The DVLA is set to ‘revoke’ the driving licences of over 600,000 motorists due to a single rule, it has been claimed
A staggering number of drivers, totalling over 600,000, could potentially find themselves without a driving licence due to a straightforward but critical DVLA rule, as highlighted by car insurance guru and Quotezone.co.uk CEO Greg Wilson. Those suffering from medical conditions like epilepsy or who have experienced strokes could be deemed unfit for the roads.
The DVLA stipulates that individuals must have been seizure-free for at least a year to retain their driving privilege. The consequence for those who’ve had a seizure while conscious or who’ve lost consciousness in the past twelve months is usually a revoked licence. While this rule may seem restrictive, its principal aim is to guarantee safety for the affected drivers and everyone else on the road. Highlighting the rule’s significance, Greg explained: “In order to be able to drive you must have been seizure-free for 12 months, if someone is said to have had a seizure whilst awake, their licence will be revoked and after six months they may be able to have it back with a medical advisors go ahead.”
This isn’t a fringe issue, according to Epilepsy Action, there are about 630,000 people with epilepsy across the UK essentially one person in every hundred, as reported by the Express. Epilepsy isn’t age-discriminant; it can impact anyone. The official advice from GOV, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
UK is clear-cut: “You must tell DVLA if you’ve had any epileptic seizures or blackouts. You must stop driving straight away.” And the stakes for non-compliance are high: “You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.” However, losing a driving licence to medical grounds isn’t necessarily a permanent roadblock.
Officials have rolled out a newer, speedier route back to driving for those who’ve had a seizure due to switching anti-epilepsy drugs. If such a seizure took place more than six months ago and the driver has since switched back to their original medication, they could be back behind the wheel after a quicker review process.
What’s more, if you’ve had seizures that didn’t affect your awareness, there might still be a green light for a licence particularly if it’s been over a year since your initial seizure and you were fully aware throughout. GOV. UK chimed in with some extra info, advising: “DVLA will let you know whether or not you qualify after you’ve filled in the form. Until you hear from them you must stop driving.”
