Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Glasgow bin lorry crash of 22 December 2014, if he will take steps to undertaken a consultation on (a) how to ensure the completeness and accuracy of information available to the DVLA for the purposes of making fitness to drive licensing decisions and (b) increasing the penalties and altering the mode of prosecution for contravention of section 94 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The UK’s roads are among the safest in the world and there is no evidence to suggest that there is a widespread road safety risk relating to people driving inappropriately due to a notifiable medical condition. The majority of individuals notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of medical conditions as they are required to. The DVLA also accepts notifications from the police and health care professionals. The Government therefore has no plans to carry out a formal consultation as suggested.

The processes for notifying a medical condition to the DVLA are kept under review. Potential improvements to processes are fully explored and implemented, where appropriate. The DVLA has made improvements to raise awareness of the importance of notifying a medical condition which may affect fitness to drive. Officials have worked closely with doctors and other medical professionals to publish revised guidance. The DVLA has also introduced an electronic service which allows drivers to notify certain medical conditions online. Letters to customers and medical professionals have been improved, helping to ensure that the DVLA receives the information it needs as quickly as possible.

The Government believes that there are already sufficient powers available to the relevant prosecution authorities.