Department for Transport

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assesses licence applications from drivers using insulin or other diabetes medications based on the risk of hypoglycaemia and the stability of diabetes management.

Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months. The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application. Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.

Drivers of lorries and buses are subject to more stringent medical requirements due to the size of their vehicles and the length of time they spend driving. They must have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months, demonstrate full hypoglycaemic awareness, and provide medical evidence of stable diabetes control. This includes four weeks of glucose readings as part of an annual independent diabetes medical assessment when they apply for a licence.

All insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking glucose levels before driving and at regular intervals while driving. Monitoring may be undertaken using either finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, including Freestyle Libre.

For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use. In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.

Changes to insulin or medication dosage do not automatically affect a person’s entitlement to drive.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assesses licence applications from drivers using insulin or other diabetes medications based on the risk of hypoglycaemia and the stability of diabetes management.

Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months. The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application. Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.

Drivers of lorries and buses are subject to more stringent medical requirements due to the size of their vehicles and the length of time they spend driving. They must have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months, demonstrate full hypoglycaemic awareness, and provide medical evidence of stable diabetes control. This includes four weeks of glucose readings as part of an annual independent diabetes medical assessment when they apply for a licence.

All insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking glucose levels before driving and at regular intervals while driving. Monitoring may be undertaken using either finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, including Freestyle Libre.

For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use. In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.

Changes to insulin or medication dosage do not automatically affect a person’s entitlement to drive.

While voter registration processes are a matter for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG), officials at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are discussing the potential for using driver licensing information for these purposes with MCHLG officials.

The Department intends to publish an updated version of the Manual for Streets before the end of 2026.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s contract with Specsavers for vision testing services provide coverage across England, Wales and Scotland, with 436 stores able to perform the services required.

Specsavers is working to increase the number of stores available to carry out eyesight tests by supplying them with the appropriate equipment.

Specsavers may utilise local opticians for customers who live more than 25 miles from their nearest Specsavers branch, for example those living in rural or semi rural areas.

The Department is unable to provide a current estimate of the overall impact of roadworks on the economy. This is because road and street works are carried out by a wide range of organisations, for different purposes, and the Department does not collect the data that would be required to produce a reliable national estimate.

Road and street works are essential to maintaining and upgrading utility services and the road network, and they play a vital role in supporting economic growth by enabling continued investment in critical infrastructure. Where street and road works do result in disruption, we recognise the wider impacts this can have on the economy. We remain committed to minimising these effects wherever possible. This includes strengthening penalties to improve compliance, enhancing coordination through the use of digital tools, and supporting local highway authorities to adopt lane rental schemes, which encourage works promoters to plan and deliver works more efficiently, thereby reducing delays and congestion.

Network Rail is investing significantly in assets throughout the Western and Wales region, including in resilience to protect against storms and flooding in the South West. The storm events and particularly flooding that we have seen in the region recently have posed greater challenges than we have seen in the last few years. The rail industry continues to build plans to make our infrastructure more resilient including focusing on known black spots so that flooding instances are reduced, and where flooding and storms do occur, recovery of rail services can happen more quickly.

The average waiting time for a car practical driving test at Macclesfield driving test centre in December 2025, was 16 weeks.

The Department for Transport already makes a differentiation between motorcycles and driver-based vehicles in the development of transport and road safety policy, including the upcoming national strategy for integrated transport. The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January contains many measures that will directly or indirectly benefit all road users while also proposing specific measures that are distinct to motorcyclists for example the announced consultation on a package of reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing and for drivers for example minimum learning periods for learner drivers.

The Highway Code clearly differentiates between the rules for motorcyclists and other road users, being structured with specific sections for the different road user types. In January 2022 the department updated The Highway Code and introduced the “Hierarchy of Road Users” which places the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists who are most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy, so that they have priority in certain situations. Motorcyclists are recognised as more vulnerable, than cars and heavy goods, vehicles drivers within this hierarchy. However, as set out in the strategy, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course.

With consideration to the access of different vehicle types to segregated road lanes, in 2024 the Department ran a consultation on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles. The responses did not provide a robust evidence base on which to amend the current policy. Decisions on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes are a matter for the relevant local highway authority.

There is also a differentiation regarding technical approval as all vehicles registered in the UK must be approved under the relevant type approval framework which ensure they meet safety requirements that are specific to their design and use. There is a dedicated type approval processes for motorcycles which is distinct to those for other vehicle types.

