Last week saw a change to Britain’s driving laws to permit people suffering from insulin treated diabetes to work within the road haulage industry as commercial vehicle drivers of all Group 2 category vehicles including lorries and buses. UK drivers are subject to EU regulations which set out the minimum medical standards for licences and car and motorcycle driving laws changed in a similar way in September 2010.
The key points for diabetes sufferers to watch, as well as demonstrating full awareness of their condition, are that they have been treated with insulin for at least four weeks, have had no severe hypoglycaemic events in the past year, must monitor sugar levels at least twice a day and have approval from their specialist consultant. Full details of the DVLA consultation on this subject, plus those on epilepsy and vision standards, can be found online.
The changes came with full agreement from the Freight Transport Association.
Sounds good, all for more people joining the trucking community as long as its safe. We are putting together some trucking stories if anyone fancies having a look/perhaps contributing. It's over at http://truckerstales.wordpress.com/. Thanks.