Driving: Diabetes

Mr. Bone
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to provide that people with insulin-treated diabetes may drive heavy goods vehicles following the approval of a medical practitioner.

Jim Fitzpatrick
Drivers with diabetes treated by insulin, who have good diabetic control and who have no significant diabetic complications may apply for consideration of a category C1 licence (goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes). Applications must also be supported by a report from a medical practitioner specialising in the management of diabetes.

An amendment to the minimum health standard set out in the second European Commission directive is also currently progressing through the EC legislative process. The UK will then review its current medical standards and, in consultation with the expert members of the Secretary of State for Transport’s honorary medical advisory panel on driving and diabetes, consider the implications of diabetes for driving and whether there should be a relaxation of the current standards. Legislation may then be amended to accommodate any changes.