1. Driving and SleepDriving and Sleep
ApnoeaApnoea

2. Facts you should know about excessiveFacts you should know about excessive
sleepiness/tiredness and drivingsleepiness/tiredness and driving
There is no excuse for falling asleep at the wheel and it is not an excuse in law.There is no excuse for falling asleep at the wheel and it is not an excuse in law.
•• