Drivers in Ireland could face hefty fines or even criminal sanctions if they fail to disclose one of 23 medical conditions.
Irish and EU legislation requires that a driver should advise their driver licensing authority of any long-term or permanent injury or illness that may affect their safe driving ability.
Motorists are required to declare if they have a medical condition when applying for a driving licence, or make an application to update their documents if they develop one.
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The National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) details six categories of applicants that must include a medical report form when attempting to secure a licence.
People applying for a learner permit or driving licence in any of the C or D categories must submit a report if they hope to operate a bus or truck.
Other applicants who should provide a medical report form are everyone aged 70 or over, anyone who has ever suffered from alcoholism or epilepsy, or those who regularly take drugs or medication that would be likely to make them an unsafe driver.
The Medical Report must be completed correctly by a registered medical practitioner and must be signed in their presence.
The sixth category where applicants are required to submit a form is when they are suffering from certain medical conditions.
The NDLS details a range of 23 conditions, as well as treatments, that may affect people's driving ability and therefore these must be highlighted by motorists.
If drivers have a medical condition that must be notified to the NDLS, they will need to have a medical report form completed and make an application for a change of personal details.
Although the list is not exhaustive, there are 23 conditions that must be cited on all driving licence applications according to the NDLS:
- Diabetes treated by insulin and or sulphonylurea tablets (your doctor can advise whether you are on these or not) no need to tell us if managed by other tablets and or diet
- Epilepsy
- Stroke or TIAs (minor strokes) with any associated symptoms lasting longer than one month
- Fits or blackouts
- Any type of brain surgery, brain abscess or severe head Injury involving in-patient treatment or a brain tumour or spinal injury or spinal tumour
- An implanted cardiac pacemaker
- An implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD)
- Repeated attacks of sudden disabling dizziness
- Any other chronic neurological condition such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson disease or Huntington’s disease
- A serious problem with memory or periods of confusion
- Persistent alcohol misuse or dependency
- Persistent drug misuse or dependency
- Serious psychiatric illness or mental health problems
- Parkinson's disease
- Sleep Apnoea syndrome
- Narcolepsy
- Any condition affecting your peripheral vision
- Total loss of sight in one eye
- Any condition affecting both eyes, or the remaining eye if the driver only has one eye (Not including colour blindness or short or long sight)
- A serious hearing deficiency
- Severe learning disability
- Any persistent problems with arms or legs which restricts driving to an automatic vehicle
- Any persistent problems with arms or legs which restricts driving to an adapted vehicle
Motorists are warned that if they fail to notify the NDLS about a medical condition, either when applying for a licence or after they have secured one, they could face fines or even criminal sanctions.
The NDLS says: "Drivers should be aware that there may be long-term financial, insurance, legal and criminal consequences where there is failure to report a medical condition that may impact on their ability to drive safely to the NDLS and insurance provider."
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