DVLA fines of up to £1,000 for drivers with diabetes if they don't take certain steps
Motorists could be slapped with fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to inform the DVLA about certain health conditions that could impact their driving. A variety of medical conditions can affect your ability to drive and potentially lead to serious accidents.
Therefore, it's crucial to notify the DVLA about any health issues that could impair your driving. Neglecting to do so could result in a hefty fine of up to £1,000, and you could even face prosecution if you're involved in an accident due to this oversight.
Given the broad spectrum of conditions covered by this rule, you might not realise that your health issue could affect your driving.
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Diabetics and driving
For instance, diabetics are required to inform the DVLA about their condition if they hold a driver's licence. For example, you will need to contact the DVLA if:
Your insulin treatment is expected to last over three months You get low blood sugar (disabling hypoglycaemia) or a professional has said you're at risk of developing it You had diabetes associated with pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and your insulin treatment last more than three months after the birth took place
Official guidelines also advise diabetic drivers to always carry their glucose meter and blood glucose with them, even if they regularly use a real-time glucose monitoring system or flash glucose monitoring system. It's recommended to check your glucose levels less than two hours before starting your journey and every two hours thereafter.
However, you may need to test more frequently if you're at a higher risk of hypoglycaemia, such as after intense physical activity.
How to inform the DVLA of your condition
To inform the DVLA of your condition, you can either report it online via GOV.UK or complete a DIAB1 form and send it to the address provided on the form. More advice on driving with diabetes can be found here.
