For the latest information click here http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/fs/en
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If you have a disability, you must declare it on your application forms.
An automatic car, or a car suitably adapted, may be more suited to you. If you are on
Mobility benefit you may apply for a licence at 16.
The Department Of Transport Mobility Advise and
Vehicle Information Service. ( M.A.V.I.S.)
The Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne,
Berkshire, RG45 6AU
Tel - 01344 770456
To drive, you must be able to read a number plate at a minimum distance of 20.5 m (
67 feet ).
If you need glasses or contact lenses, always wear them.
Theory test - if you need a
wheel chair access, and your nearest test centre doesn't provide this DSA will arrange for
you to take the test in your home, or take you to another test centre where the facilities
are provided. Telephone the Theory test information line for more details.
Theory test - if you need a
wheel chair access, and your nearest test centre doesn't provide this DSA will arrange for
you to take the test in your home, or take you to another test centre where the facilities
are provided. Telephone the Theory test information line for more details.
Tel - 0870 0101 372
For hard of hearing - minicom number -0870 010 7372
for more information
www.open.gov.uk/dvla/dmed1.htm
Medical Rules in depth
If you have a medical condition which has become worse since your licence was
issued or you develop a new medical condition , you must write and inform the
Drivers Medical Unit, DVLA, Swansea, SA991TU, of the nature of your condition, as
it may affect your fitness to drive.
Failure to do so is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000.
1.Your Health
2.Your Eyesight
3.How Do I Tell DVLA About My Condition?
4.What Happens When I Tell DVLA
5.Extra Rules For Vehicles over 3.5 Tonnes and Minibus/Bus Drivers
6.Medical Report Form D4
7.Epilepsy
8.Diabetes
1. Your Health
What does DVLA want to know about?
You must tell us if you had any of these:
An epileptic event (seizure or fit)
Sudden attacks or disabling giddiness, fainting or blackouts
Severe mental handicap
A pacemaker, defibrillator or anti - ventricular tachycardia device fitted
Diabetes controlled by insulin
Diabetes controlled by tablets
Angina (heart pain) while driving
Parkinson's disease
Any other chronic neurological condition
A serious problem with memory
A major or minor stroke
Any type of brain surgery, brain tumour. Severe head injury involving in -
patient treatment at hospital
Any severe psychiatric illness or mental disorder
Continuing/permanent difficulty in the use of arms or legs which affects your
ability to control a vehicle
Dependence on or misuse of alcohol, illicit drugs or chemical substances in the
past 3 years (do not include drink/driving offences)
Any visual disability which affects BOTH eyes. ( do not declare short/long sight
or colour blindness)
2. Your Eyesight
It is a criminal offence to drive a motor vehicle if you cannot read a standard
number plate in good daylight from 20.5m (67 feet), using glasses if necessary.
If you need glasses or contact lenses to do this, you must wear them every time you drive.
Extra rules if you want to drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and minibus/buses.
NEW DRIVERS - Your Eyesight Must Be At Least:
6/9 on the snellen scale in the better eye and 6/12 on the Snellen scale in the other eye
and
(wearing glasses or contact lenses if you need them)
3/60 in each eye without glasses or contact lenses
An optician will be able to tell you about this.
Drivers who held a licence before 1 January 1997 who do not meet these standards will need
to
check their licensing position with our Medical Section at DVLA.
3. How Do I Tell DVLA About My Condition?
If you are filling in form D1, you can tell us about your condition in the health section.
If you
already have a licence, write to:
Drivers Medical Unit, DVLA, Swansea. SA991TU
Give your driver number, or your full name and date of birth and tell us about the medical
condition in as much detail as possible.
You must tell DVLA if you have any of these conditions.
Otherwise you are committing an offence.
4. What Happens When I Tell DVLA
We will send you a medical questionnaire, unless you are also sending in form D4. It asks
for
your permission for our medical adviser to approach your doctor and specialists, for
reports.
5. Extra Rules For Vehicles Over 3.5 Tonnes And
Minibus/Bus Drivers
There are stricter rules about health for drivers of larger vehicles. This is because
accidents
involving large vehicles are more likely to result in death or serious injury.
6. Medical Report Form D4
When applying for a first provisional for lorry or bus entitlement or renewing existing
entitlement, you will need to have a D4 form completed by your doctor. You also need to
submit a D4 if you are an EC/EEA licence holder aged 45 or over.
As well as those medical conditions already stated, you also need to notify DVLA about:
any heart condition or heart operation
sight in only one eye
any visual problems affecting either eye
7. Epilepsy
If you want to drive lorries or buses you must not have a liability to epileptic seizures
i.e. you
should not have suffered a fit of any kind, or required treatment for fits in the last 10
years.
8. Diabetes (Existing drivers)
Insulin treated diabetics may not drive large vehicles UNLESS:
they held a licence to drive lorries or buses on 1 April 1991 and
the Traffic Commissioner who issued the licence or in whose area they
lived, was aware of the insulin treatment before 1 January 1991.
Postal address
29 Claire Street. Newmains. Wisha w. Motherwell. Scotland. ML2 9DF
Tel - 01698 383492
Electronic mail 