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Motoring news

Many 'driving while unwell'

20/01/2010

A "significant number" of motorists may be driving whilst medically unfit, the AA has warned.

In research conducted among more than 20,000 AA members, 19% said that they knew someone who had knowingly driven while suffering a medical condition that rendered them unfit. In contrast, only 2% said that they themselves had done so.

The figures come as AA president Edmund King takes part in a police conference debate on medical standards for drivers. But despite the proportion of drivers who may be medically unsafe, King is stressing that the youngest, fittest drivers are still the most dangerous.

The organisation also highlighted a report published for the Department for Transport, which suggests that three-quarters of patients are not advised correctly of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) rules that apply to their condition, and that only a third of healthcare professionals offered unsolicited advice when they should.

King said the AA/Populus poll findings suggested that as many as six million people may drive when they were medically unfit to do so.

"Drivers need to be aware of the risks that they are taking and the consequences of getting caught," he said.

"The research for [the] Government also illustrates that much more needs to be done by the healthcare profession in terms of advising patients correctly when they should not drive."

Earlier this month the Government highlighted the potential dangers of driving while using over-the-counter or even prescription medicines, emphasising that - in the eyes of the law - there is no difference between driving while unfit through illegal drugs or legal medicines.

The AA is also warning firms to be more thorough in vetting the driving licence status of employees who drive for the business. It cited a recent DVLA check for a "high profile blue-chip company", which had revealed six drivers without a licence - including one who had been driving illegally for nearly four years.

"Employees need to be more vigilant in checking driving licences and carrying out DVLA checks on staff that may have had licences revoked for medical reasons," King added.