Active Travel England (ATE) recognises that high‑quality active travel routes must be well-designed, well-lit and safe to support walking, wheeling and cycling.

On 10 December, the Department announced £626 million of multi-year capability funding to support active travel across England. As part of this allocation, Warwickshire County Council, of which Stratford‑on‑Avon is a part, will receive £9,840,039 for the period 2026/27 to 2029/30. Local authorities may use this funding to plan and deliver well‑designed route layouts, appropriate and inclusive lighting, and safety improvements such as segregated cycle lanes and safer junction treatments.

ATE also provides technical support and guidance to ensure local authorities deliver high‑quality schemes. National guidance, including Local Transport Note 1/20: Cycle Infrastructure Design, Manual for Streets, and Inclusive Mobility, sets clear expectations for the design of safe and accessible cycling infrastructure.

Currently, to gain a full motorcycle licence, individuals’ must pass a theory test and both parts of the practical test. Both Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and theory certificates have a two-year validity, and if an individual has not passed their test within 2 years of taking the CBT & theory tests, they will have to start the process again.

As part of the Department for Transport’s Road Safety Strategy, on 7 January the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) launched a consultation on motorcycle training, testing and licencing in Great Britain. The consultation will help inform a targeted review of the training, testing and licensing regime for motorcyclists with the aim of making changes to improve safety, modernise and simplify people’s access to motorcycling.

As set out in the consultation, it is understood that a proportion of riders take CBT and don’t go on to take their theory and practical tests to gain a full motorcycle licence. Between March 2023 and March 2025 77,000 learner riders repeated their CBT course.

One aim of the consultation is to determine if riders should be prevented from continually riding on a provisional licence.

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 31 March 2026.

Currently, to gain a full motorcycle licence, individuals’ must pass a theory test and both parts of the practical test. Both Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and theory certificates have a two-year validity, and if an individual has not passed their test within 2 years of taking the CBT & theory tests, they will have to start the process again.

As part of the Department for Transport’s Road Safety Strategy, on 7 January the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) launched a consultation on motorcycle training, testing and licencing in Great Britain. The consultation will help inform a targeted review of the training, testing and licensing regime for motorcyclists with the aim of making changes to improve safety, modernise and simplify people’s access to motorcycling.

As set out in the consultation, it is understood that a proportion of riders take CBT and don’t go on to take their theory and practical tests to gain a full motorcycle licence. Between March 2023 and March 2025 77,000 learner riders repeated their CBT course.

One aim of the consultation is to determine if riders should be prevented from continually riding on a provisional licence.

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 31 March 2026.

On 10 December the Government announced £626 million for local authorities from 2026 to 2030 to deliver new active travel schemes, building on nearly £300 million already allocated for 2024 to 2026.

While the Department has made no assessment of Wheels to Work schemes, which are designed and operated by local authorities, local authorities are able to use the active travel funding from Government to support the delivery of them.

For driving licence categories, we do not differentiate between commercial use and private use of vehicles. The driving test similarly, does not differentiate between commercial use and private use of vehicles. Those wishing to operate vehicles for commercial use, are often required to obtain additional entitlements; for vans and lorries – an Operator Licence. For buses and coaches – a Public Service Vehicle Licence. For Taxis – a Private Hire Vehicle Licence and there are other Licence schemes run either through the Traffic Commissioners or through Local Authorities. These are not considered a formal part of the driving licence regime.

We have announced as part of the Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, that we will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. This includes the use of HGVs, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles. The pilot will run for two years.

The Road Safety Strategy also consists of a consultation paper, relating to the training, testing and licensing regime for Category A moped and motorcycle licences in Great Britain. We also will take into account both long-standing plans in the Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and proposals received from the motorcycle sector, in considering reforms to this area.

The Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) provides methods and advice for assessing the impacts of schemes on economic activity and connectivity. This is mainly from direct benefits to travel users from reductions in travel time, and service improvements such as increasing frequency and quality. TAG can also assess impacts for wider economic, social and environmental impacts. For example, better connectivity can lead to productivity gains to businesses taking advantage of access to new markets and opportunities, or better access to jobs for people. These methods are equally applicable to urban and non-urban areas.

