The role of the Drivers Medical Group in DVLA is to promote road safety by establishing whether drivers who have medical conditions are able to satisfy the medical standards required for safe driving. To undertake this task, DVLA employs its own fully qualified medical advisers who are supported by administrative staff.
The Secretary of State has appointed a number of advisory panels to provide expert advice on the medical standards required for safe driving. There are separate panels covering the major medical conditions/disorders. The panels consist of experts in their medical field and meet on a regular basis and will review the standards in the light of medical research and advancements in medical science. (View Panel list)
There are higher medical standards in place for the driving of lorries and buses because of the size and weight of the vehicles involved and also the length of time drivers may spend at the wheel in the course of their occupation.
The medical standards are published in a booklet, 'At A Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive', which is available for download in PDF format.
Responsibility rests with the Medical Advisers at DVLA to apply these standards and decide whether a person is fit to drive. The law governing the issue of driving licences is contained in the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999.
