A backlog of driving licence medical tests, combined with a drastic need for more lorry drivers, is causing doctors alarm.
All new HGV driving licence applications require a medical assessment. This adds to the queue of car drivers requiring a fitness to drive certification.
The British Medical Association (BMA) estimates that the total number of drivers needing medical assessments has surpassed 200,000. Thousands more are said to join the list every month.
Such delays are causing drivers to seek shortcuts to medical certification, bypassing the traditional assessment by their GP.
Grave concerns from doctors
The BMA is ‘gravely concerned’ about such developments. It has written to the Department of Transport to call for a ‘safety first’ approach.
DVLA rules mean drivers can seek a fitness to drive assessment from any registered medical practitioner. The BMA is worried such moves may see the full medical history of a patient overlooked.
Dr Peter Holden, BMA Professional Fees Committee chair, explains this creates a risk “that medical conditions may be, either intentionally or unintendedly, understated and this has already had a grave impact on road safety”.
The BMA would prefer to see the DVLA being honest about “just how long this backlog will take to clear”, and ensuring that an applicant’s GP is involved in the medical certification process.
A DVLA spokesperson said: “We welcome the decision by the BMA and Royal College of GPs to review DVLA medicals after they were temporarily deprioritised during the pandemic. By law, all drivers must meet medical standards for fitness at all times, and there are additional checks for bus and lorry drivers.
“We have plans in place to reduce the current backlog of medical applications by bringing in additional staff and evening shifts, and are also working on additional measures to increase our surge capacity and help process applications faster”.
HGV driver shortage remains a challenge
According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the UK currently faces a shortage of around 100,000 qualified HGV drivers. Contributing to this is a backlog of some 40,000 HGV driving tests missed in 2020 due to the coronavirus.
The RHA has called for these 40,000 tests to be given priority. A pledge to recruit 40 new driving examiners has been announced by the DVSA.
As part of its suggested 12-point plan, the RHA highlights the cost and time needed for medicals as a ‘significant impediment’ to new HGV drivers.
A recently launched government consultation is seeking responses on how the current HGV driver shortage can be tackled.
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