with diabetes to understand.

For more on this story see the Diabetes UK website and see the DVLA website for guidance on completing the DIAB1 medical form.