Recurring concern
Inadequate driver licensing controls for road safety
- Reports that mention this concern
- 24
- Times this concern has been raised
- 38
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 27
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.
What is 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
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Reports and published responses 24 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Failure of HGV medical licence assessments to verify driver-provided medical information against medical records
Linked response
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Own-GP D4 examinations are not required because they may impose significant time and cost impacts, and GPs need not provide this private work.
-
Concerns raised2
Lack of legal restrictions on the licences of young or newly qualified drivers
Vehicle licensing regime permitting the carrying of young passengers
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Department for Transport
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Department for Transport
Graduated driving licences are not being considered as a response to disproportionate risks affecting young drivers.
-
Concerns raised2
Lack of legal licence restrictions for young and/or newly qualified drivers
Vehicle licensing regime permitting the carrying of young persons as passengers in these circumstances
Linked response
- Department for Transport
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Department for Transport
Graduated Driving Licences are not currently being considered, although other options to address young-driver risk are being explored.
-
Concerns raised2
Lack of legal restrictions on the licences of young and newly qualified drivers
Vehicle licensing regime permitting young passengers to be carried by young and newly qualified drivers
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of independent medical scrutiny of the continued ability of drivers aged over 70 to drive
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Department for Transport
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
Department for Transport
Conduct a Call for Evidence on driver licensing for people with medical conditions.
-
Department for Transport
Analyse responses to the Call for Evidence on driver licensing for people with medical conditions.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
-
Department for Transport
There is little evidence that mandatory testing or medical examination for older drivers would improve road safety.
-
Department for Transport
Current licensing arrangements for drivers renewing at age 70 are considered a proportionate balance of fairness, road safety and individual interests.
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to require medical fitness checks for drivers over 70
Lack of an upper legal age limit for drivers
Linked response
- Department for Transport
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Department for Transport
Existing medical declaration, notification, investigation and age-70 renewal arrangements are considered balanced and proportionate without additional medical checks.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to inform the DVLA of medical conditions relevant to safe driving
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Emsworth Surgery
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Emsworth Surgery
Write to patients with epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease to remind them of DVLA notification responsibilities and identify current drivers for record updates.
-
Concerns raised1
Potential inadequacy of driving-licence surrender time frames for seizure risk
Linked response
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Ask the medical advisory panel to review the required seizure-free period before driving licence reinstatement.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
The 12-month seizure-free standard and treatment, appointment and reporting declarations are considered sufficient to ensure only low-risk drivers receive licences.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of mandatory objective fitness testing before automatic licence renewal for older drivers
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of mechanisms for formal medical review of drivers with deteriorating or fluctuating health
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Department for Transport
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
-
Department for Transport
Independent medical or driving assessments are already used in complex cases, so broader mandatory assessment is not adopted.
-
Department for Transport
Mandatory medical or practical assessments would not be introduced without evidence of improved road safety because they could be costly and overly bureaucratic.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026