{"id":121209,"date":"2023-11-17T04:49:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T04:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/?p=121209"},"modified":"2023-11-17T04:49:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T04:49:09","slug":"poll-should-older-drivers-be-forced-to-pay-for-dvla-medical-checks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/auto-news\/poll-should-older-drivers-be-forced-to-pay-for-dvla-medical-checks\/","title":{"rendered":"POLL – Should older drivers be forced to pay for DVLA medical checks"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Older drivers may soon have to pay for driving licence medical checks with a new consultation asking whether a charge should be added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The new fee could be issued to all motorists with a medical condition but elderly motorists over the age of 70 could be disproportionately affected.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Under the current rules, the DVLA pays the costs associated with medical background checks but costs have spiralled out of control.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a call for evidence centred around driver licensing for people with medical conditions, the DVLA has asked whether the cost associated with medical investigations should be paid by taxpayers and DVLA.<\/p>\n

They have also asked whether it would be \u201cappropriate\u201d for the individual customer to pay for medical investigations in relation to their fitness to drive.<\/p>\n

READ MORE <\/strong> Older drivers could be fined for taking medicines – full list of drugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

The call for evidence closed in October meaning responses will now be analysed before further decisions are made.<\/p>\n

The report reads: “Although DVLA aims to make 90 percent of licensing decisions within 90 days, this is becoming increasingly challenging as cases become more complex and more information is needed from third parties.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to this, the law provides that DVLA shall pay any fees associated with medical investigations. This includes paying a fee for the completion of each medical condition specific questionnaire, eyesight tests, drugs and alcohol screening tests (unless under HRO legislation) and examinations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe costs associated with gathering information to assess if an individual can meet the appropriate medical standards for driving has almost doubled in the last 10 years, from approximately \u00a310million to around \u00a320million per year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis reflects not only an increasing number of drivers with multiple health conditions but the complexity of those conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A DVLA chart shows costs steadily rose every year between 2013\/14 and 2017\/18 when fees doubled.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There was a slight drop in 2018\/19\u00a0but this was eclipsed with an even bigger increase the following year with total costs now just under \u00a325million.<\/p>\n

Elderly drivers make up the bulk of the DVLA\u2019s caseload with the most medical conditions among the 70-79 year olds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Officials are reportedly dealing with over 14,000 single medical conditions and around 12,000 multiple medical conditions among this age range.<\/p>\n