The DVLA is seeking “early stage input” to help research areas where policy or legislative changes may help improve road safety.
Focusing on the health and fitness of drivers, including their vision, the call for evidence is open until 22 October 2023 and seeks the views of individuals and organisations that wish to share their expertise and experience.
Roads minister, Richard Holden MP, launched the review stating that the government recognised “the volume and complexity of driving licence applications or renewals where the applicant has one or more medical condition increases”.
Earlier this summer, the DVLA reduced its list of ocular conditions that drivers must declare. An extended list was published in 2022, which drew criticism from the optical sector due to a number of errors and the inclusion of some common eye conditions such a cataract. The new list is accessible here.
ABDO clinical lead, Max Halford, said: “We welcomed the amendments to the notifiable ocular conditions list, as the previous list was confusing and would have created unnecessary worry and anxiety for a huge number of patients. Likewise, we are pleased that the roads minister and DVLA are taking this opportunity to gather feedback via this call for evidence.
“We are all aware of tragic cases where the fitness to drive of individuals has fallen well below the required medical and visual standards, and ABDO welcomes the DVLA’s approach to help formulate new proposals. As the call for evidence states, it is important that licensing decisions are based not only on the correct information – but ‘striking the right balance between road safety risks and the needs of drivers to maintain mobility’.
“We are asking for members to look at the consultation and share their feedback with us to help develop our response,” Max added.
Members are invited to email their feedback by 15 October to info@abdo.org.uk with ‘DVLA call for evidence’ in the subject line.
Comprehensive information on the call for evidence, including an insight into other countries’ medical licensing processes, is accessible here.