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The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will be asked to overturn its ban on drivers with diabetes who have severe night-time episodes of hypoglycaemia, thanks to changes to the European Commission’s driving rules.
An EU Directive introduced in 2011 means that drivers who take insulin for their diabetes and who have had one or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia which required assistance from another person, within a 12-month period, must inform the DVLA and will have their driving licence withdrawn as a result.
The DVLA does not currently differentiate between daytime and night-time episodes of hypoglycaemia (also known as hypos, where blood glucose levels drop very low). This means that some people with diabetes are unnecessarily losing their driving licences.
The amendments have been voted for overwhelmingly by experts on driving and diabetes across Europe who came together last year to review the Directive.
The European Commission has responded by advising that the driving ban for people experiencing recurrent severe hypoglycaemia when asleep should be lifted. They will ask the DVLA to make the necessary legislative changes by 1 January 2018.
Diabetes charity Diabetes UK is now calling on the DVLA to implement necessary legislative changes as soon as possible to prevent even more people with the condition from unfairly losing their licence due to night-time episodes of hypoglycaemia.
Until the changes are implemented, drivers with diabetes should continue to inform the DVLA if they experience one or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia, including when asleep, within a 12-month period, and of any changes to their condition that may affect their ability to drive.
Chris Askew, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said: "Now that the European Commission and medical experts are all in agreement that this rule needs to be changed the DVLA must act on this advice as a matter of urgency."
http://www.pharmafield.co.uk/Pf-Fox-News/General/2016/03/EU-asks-for-diabetic-driver-rule-U-turn?
An EU Directive introduced in 2011 means that drivers who take insulin for their diabetes and who have had one or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia which required assistance from another person, within a 12-month period, must inform the DVLA and will have their driving licence withdrawn as a result.
The DVLA does not currently differentiate between daytime and night-time episodes of hypoglycaemia (also known as hypos, where blood glucose levels drop very low). This means that some people with diabetes are unnecessarily losing their driving licences.
The amendments have been voted for overwhelmingly by experts on driving and diabetes across Europe who came together last year to review the Directive.
The European Commission has responded by advising that the driving ban for people experiencing recurrent severe hypoglycaemia when asleep should be lifted. They will ask the DVLA to make the necessary legislative changes by 1 January 2018.
Diabetes charity Diabetes UK is now calling on the DVLA to implement necessary legislative changes as soon as possible to prevent even more people with the condition from unfairly losing their licence due to night-time episodes of hypoglycaemia.
Until the changes are implemented, drivers with diabetes should continue to inform the DVLA if they experience one or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia, including when asleep, within a 12-month period, and of any changes to their condition that may affect their ability to drive.
Chris Askew, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said: "Now that the European Commission and medical experts are all in agreement that this rule needs to be changed the DVLA must act on this advice as a matter of urgency."
http://www.pharmafield.co.uk/Pf-Fox-News/General/2016/03/EU-asks-for-diabetic-driver-rule-U-turn?
