Driving Licences: Medical Records
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s processes for handling anonymous third-party medical reports relating to driving licence holders.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
The law requires driving licence holders or applicants to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of any medical condition that may affect their fitness to drive. The DVLA also considers relevant notifications received from third parties including the police, healthcare professionals and concerned relatives and friends.
Where appropriate, the DVLA will assess the information provided and if required, carry out a medical investigation. If an investigation is to be carried out, this will include asking the driver to complete a medical questionnaire and to provide authorisation for their medical professional(s) to provide information to the DVLA if necessary. A licensing decision will only be made after sufficient clinical evidence has been obtained.
When information is provided anonymously, the DVLA reviews it carefully before taking any action and no steps are taken without informing the driver.
The DVLA treats all third-party notifications in confidence and does not disclose the identity of the individual who provided the information. Acting on these notifications helps address situations where individuals may fail to notify the DVLA of a relevant medical condition themselves, either deliberately or due to a lack of awareness about their ability to continue to drive safely.
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