Common conditions that affect our driving

Some common health conditions that affect car drivers are below, with a brief outline of what to do if they apply to you, including which ones must be reported to the DVLA (or the DVA if you live in Northern Ireland).

A full list of medical conditions can be found at www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving.

The exact rules and advice on what you must do depend on the exact nature of the condition. It is essential to seek and follow advice from your doctor, optician, pharmacist or other medical professional, and to comply with any decision that the DVLA (or DVA) makes about your driving licence.

If the DVLA say you can carry on driving, the advice in the other parts of this website (Driver Assessment, Keep Driving and Your Car) will help you to decide what changes you could make to help you keep driving safely.

If the DVLA revoke your driving licence, you must stop driving. In this case, the advice in Alternatives to Driving will help you to keep mobile and active.

Common Conditions

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Eyesight

It's very common for our eyesight to get worse as we grow older, either as a natural part of ageing or because we develop an eye disease, such as cataracts. Some conditions make it harder to see as far ahead as we used to be able to, or to see objects in our peripheral vision. It might also be harder to change visual focus from looking ahead through the windscreen (or behind through the mirrors) to looking close-up at the displays on the dashboard. Glare from oncoming headlights can also be a problem at night.

In good daylight, you MUST be able to read a car number plate (made after 1 September 2001) from a distance of 20 metres, while wearing glasses or contact lenses if necessary.

If you need glasses or contact lenses to drive, you must wear them at all times when driving.

Poor eyesight can make it harder to see road signs and markings, pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, especially in the dark. It can be more difficult to judge someone else's speed or distance, and it can slow our reaction time. This can result in braking or taking avoiding action too late, or even not seeing something or someone completely.

What to do

You must report any condition that affects both eyes and vision (except long or short sight or colour blindness) to the DVLA, using form V1. If you live in Northern Ireland, you must report it to the DVA. This does not necessarily mean you will lose your licence – an assessment of your vision will be made.

If the DVLA (or DVA) say you can carry on driving, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

It is strongly recommended that all drivers have an eyesight test at an opticians every two years, or more often if the optician advises.

Avoid wearing glasses with tinted lenses, unless advised to do so by your optician or ophthalmologist. Tinted lenses reduce the amount of light available to the eye, and are not recommended for driving, especially at night or in poor visibility.

Further details can be found at Driving Eyesight Rules and Eyesight.

Further Information

Advice and help about Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is available from:

Macular Society
PO Box 1870,
Andover SP10 9AD
Helpline 0300 30 30 111
info@macularsociety.org
Online Contact Form

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Diabetes

Diabetes can cause vision problems, and even lead to blindness if not treated. It can also cause sudden loss of consciousness in a hyperglycaemic (blood sugar too high) or a hypoglycaemic (blood sugar too low) episode. If this happened while you were driving, you would lose control of your vehicle and crash almost immediately. This puts you at risk, as well as your passengers and other people on the road, especially pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

What to do

Consult your doctor and follow their advice about whether you must report that you have diabetes to the DVLA or the DVA, If you live in Northern Ireland.

If you're not sure what type of medication you're on, check with your nurse or doctor.

You must also monitor and manage your diabetes regularly.

If the DVLA (or DVA) say you can carry on driving, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

Further information

Advice and help for people with diabetes is available from:

DVLA leaflet INF188/2

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Epilepsy

Epilepsy can cause seizures or loss of consciousness, which would mean the driver losing control of their vehicle and crashing. If this happened while you were driving, you would lose control of your vehicle and crash almost immediately. This puts you at risk, as well as your passengers and other people on the road, especially pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

What to do

Consult your doctor and follow their advice.

If you have epilepsy, you must report this to the DVLA, using form FEP1. If you live in Northern Ireland, you must report it to the DVA.

You must also monitor and manage your condition regularly.

