1.5 MILLION drivers will be forced to share medical information with Government under new crackdown – are YOU affected?
Drivers have been warned of the dangers of driving with a common sleep disorder, as DVLA introduces strict penalties for those caught behind the wheel with undisclosed health conditions.
While driving with a cold won’t land you with a hefty fine, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) say it is essential to flag any medical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely, including diabetes, heart conditions and sleep apnoea.
Failure to do so could result in a £1,000 fine and leave you liable for prosecution in the event of an accident.
But research shows around 1.5million people could be at risk of having their license suspended, for failing to disclose their sleep apnea to the agency.
Sleep apnoea is a common but serious disorder with nearly one billion sufferers worldwide.
Its most common form, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), causes the walls of the throat to relax and narrow or close for a few seconds during sleep.
This disrupts a sufferers normal breathing pattern, which can lead to waking several times during the night and loud snoring, according to the NHS.
The health service adds that daytime symptoms include tiredness, mood swings and headaches.
Undeclared health conditions could risk you losing your license and paying a fine of up to £1,000
As a result, sufferers are prohibited from driving until symptoms—including excessive sleepiness—are under control.
Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)—a more severe form of the common condition—can be very dangerous and is a risk factor for road traffic accidents.
It is estimated that sleepiness contributes to up to 20 per cent of motorway accidents, increasing the severity of an event, as driver reactions are impaired.
Research has shown that someone who is deprived of sleep due to OSA may be up to 12 times more likely to be involved in a driving accident.
Apart from the immediate danger of drifting off whilst driving, if left untreated long-term, OSA increases the risk of a number of other serious health conditions including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke—another medical condition that must be disclosed to the DVLA.
Whilst most people with diabetes can carry on driving, sufferers who take insulin to manage their condition must inform the DVLA if treatment is to last longer than three months.
Diabetes is a serious condition that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to become too high. This can be caused by the body struggling to produce enough insulin, or when the insulin it does produce is ineffective.
Those who experience disabling hypoglycemia—where blood sugar drops dangerously low—or have been told they are at risk of developing the condition must also inform the driving agency.
Sleep apnoea affects 1.5million people in the UK and can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, increasing the risk of a car accident
Early symptoms include sweating, shakiness or trembling, feeling hungry, fast pule or palpitations, anxiety and tingling lips.
Left untreated this can cause slurred speech, difficulty concentrating, confusion and disorderly and irrational behaviour which may be mistaken for drunkenness and even loss of consciousness.
As such, drivers with insulin treated diabetes are advised to keep a glucose meter and blood glucose strips in their vehicle, and to check their blood glucose every two hours whilst driving.
If blood glucose levels drop below 4.0mmol/L, sufferers should not drive.
It comes as drivers were warned about the potentially deadly impact common colds can have on their driving amid high levels of cold and flu cases last winter.
While driving while under the weather may seem harmless, it could pose significant risks to yourself and others, experts say.
Data has even suggested that driving when infected with a winter virus could lead to a 10 per cent reduction in reaction time—similar to having a drink before getting behind the wheel.
A separate analysis carried out by Lloyds TSB insurances, estimated that more than 125,000 car accidents in the UK were caused by drivers suffering from the flu or a cold.
‘While driving whilst ill isn’t a crime by itself, if an accident occurs and its determined that illness played a role, drivers can face penalties, points on their license or even prosecution for dangerous driving,’ a spokesperson at www.car.co.uk warned.
