Taxi Drivers

with Diabetes

The following press release from Roy Ellis, the Officer in Charge at the Public Carriage Office, was sent to all trade magazines in November. Unfortunately, Call Sign’s copy was mislaid and never reached us. However, the issue is so important and as not everyone reads the trade press, we are publishing it in this issue…

Taxi drivers are professionals who bear a special responsibility as they carry passengers for hire and reward. As they spend substantially longer at the wheel than do private motorists, there is a greater risk of sudden illness occurring whilst driving. The Licensing Authority, as recommended by the Secretary of State's Honorary Advisory Medical Panels and the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention, has for some time required taxi drivers in London to meet a higher standard of medical fitness than is required of standard DVLA Group 1 (motor car and motorcycle) licence holders. In considering applications for taxi driver licences, the Licensing Authority is guided by the statutory requirements for drivers of large goods and passenger carrying vehicles, ie Group 2, licences.
In order to avoid any misunderstandings with regard to the licensing Authority's requirements in respect of drivers suffering from diabetes, these are re-stated below.

Diabetes managed by diet alone
Drivers will not be debarred from holding a taxi driver's licence unless they develop relevant disabilities (eg, a diabetic eye problem affecting visual acuity or visual fields), there is a significant deterioration in their condition or they require insulin treatment, in which case an application will be refused or the licence revoked.
If relevant disabilities occur, both the DVLA and Licensing Authority (PCO) must be notified.

Diabetes managed by diet and tablets
Both the D VLA and Licensing Authority (PCO) must be notified.
Drivers will not be debarred from holding a taxi drivers licence unless they develop relevant disabilities, there is a significant deterioration in their condition or they require insulin treatment, in which case an application will be refused or the licence revoked.

Diabetes treated by insulin
Both the DVLA and the Licensing Authority (PCO) must be notified.

Drivers licensed (or re-licensed) before 1 April 1991
If being treated with insulin at that time (ie, before 1 April 1991) and notified the Licensing Authority (PCO) at the time of application, subsequent applications for

re-licensing are dealt with individually and are subject to satisfactory annual certification by a consultant.
If subsequently placed on insulin (ie, on or after 1 April 1991), drivers will have their licences revoked and further applications refused.

New applicants on or after 1 April 1991
If being treated with insulin at the time of application, will have their applications refused.
If subsequently placed on insulin, will have their licences revoked and further applications refused.

In order to safeguard the public, drivers are reminded that they should advise the PCO of any illness, operation or treatment they are receiving which may affect their ability to meet the DVLA Group 2 guidelines. If in doubt, drivers should consult their doctor.
(Doctors will have access to the guidelines which are contained in the March 1998 edition of the DVLA publication for medical practitioners entitled ‘At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive’ and for the 1995 edition of the guide for medical practitioners entitled ‘Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive’ published by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention.)

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