The Department for Transport’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) is a robust framework for assessing the cost and benefits of different transport schemes, across different parts of the UK. TAG builds on the foundations set by HM Treasury’s Green Book with specific guidance for transport schemes, but it does not deviate from the key principles set by the Green Book. The Department plans to update TAG in response to HM Treasury’s Green Book Review published last July, including supporting the development of place-based business cases.

The Department is developing an Appraisal, Modelling and Evaluation Strategy to identify updates to TAG to prioritise improvements to appraisal over the next five years, so investment decisions prioritise people and places are underpinned by high quality and accessible analysis. We listened to feedback from our extensive stakeholder engagement programme as part of this, and an emerging action is to consider developing the appraisal guidance for non-urban areas – including rural areas like Cornwall.

The Department for Transport has spent £783.30 with X since July 2024.

Data on road collisions involving personal injury are reported to the Department by police forces in Great Britain via the STATS19 system. The latest year for which data is available is 2024.

STATS19 does not assign blame to any party involved in a collision. The number of drivers involved in road traffic collisions by age, in Great Britain for the least 10 years can be found in table RAS0501 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/reported-road-accidents-vehicles-and-casualties-tables-for-great-britain#vehicles-and-drivers-ras05.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Government is committed to helping local leaders improve local bus services and improve reliability across England, including in the West Midlands. The Department for Transport regularly engages with local authority representatives from the West Midlands Combined Authority, including as part of our support to local transport authorities pursuing bus franchising.

We are taking action to give local leaders the powers they need to deliver better bus services for passengers, including through the Bus Services Act 2025 which devolved powers to local authorities who know their local areas the best. In addition, the Government has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve bus services over the spending review period. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year.

The West Midlands Combined Authority will be allocated £119.4 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £37 million they are already receiving this year. This funding can be used to expand services and improve reliability.

The Government expects hydrogen to play a role in decarbonising applications where there are limited alternatives such as maritime, aviation, and off-road machinery. This includes through use as a fuel directly, in a fuel cell, and to produce other low-carbon fuels such as ammonia, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The Government plans to publish a renewed Hydrogen Strategy in early 2026 to sharpen our priorities, deepen industry collaboration, and unlock the full potential of hydrogen over the next decade.

The Department has long supported the research, development, and deployment of hydrogen‑powered transport, including through ensuring hydrogen is eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate, through the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator, the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions, and the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme.

Data on road collisions involving personal injury are reported to the Department by police forces in Great Britain via the STATS19 system. The latest year for which data is available is 2024.

The number of killed or seriously injured casualties in reported road traffic collisions in England are shown in the table:

Once established, Great British Railways will be required to have regard to the Secretary of State's Long Term Rail strategy, including by improving the integration of rail with local and regional transport systems.

We know that a well-connected transport system will help more people make the journeys they need to and unlock access to opportunity which is why we will shortly publish our integrated national transport strategy. The strategy will set out this government's vision for people-focused transport in England, supporting the creation of unified and integrated transport systems at the national and local level.

Once established, Great British Railways will be required to have regard to the Secretary of State's Long Term Rail strategy, including by improving the integration of rail with local and regional transport systems.

We know that a well-connected transport system will help more people make the journeys they need to and unlock access to opportunity which is why we will shortly publish our integrated national transport strategy. The strategy will set out this government's vision for people-focused transport in England, supporting the creation of unified and integrated transport systems at the national and local level.

The Department continues to engage with the Motorcycle Industry Association to better understand how the micromobility and L-category sectors interact and can best support people in making the journeys that matter to them in a safe, efficient and cost-effective way.

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows. This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology, and help the police to crack down on those who use them in an irresponsible or anti-social way.

The Department’s published road casualty statistics include figures for the number of collisions where ‘vision affected by dazzling headlights’ was recorded as a contributory factor by a police officer attending the scene. In 2023, the latest year for which this data is available, there were 216 reported injury collisions with this factor assigned which equates to 0.2% of overall collisions recorded.

In recognition of public concern about headlamp glare, the recently published Road Safety Strategy includes a commitment to carry out further research in this area.

The Food Standards Agency works with businesses and consumers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to improve allergen management and information, including offering free training and running awareness campaigns. It has recently published new guidance to help people with allergies eat out safely. The guidance sets out how businesses can provide clear allergen information, encourage communication about allergens between staff and consumers, and ensure that a consumer with allergies receives the right meal.