If the DVLA (or DVA) say you can drive again at some point, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

Further information

Advice and help for people with epilepsy is available from

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Heart (Cardiac) Problems

Heart problems can cause dizziness, fainting or blackouts. If you lost consciousness while driving, you would lose control of your vehicle and crash almost immediately. This puts you at risk, as well as your passengers and other people on the road, especially pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

What to do

Stop driving and only drive again when your doctor says it’s safe to do so.

Your doctor will also tell you whether you need to report your condition to the DVLA or to the DVA if you live in Northern Ireland. Follow your doctor’s advice.

If the DVLA (or DVA) say you can drive again, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

Further information

Advice and help about heart disease is available from:

DVLA leaflet INF 188/4 and Health Conditions and Driving

British Heart Foundation
Lyndon Place
2096 Coventry Road
Sheldon
Birmingham B26 3YU
0300 330 3322
supporterservices@bhf.org.uk

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Strokes or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)

Strokes affect the supply of oxygen to the brain, and can lead to sudden loss of consciousness. If this happened while you were driving, you would lose control of your vehicle and crash almost immediately. This puts you at risk, as well as your passengers and other people on the road, especially pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

What to do

Stop driving and only drive again when your doctor says it’s safe to do so.

Your doctor will also tell whether you need to report your condition to the DVLA (or the DVA if you live in Northern Ireland). Follow your doctor's advice.

If the DVLA (or DVA) say you can drive again, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

Further information

Advice and help about strokes is available from:

Stroke Association
Stroke Association House
240 City Road
London EC1V 2PR
Helpline 0303 3033 100
info@stroke.org.uk

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Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease can compromise a driver's motor, visual spatial, information processing, attention, quick decision-making. Drivers with Parkinson's disease have more difficulty with manoeuvres such as maintaining lane position, turning, steering and speed control.

What to do

You must tell DVLA if you have Parkinson's disease, using form PK1. If you live in Northern Ireland, you must report it to the DVA.

Consult your doctor or another health professional and follow their advice about whether it is safe for you to drive.

If the DVLA (or DVA) say you can carry on driving, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

Further information

Advice and help for people with Parkinson's is available from

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Dementia

Dementia can lead to slower response times, failing memory and confusion. Some common driving problems are forgetting familiar routes, getting confused between the pedals, failing to give way, responding slowly to directions or instructions or being confused by complex situations and stopping unexpectedly when there is no need.

What to do

You must tell DVLA if you suffer from dementia, using form CG1. If you live in Northern Ireland, you must report it to the DVA.

Consult your doctor or another health professional and follow their advice about whether it is safe for you to drive.

If your doctor or the DVLA (or DVA) say you can carry on driving, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

Further information

Advice and help for people with Dementia is available from:

Dementia UK
Second Floor
Resource for London
356 Holloway Road
London N7 6PA
Dementia Helpline: 0800 888 6678
info@dementiauk.org

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Arthritis

Arthritis (and other musculoskeletal conditions) can affect a driver's mobility and physical strength, motor skills and co-ordination. This can make it harder to use the vehicle's controls or, for example, to turn your head to maintain all round visibility.

What to do

You only need to tell the DVLA that you have arthritis if you use special adaptive vehicle controls.

Consult your doctor or another health professional about driving and follow their advice. Consider whether a driving assessment or vehicle adaptations would make driving easier and safer for you.

A wide range of equipment is available including steering aids, hand controls, special cushions, swivel seats to help you get in and out of the car, hoists to lift you and your wheelchair if you use one, and driving accessories. Contact the Driving Mobility (formerly known as the Forum of Mobility Centres), Motability or Rica for advice.

The DVLA (or the DVA) can refer drivers to a mobility centre for an assessment (which the DVLA/DVA will pay for) or you could book an assessment at a mobility centre  yourself, which will probably be quicker but you would have to pay for it. See Find a Driver Assessment for details of your nearest mobility centre.

