DVLA reporting

Communication > Ethics and law stations

Possible stations

An epileptic patient has agreed not to drive but a nurse saw him parking today before his review

A heavy goods vehicle driver has had a seizure and you must break the news regarding driving restrictions

A patient who presented with a seizure is now being discharged: you must speak to them about lifestyle changes

A relative is concerned about a patient who has an ‘alcohol problem’ and is driving

Phrases to help you

‘Safety precautions’
‘The tablets don’t guarantee your safety and the safety of others if you are driving.’
‘Have you been able to follow the advice given to you with regards to driving?’
‘If you drive you will be breaking the law and your insurance will not be valid.’

Aims of the station

Show that you can be firm but also sympathetic and non-judgemental
Address the patient’s concerns and pick up on their cues
Use a ‘breaking bad news’ approach
Clearly communicate the importance of not driving
You may need to be firm with them – how would they feel if they had a seizure at the wheel and harmed/killed their own family or other people?
Offer solutions to the patient’s problems or sources of help if you have any (if not, just listen and empathise)
Know the DVLA rules

The DVLA rules

The rules differ for licence type
- Group 1 (normal licence) = cars, motorcycles
- Group 2 (heavy goods vehicle licence) = buses, lorries, large vehicles
- Note: taxi drivers are usually also required to meet Group 2 medical standards depending on local councils
Below are some example restrictions but many other conditions also require the patient to inform the DVLA
If a patient drives after being advised not to, their insurance is invalid and they are breaking the law

Some important conditions with driving restrictions (ALWAYS check latest DVLA/local licencing body guidelines)

	Group 1 (normal licence)	Group 2 (heavy goods vehicle licence)
Diabetes	Must meet certain criteria to drive (depends on hypoglycaemia episodes, hypoglycaemia awareness, glucose monitoring and complications)	Must meet certain criteria to drive (depends on hypoglycaemia episodes, hypoglycaemia awareness, glucose monitoring and complications)
First unprovoked seizure	6 months (seizure free)	5 years (seizure free)
Other seizure (depending on cause)	1 year (seizure free)	10 years (seizure free)
Stroke/TIA	1 month*	1 year
Unexplained syncope	6 months	1 year
MI treated with stent	1 week*	6 weeks (but need tests)
Alcohol misuse	6 months (of controlled drinking/abstinence)	1 year (of controlled drinking/abstinence)
Alcohol dependence	1 year (free of alcohol-related problems)	3 years (free of alcohol-related problems)

*Do not need to inform DVLA if no residual symptoms (all others need to inform DVLA)

Please note OSCEstop content is for educational purposes only and not intended to inform clinical practice. OSCEstop and authors take no responsibility for errors or the use of any information displayed.

Reference: DVLA ‘Assessing fitness to drive: a guide for medical professionals’ 2022

Test your knowledge

What would you do if, despite a clear explanation, a patient with a seizure refuses to inform the DVLA and says they are going to continue to drive?

Oops! This section is restricted to members. Click here to signup!

Where can you find more information if you are unsure if a there is a driving restriction for a particular condition?

Oops! This section is restricted to members. Click here to signup!

Try an OSCE station

No comments yet

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Don't take our word for it

"The stations you provide are strikingly similar to those I came across during my medical school finals (some even verbatim!), and I have tried many other exam platforms. I'm truly grateful for your priceless support throughout my final couple of years at medical school!"

Raza Q

"It has absolutely everything for medical school, so many histories with detailed differential diagnoses, how to approach emergencies, commonly prescribed drugs..every kind go examination you’ll ever need in osces"

John R

"Thank you SO MUCH for the amazing educational resource. I’ve tried lots of platforms and books with mock OSCE stations and yours is by far and away the best I’ve tried"

Ed M

"Get this right away. So helpful for OSCEs but also general clinical learning and understanding. Wish I had brought it sooner"

Emma W

"Without a doubt, your platform outshines all other OSCE resources currently available. In all honesty, I can confidently attribute my success in securing a distinction in my finals to OSCEstop."

Harish K

"OSCEstop distinguishes itself from many other platform banks by offering a wealth of questions that mimic the demanding and complex aspects of our finals. This platform played a crucial role in ensuring I was ready for the level of difficulty that awaited me in my final exams."

Natasha W