Since 2014, nearly 580,000 people have had their licence revoked on medical grounds. Despite not even being half way through the year, 23,669 drivers have already had their licence revoked on medical grounds in 2023. 88% of these drivers were car/motorcycle driver and the remainder bus/lorry drivers. In 2023, two thirds of the 23, 669 drivers were over 50 years old and only 1,180 of the driver teenagers.
Having your licence revoked on medical grounds generally takes place once the medical advisers at the DVLA determine the driver is not fit to drive. ‘Medical Grounds’ covers a range of such as:
- Where an individual suffers from a condition such a epilepsy, which could affect their ability to drive safely
- Where an individual has been convicted of a drink or drug driving related offence
– Where an individual’s doctor has informed DVLA they are unfit to drive, owning to a diagnosis such as fainting or a mental disorder – which could affect their ability to drive reliably
You are most likely to have your licence revoked if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
Dementia – 8,136 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Double Vision – 6,984 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Vascular Disease – 4, 625 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Seizures – 3, 194 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Drivers Deemed Unsafe to Drive Due To Medications – 2, 015 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Alcoholism – 8,027 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Epilepsy – 6,885 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Cataracts – 3, 603 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Giddiness – 2, 097 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
Sleep Apnoea – 1, 665 licences revoked Jan 2022 to Jun 2023
As per the above figures, Alcohol Dependency and Dementia have been the most common condition which have led the DVLA medically revoking an individual’s licence in the last year. With more and more people facing alcohol dependency as we move through the cost of living crisis and dementia being notoriously difficult to diagnose, it is likely there are undiagnosed individual suffering from these conditions still in possession of their licence.
As a vast number of individuals require their licence to continue work (taxi drivers, HGV driver), there are likely individuals who suffer from medical conditions, but have chosen not to declare this due to the repercussions of losing their licence. It is important to note you can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not declare your medical condition to the DVLA.
If you have had your licence revoked on medical grounds, you can reapply for your licence once your GP/Doctor can guarantee you meet the medical standards needed. As this can often be a difficult, problematic process we would always recommend taking legal advice.
Our friendly motoring team are available for free initial advice on 0330 912 2124.
The date shared in this article has been shared following a Freedom of Information request made to the DVLA by car leasing comparisons site LeaseLoco