DVLA Flashcards
epilepsy/seizures
Epilepsy/seizures - all patient must not drive and must inform the DVLA
- first unprovoked/isolated seizure: 6 months off if there are no relevant structural abnormalities on brain imaging and no definite epileptiform activity on EEG. If these conditions are not met then this is increased to 12 months
- for patients with established epilepsy or those with multiple unprovoked seizures:
may qualify for a driving licence if they have been free from any seizure for 12 monthsif there have been no seizures for 5 years (with medication if necessary) a 'til 70 licence is usually restored
withdrawawl of epilepsy medication: should not drive whilst anti-epilepsy medication is being withdrawn and for 6 months after the last dose
Diabetes medications - HGV
Patients on insulin and sulphonylureas need to notify DVLA
To hold HGV license:
- there has not been any severe hypoglycaemic event in the previous 12 months
- the driver has full hypoglycaemic awareness
- the driver must show adequate control of the condition by regular blood glucose monitoring*, at least twice daily and at times relevant to driving
- the driver must demonstrate an understanding of the risks of hypoglycaemia
- there are no other debarring complications of diabetes
Diabetes - group 1 drivers
Group 1 drivers:
- if on insulin then patient can drive a car as long as they have hypoglycaemic awareness, not more than one episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person within the preceding 12 months and no relevant visual impairment. Drivers are normally contacted by DVLA
- if on tablets or exenatide no need to notify DVLA. If tablets may induce hypoglycaemia (e.g. sulfonylureas) then there must not have been more than one episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person within the preceding 12 months
- if diet controlled alone then no requirement to inform DVLA
obstructive sleep apnoea
the DVLA should be informed if OSAHS is causing excessive daytime sleepiness
syncope
- simple faint: no restriction
- single episode, explained and treated: 4 weeks off
- single episode, unexplained: 6 months off
- two or more episodes: 12 months off
stroke or TIA
1 month off driving, may not need to inform DVLA if no residual neurological deficit
multiple TIAs over short period of times
3 months off driving and inform DVLA
craniotomy e.g. For meningioma
1 year off driving
if the tumour is a benign meningioma and there is no seizure history, licence can be reconsidered 6 months after surgery if remains seizure free
post-surgery for pituitary tumour
pituitary tumour: craniotomy: 6 months
trans-sphenoidal surgery ‘can drive when there is no debarring residual impairment likely to affect safe driving’
narcoplexy/cataplexy
cease driving on diagnosis, can restart once ‘satisfactory control of symptoms’
chronic neurological disorders e.g. motor neurone disease, MS
DVLA should be informed, complete PK1 form (application for driving licence holders state of health)
Mild to Moderate Anxiety/Depression
May drive without notifying DVLA unless significant symptoms like suicidal thoughts are present.
Severe Anxiety/Depression
Must not drive; notify DVLA. Relicensing possible after stability and adherence to treatment.
Psychotic Disorder
Must not drive during acute illness; notify DVLA. Licensing possible post-stability with specialist review.
Hypomania/Mania
No driving when unstable. Licensing requires stability and specialist approval.
Group 1:
Schizophrenia
No driving during acute illness; notify DVLA. Licensing possible after symptom control and stability.
Cognitive impairment
Notify DVLA if impairment possible; licensing depends on medical reports and formal assessments.
Dementia
Early-stage: Notify DVLA, may drive with annual review. Advanced: Must not drive
Learning disability
Mild: May drive if no complications; Notify DVLA. Severe: Must not drive.
Behavioural disorders
Severe disturbance: Must not drive; licensing only post-stability with medical confirmation.
Personality disorders
Severe: Notify DVLA; licensing depends on stability and safety evaluation.
angina
Must not drive if symptomatic; Group 1 drivers need not notify DVLA; Group 2 must notify and meet criteria.
ACS
No driving for 1–4 weeks depending on treatment and recovery; Group 2 must notify and meet criteria.
pci
No driving for at least 1 week; Group 2 must notify and meet criteria for relicensing
CABG
No driving for 4 weeks; Group 2 must notify and meet criteria after 3 months.
coronary artery disease
Group 2: Must meet functional test requirements if evidence of obstructive CAD or myocardial ischemia, but not in severe categories.
spontaneous carotid artery dissection
Group 1: Must not drive but need not notify DVLA. Driving may resume 4 weeks after recovery if no other disqualifying conditions.
Group 2: Must not drive and must notify DVLA. Licence refused/revoked; relicensing upon individual assessment.
arrhythmia
Group 1: Must not drive if arrhythmia causes or is likely to cause incapacity. May resume driving after 4 weeks of control and identifying underlying cause, without notifying DVLA unless symptoms persist.
Group 2: Must notify DVLA. Licence refused/revoked until controlled for 3 months, underlying cause identified, and LVEF ≥ 40%.
successful catheter ablation
Group 1: VT ablation: Must not drive for 4 weeks. Resume if controlled. Other ablations: Must not drive for 2 days; resume if no other disqualifying conditions.
Group 2: VT ablation: Must not drive for 3 months; notify DVLA; resume if LVEF ≥ 40%. Other ablations: Must not drive for 2 weeks; resume if LVEF ≥ 40%.
pacemaker implant
Group 1: Must not drive for 1 week post-implantation or box change. Notify DVLA for new implant but not for box change.
Group 2: Must not drive for 6 weeks post-implantation. Notify DVLA for new implant but not for box change.
congenital complete heartblock
Group 1: Asymptomatic: May drive without notifying DVLA. Symptomatic: Must not drive; notify DVLA; licence revoked until pacemaker implanted.
