The Department for Transportation has been accused by road safety campaigners of hiding the results of a research study that discovered that there may be thousands of unfit drivers on the road due to disability or poor health.
The study found that nurses, doctors, and related health professionals are not stopping patients from driving when they become a clear danger to other drivers as well as themselves. This problem is becoming more common place due to the fact that the population of elderly people is continuing to increase.
Researchers also found that only one out of every four motorists with a health condition that may impair their ability to drive had been offered advice from their respective health workers. In fact, among drivers who suffer from diabetes which can cause sudden leg movement and impaired vision, less than one for every thirty question had been offered any advice.
The study stated that health care workers needed better training when it comes to counselling patients about driving, that regular eye tests should be administered to all drivers, and that those with certain medical conditions should be given restricted driving licences. Its suggestions were offered to the transport department in 2008 but received no publicity and just recently placed on its website.
The department spokeswoman stated that at this time there was no arrangement that would call for an eye test or a change in licensing procedures.
Currently, motorists are required to tell the DVLA if they have any medical condition that may impair their ability to operate a motor vehicle and health workers are required to tell their patients of any conditions that may affect their driving. In addition, if a patient ignores their advice to stop driving the physician is expected to notify the DVLA.
