First reported 8 Aug 2014•Latest report 1 Apr 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes licence-status accuracy, medical-fitness review and graduated or risk-based restrictions for inexperienced, medically high-risk or otherwise higher-risk drivers.
Not included
Driver training or enforcement where licensing controls are adequate
Vehicle design, road layout or telematics controls that do not affect licensing entitlement
Individual unlawful driving despite an accurate and appropriate licence decision
Reports
24
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
38
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
27
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department for Transport21
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency6
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency3
Association of British Insurers1
Brake1
Cambridgeshire County Council1
Chartered Insurance Institute1
Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation1
Emsworth Surgery1
Financial Conduct Authority1
General Optical Council1
Gwynedd Council1
Recipient name withheld1
Snap Group Limited1
Transport for London1
Ministerial department21
Road and vehicle agency8
Registered charity2
English county council1
Financial regulator1
Health and care professional regulator1
Multi-service care provider1
Private limited company1
Professional membership body1
Public transport authority1
Trade association1
Welsh county council1
Type not available1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
East Riding and Hull
Concerns raised3
Lack of examiner provision to withdraw unsupervised driving after failure to meet required standards
Ability of non-designated-country nationals who fail GB driving tests to revert to driving on a foreign or international licence
Lack of equivalent supervision and inexperience-warning restrictions for non-designated-country nationals who fail a GB driving test
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Examine the domestic and international legal framework to identify measures addressing continued unsupervised driving after a failed practical test.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 7 April 2026.
Cumbria
Concerns raised2
Insufficiently robust arrangements for ensuring that drivers with serious conditions have their licences properly reviewed
Failure of drivers to self-report potentially significant conditions to the DVLA
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Review and improve self-declaration forms and associated notification processes.
Stated by MP, Minister for Local TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 March 2026.
Action
Raise public awareness of the legal duty to notify the DVLA about medical conditions and the consequences of non-notification.
Stated by MP, Minister for Local TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 March 2026.
Action
Reinforce existing General Medical Council guidance on notifying the DVLA when patients continue driving despite advice to notify.
Stated by MP, Minister for Local TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 March 2026.
Action
Deliver educational sessions for healthcare professionals encouraging direct DVLA notifications when patients cannot or will not notify themselves.
Stated by MP, Minister for Local TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 March 2026.
Action
Continue engagement with regulatory bodies, clinical networks and healthcare professionals to identify barriers to DVLA notifications.
Stated by MP, Minister for Local TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 March 2026.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Lack of adult supervision restrictions for 17-year-old drivers after passing a driving test
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Further restrictions on newly qualified drivers, such as passenger limits, are not being considered because the proposed approach strikes an appropriate balance.
Stated by Department for TransportNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
Coventry and Warwickshire
Concerns raised4
Failure to assess new drivers’ understanding of passenger effects on braking, stability and handling
Failure of licensing arrangements to address combined inexperience, peer presence and full vehicle loading
Failure of the standard driving test to require experience on challenging rural roads
Failure of licensing arrangements to provide structured progression aligned to early post-test risk
This report raised 15 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Release previously undertaken research on stronger licensing measures for young and newly qualified drivers.
Stated by Brake, the road-safety charityStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Action
Advocate to government for young and novice driver safety measures, including progressive licensing, through the Road Safety Strategy.
Stated by The ABIStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Action
Implement updates to the car practical driving test, including additional higher-speed-road driving where locations allow.
Stated by Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Action
Review and update driving-test-centre routes to include relevant high-speed, high-risk rural roads where locations allow.
Stated by Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Action
Consult on a Minimum Learning Period and related pre-test measures, including a possible mandatory modular learner syllabus.
Stated by Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The driving test cannot replicate every scenario a driver may encounter after qualification.
Stated by Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards AgencyUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Because vehicle loading and passenger dynamics vary, the test relies on core competencies to support safe adaptation across different conditions.
Stated by Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards AgencyExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Further restrictions on newly qualified drivers, including passenger or nighttime limits, are not currently being considered.
Stated by Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards AgencyNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
Cumbria
Concerns raised1
Reliance on drivers to self-refer medical impairments to the DVLA
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Carry out a comprehensive review of the self-declaration forms.
Stated by Department for TransportStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 October 2025.
Action
Consider ways to raise awareness of notifying the DVLA and the consequences of failing to do so.
Stated by Department for TransportStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 October 2025.
Action
Continue engaging healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies to reinforce notification when patients cannot or will not notify the DVLA.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 October 2025.
Action
Review existing evidence alongside findings from recent inquests.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 October 2025.
Action
Consider the process for self-declaration as part of the evidence review.
Stated by Department for TransportStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 October 2025.
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised1
Reliance of vehicle licensing on drivers’ self-reporting of medical conditions
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Continue engaging healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies to identify circumstances where appropriate DVLA notifications could be encouraged or supported.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 May 2025.
Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen
Concerns raised2
Lack of periodic visual checks for licensed drivers
Failure of driver self-reporting to verify visual fitness
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Consider inquest evidence and potential legal changes to driver licensing for people with medical conditions, including self-declaration.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 April 2025.
Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen
Concerns raised2
Failure of drivers with dementia to self-report medical conditions to the DVLA
Failure to report multiple medical conditions requiring DVLA monitoring
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Continue engaging healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies to identify and address obstacles to reporting conditions when patients lack insight or capacity.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 April 2025.
Action
Consider research and evidence, including any additional research needed, to inform potential future changes to the driver licensing system.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 April 2025.
Action
Continue working with healthcare professionals, driving organisations and regulatory bodies to identify and assess people who pose road-safety risks because of unrecognised medical conditions.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 April 2025.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Inexperienced drivers carrying young passengers during the first six months after passing their driving test
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Graduated Driving Licences are not being considered, although young driver safety is being addressed through existing restrictions and the THINK! campaign.
Stated by Department for TransportNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure of the online licence checker to reflect a driver’s authorised driving status
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes licence-status accuracy, medical-fitness review and graduated or risk-based restrictions for inexperienced, medically high-risk or otherwise higher-risk drivers.