Group 2: Must not drive; notify DVLA. Licence revoked permanently until pacemaker implanted.
ICD for sustained
Group 1: Must not drive for 6 months post-implantation and notify DVLA. May resume if device is regularly reviewed, no other disqualifying condition, and preventive steps taken for recurrence.
Group 2: Permanent bar; licence refused/revoked.
ICD shock therapy or pacing causing incapacity
Group 1: If inappropriate cause (e.g., atrial fibrillation), may resume after 1 month if resolved. Otherwise, notify DVLA and must not drive for 6 months if therapy due to VT/VF and preventive steps taken. If no resolution, must not drive for 2 years.
Group 2: Permanent bar; licence refused/revoked.
ICD revision
Group 1: Must not drive for 1 month post-revision; may resume if no other disqualifying conditions.
Group 2: Permanent bar; licence refused/revoked.
ICD box change
Group 1: Must not drive for 1 week post-change; may resume if no other disqualifying conditions.
Group 2: Permanent bar; licence refused/revoked.
ICD for arrhythmia without incapacity
Group 1: Must not drive for 1 month; notify DVLA. May resume if specific conditions are met (e.g., stable VT, LV ejection fraction > 35%). If criteria unmet, must not drive for 6 months.
Group 2: Permanent bar; licence refused/revoked.
Prophylactic ICD
Group 1: Must not drive for 1 month; notify DVLA. May resume if asymptomatic and no ICD therapy needed.
Group 2: Permanent bar; licence refused/revoked.
Aortic aneurysm
Aneurysm <6 cm (Group 1) or <5.5 cm (Group 2)
Group 1: May drive; need not notify DVLA.
Group 2: May drive; must notify DVLA. Annual review required.
Aneurysm ≥6 cm (Group 1) or ≥5.5 cm (Group 2)
Must not drive; notify DVLA. Licence refused/revoked. May be relicensed after successful surgical/interventional treatment with no other disqualifying condition.
Bicuspid aortopathy
Aortic dissection - type A
Must not drive; notify DVLA. Licence refused/revoked. May be relicensed post-surgery if diameter <6 cm (Group 1) or <5.5 cm (Group 2), with satisfactory BP control, follow-up, and no other disqualifying conditions.
Aortic dissection - type B
Must not drive; notify DVLA. Licence refused/revoked. May be relicensed post-surgery/intervention if diameter ≤6 cm (Group 1) or ≤5.5 cm (Group 2), with thrombosis of the false lumen, satisfactory BP control, follow-up, and no other disqualifying conditions.
Marfan’s without RFs
Group 1: may drive if no aneurysm, no need to notify DVLA
Group 2: Must notify DVLA if aortic aneurysm, cannot drive if diameter > 5cm
Marfan’s with RFs
Group 1: May drive if no aneurysm, no need to notify DVLA
Group 2: Must notify DVLA, cannot drive if aortic diameter > 4.5cm
Marfan syndrome (after aortic surgery)
Group 1: May resume driving after successful surgery, no other disqualifying conditions.
Group 2: Must notify DVLA after emergency surgery, individual assessment for elective surgery.
Other inherited aortopathies
Group 1: may drive if no disqualifying condition
Group 2: Must notify DVLA, licence may be revoked
Peripheral arterial disease
Group 1: may drive no need to notify
Group 2: must notify DVLA
Hypertension
Group 1: may drive, no need to notify unless malignant hypertension
Group 2: must notify DVLA if BP ≥ 180/110 or malignant hypertension
Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic:
Group 1: Asymptomatic: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive if high risk, must notify DVLA
Dilated:
Group 1: Asymptomatic: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: May drive if ejection fraction ≥40%, notify DVLA
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy:
Group 1: symptomatic: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive if symptomatic, must notify DVLA.
Heart failure
LVAD
Group 1: Must not drive, must notify DVLA.
Group 2: Licence refused or revoked permanently.
Heart transplant
Group 1: Must not drive for at least 6 weeks, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive for 3 months, notify DVLA.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Group 1: Notify DVLA, may drive if low or intermediate risk, subject to specialist assessment.
Group 2: Must notify DVLA, licence may be refused or revoked for high risk.
Heart valve disease
Asymptomatic:
Group 1: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Symptomatic:
Group 1: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive, must notify DVLA.
Severe aortic stenosis
Group 1: May drive, no need to notify DVLA if mild to moderate.
Group 2: Must not drive if severe, must notify DVLA.
Heart valve surgery
Group 1: Must not drive for 4 weeks, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive for 3 months, must notify DVLA.
Congenital heart disease (asymptomatic)
Group 1: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: May drive, but must notify DVLA.
Congenital heart disease (symptomatic)
Group 1: Must not drive, must notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive, must notify DVLA.
ECG abnormality - suspected MI
Group 1: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive, must notify DVLA.
LBBB
Group 1: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: May drive, but must notify DVLA.
Pre-excitation syndrome
Group 1: May drive, no need to notify DVLA.
Group 2: May drive, but must notify DVLA if arrhythmia is present.
Long QT syndrome
Group 1: Must not drive if syncope or QTc > 500ms, must notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive if syncope or QTc > 500ms, must notify DVLA.
Brugada syndrome
Group 1: Must not drive if history of syncope or cardiac arrest, must notify DVLA.
Group 2: Must not drive if history of syncope or cardiac arrest, must notify DVLA.