New research from Direct Line Car Insurance reveals almost three in ten (28 percent) older motorists have medical conditions such as visual impairments, diabetes, heart conditions or epilepsy that must be disclosed to the DVLA. Despite this, almost half have failed to tell the DVLA about their condition.
Of those over 65 that have failed to disclose their conditions, most say this is because they don’t feel their condition affects their driving. One in eight say they weren’t aware of this obligation and 27 percent cite ‘other’ reasons.
While the insurer’s study raises concerns about the number of older motorists that could be driving without a valid licence, over 65s are by no means alone. Across the UK as a whole, a quarter of drivers have so called ‘notifiable conditions’ but one in 10 have not disclosed this to the DVLA.
Gus Park, director of motor at Direct Line commented: “Regardless of age, drivers that have a notifiable or worsening medical condition or disability must disclose this to the DVLA and also to their insurer to stay within the law. Even those who feel their physical status won’t affect their driving must still disclose their condition, as failing to do so means they risk a hefty fine and even prosecution if they have an accident.
“The issue of failing to disclose medical conditions is particularly prevalent amongst older motorists but the rules are the same regardless of age, experience or the severity of a medical issue. We’re urging anyone that thinks they may have a condition or a disability they need to disclose to contact the DVLA and their insurer as they risk invalidating their licence and insurance if they don’t.”
Direct Line’s study looked at the prevalence of some of the most common medical conditions that should be disclosed and found that physical disabilities – affecting a tenth of older drivers - are only disclosed half of the time.
There are currently four million drivers with a full licence aged 70 or over and 230 drivers aged 100 or above.
What conditions must you declare?
- Dementia
- Diabetes- it it’s insulin-treated
- Parkinson’s
- Epilepsy
- Any chronic neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis
- Any condition that affects both eyes, or total loss of sight in one eye
Other health conditions may need to be declared, depending on what kind of license you have and how the condition affects you. Check the GOV UK website for a full list of medical conditions and disabilities you must declare.
If you don’t declare a condition you could face prosecution and it could even invalidate your policy.