We would also encourage passengers travelling with a severe allergy to carry their medication with them in case of emergency, and it is recommended that they notify staff throughout their journey of their allergy. Guidance on travelling with an allergy is available from organisations such as Anaphylaxis UK or from the NHS.

The Food Standards Agency works with businesses and consumers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to improve allergen management and information, including offering free training and running awareness campaigns. It has recently published new guidance to help people with allergies eat out safely. The guidance sets out how businesses can provide clear allergen information, encourage communication about allergens between staff and consumers, and ensure that a consumer with allergies receives the right meal.

We would also encourage passengers travelling with a severe allergy to carry their medication with them in case of emergency, and it is recommended that they notify staff throughout their journey of their allergy. Guidance on travelling with an allergy is available from organisations such as Anaphylaxis UK or from the NHS.

Network Rail is responsible for assessing the availability of specialist rail plant used in maintaining the rail network. It is currently reviewing its long-term equipment requirements for track maintenance and renewals, to ensure that it has the capacity, flexibility, and technology it needs to meet future demand efficiently.

The Department announced a new traffic light rating system on 11 January. Under this system, all local highway authorities in England received a red, amber or green rating based on the condition of their roads, how much they spend to maintain their roads, and whether they do so using best practice. The ratings can be found online, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-road-maintenance-ratings/local-road-maintenance-ratings-2025-to-2026.

The ratings are not designed to provide a ranked list of local authorities, but assign authorities a rating within the broader categories of red, amber, or green. The full methodology used to calculate the ratings is also set out online. This includes a table setting out methodological detail on the individual metrics and scores used to calculate local authorities' ratings. Further detail on this can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/methodology-used-to-calculate-ratings-for-local-road-maintenance.

The rating system enables drivers and residents to have a clear picture of how their local highway authority is looking for after local roads for the first time. It increases transparency, incentivises the adoption of best practice, and enables the Department to identify where local highway authorities need to improve and to support them to ensure road conditions improve nationwide.

The policies in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, including the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime, will encourage investment in maritime decarbonisation. Vessel operators and ports are best placed to determine the timeline for when they invest in shore power rollout.

The Department has made no assessment of establishing such a grant. However, the Government is investing in bus services long-term and has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve bus services for millions of passengers over the remainder of the spending review period.

This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year, ending the short-term approach to bus funding and giving councils the certainty they need to plan ahead to improve services for local communities.

Hampshire County Council will be allocated £45 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £14.1 million they are already receiving this year. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability or investing in community transport schemes.

Furthermore, community transport operators are eligible to claim the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), the Department makes available up to £3.8 million each year through the BSOG to community transport operators. The BSOG is a grant paid to operators of eligible commercial bus services and community transport organisations to help them recover some of their operating costs.

As set out in our answer to question 101851, the Department does not hold the data requested in a readily available form.

The Government recognises the importance of using durable materials and innovative techniques to reduce pothole formation and improve the long‑term condition of local roads.

Surrey County Council receives a significant allocation of highways maintenance funding from the Department for Transport, which can be used to trial new materials and construction techniques where that authority judges this to be appropriate. In November, the Government confirmed a record investment of £7.3 billion into local highways maintenance from 2026/27 to 2029/30. As part of this investment, Surrey County Council will be eligible to receive over £160 million in highways maintenance funding over the next four years.

The Department encourages and supports innovation in road surface repairs. It is updating the Code of Practice for Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure, to include new advice on matters such as surface treatments. The Department has also provided £30 million to the ADEPT ‘Live Labs’ research programme, enabling local authority-led consortia to trial innovative low-carbon ways of looking after their networks. One of the projects within the Live Labs programme is enabling novel resurfacing materials to be tested and evaluated through the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, led by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Following the publication of the Government’s Resilience Action Plan in July 2025, work is already underway to improve the short, medium and long-term resilience of the transport system, including the local road network, as part of the whole of society approach.

In December 2025, the Government published its Climate Adaptation Strategy for Transport, which now provides an overarching framework for improving the resilience of roads, rail and other transport networks to flooding and other climate risks. This includes commitments to introduce climate resilience standards by 2030, embed resilience into transport investment decisions, and work with sector bodies such as the UK Roads Leadership Group to support local highway authorities.

DfT also funds workshops delivered through the UK Roads Leadership Group to support capability‑building across the sector, and is updating the Well‑Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice which will continue to reflect a risk‑based, resilience‑focused approach to asset management.