The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Amendment to regulation 50 (disabilities prescribed in respect of Group 1 licences)

2.  After regulation 50(3) of the principal Regulations add—

“(4) Diabetes mellitus is prescribed for the purposes of Article 9(2) of the Order as a relevant disability in relation to an applicant for, or a person who holds, a Group 1 licence, who is being treated with insulin or another medication which carries a risk of inducing hypoglycaemia and—

(a) has experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia during the previous one year period; or

(b) has impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia.

(5) Diabetes mellitus is prescribed for the purposes of Article 9(4)(b) of the Order in relation to an applicant for a Group 1 licence who is being treated with insulin and—

(a) has had no more than one episode of severe hypoglycaemia during the period of one year immediately preceding the date when the licence is granted;

(b) does not have impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia; and

(c) satisfies the conditions prescribed in paragraph (6).

(6) The conditions are that the applicant—

(a) can demonstrate an understanding of the risks of hypoglycaemia and adequate control of the condition;

(b) undertakes appropriate blood glucose monitoring;

(c) is under regular medical review; and

(d) is a person in respect of whom the Department is satisfied that the driving of a vehicle in accordance with the licence is not likely to be a source of danger to the public.

(7) In this regulation—

“impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia” means the inability to detect the onset of hypoglycaemia because of a total absence of warning symptoms;

“severe hypoglycaemia” means an episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person.”.