Further information

Advice and help for people with Dementia is available from:

Arthritis Care
Floor 4
Linen Court
10 East Road
London N1 6AD
0808 800 4050
info@arthritiscare.org.uk

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Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis affects the musculoskeletal system and can reduce physical ability, motor skills and co-ordination. It can make it harder to use the vehicle's controls or, for example, to turn your head to maintain all round visibility. Drivers with restricted neck and limb movement have a higher risk of crashing.

What to do

You must tell DVLA if you have multiple sclerosis, using form CN1. If you live in Northern Ireland, you must report it to the DVA.

Consult your doctor or another health professional about driving and follow their advice. Consider whether a driving assessment or vehicle adaptations would make driving easier and safer for you.

A wide range of equipment is available including steering aids, hand controls, special cushions, swivel seats to help you get in and out of the car, hoists to lift you and your wheelchair if you use one, and driving accessories. Contact Driving Mobility (formerly the Forum of Mobility Centres), Motability or Rica for advice.

The DVLA ((or the DVA) can refer drivers to a mobility centre for an assessment (which the DVLA/DVA will pay for) or you could book an assessment at a mobility centre  yourself, which will probably be quicker but you would have to pay for it. See Find a Driver Assessment for details of your nearest mobility centre.

Further information

Advice and help for people with multiple sclerosis is available from:

https://www.mssociety.org.uk/forms/contact-ms-society

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Sleep Disorders

Drivers who suffer from sleep disorders, such as sleep apnoea and insomnia are unable to get a good night's sleep. This means that they are very sleepy, lethargic and less alert during the day, and are at risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Narcolepsy is very rare, but can cause sudden attacks of sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, and temporary loss of muscle function (cataplexy).

Driving while too tired causes thousands of crashes each year and they are usually very severe because they happen on high speed roads, and a sleeping driver cannot brake or swerve before the impact.

What to do

You must tell DVLA, using form SL1 (or the DVA if you live in Northern Ireland) if you have obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome or obstructive sleep apnoea (also known as sleep apnoea) with symptoms that affect your ability to drive safely, or narcolepsy, or if you are very sleepy during the day because of a medical condition.

Ask your doctor for advice  and whether it is safe for you to drive.

If you are concerned about how tired you feel when driving, ask your doctor to refer you to a sleep specialist.

Consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

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Hearing

Hearing impairments can affect our ability to detect and respond to important audible information, such as sirens, horns, engine and tyre problems, road sounds, and other traffic and road users. This might mean reacting late in a hazardous situation, which would increase the risk of crashing.

What to do

You do not need to tell the DVLA (or the DVA), but you should consult your doctor or a hearing specialist, and follow their advice.

However, consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

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Medication

Some prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines can also affect driving. It can be difficult to predict whether a medicine will affect your ability to drive, and if so, how and for how long. Drinking alcohol with some medicines makes their affect on your driving even worse.

It is illegal to drive if unfit to do so because of drugs or medicine. It is also illegal to drive with certain medicines in your blood above specified limits. The limits are higher than the levels that patients who take under medical advice. For more detail see Rule 96 of the Highway Code, Think Road Safety and Drug Driving.

What to do

Check with your doctor or pharmacist whether any medication you are taking is likely to affect your ability to drive safely, and whether you should drive at all. Do not drive if you are advised that you may be impaired. Ask if there is an alternative medication, but if there is not, take the medicine as prescribed but do not drive.

However, it is very important that you take any medications that you have been prescribed, in the way you should take them (the correct dosage, timing) and follow any advice, such as avoiding alcohol.

Consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.

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After Surgery

Consult your doctor before you start driving again after surgery. Your driving may be affected as you recover from your surgery, for example due to the effects of anaesthesia, pain, medication and physical restrictions from the surgery.

Ask your doctor whether you need to notify the DVLA (or the DVA) that you have had surgery.

Consider taking a driving assessment and whether the advice in Keep Driving and Your Car can help you to adapt your driving easier and safer.