More than 240 Diabetic drivers Lose Licence

More than 240 diabetic drivers have had their vocational driving licence revoked in the last three years alone, according to ­official figures.

The data, released under the Freedom of Information Act, suggests that there could be many more people unable to use their HGV driving qualifications than previously thought.

The DVLA figures show that in 2008, 2009 and 2010 a total of 242 individuals lost their HGV and PSV licences­ because they had ­insulin-treated diabetes.

The ban on diabetics from driving HGVs has been in place now for almost 21 years, although a consultation to relax the law closed in April.

The figures also show that since 2008, 277 drivers had their licences revoked because they were diagnosed with epilepsy, 125 for sleep apnoea and nearly 1,400 for drug or alcohol misuse.

Insulin-treated diabetic driver Archie Meechan has been campaigning to change the law for Class-2 drivers.

He says: “It’s been roughly 21 years; so there must [have been] be quite a few [revocations] before then. I think it would add up to thousands.”

A total of 3,362 drivers had their licences revoked in 2010, down from 4,127 in 2008.

Transport minister Mike Penning says: “Britain has some of the safest roads in the world and licensing rules have an ­important role in maintaining this position. We must make sure that only those who are safe to drive are allowed on our roads, while at the same time avoiding placing unnecessary ­restrictions on people’s ­independence.”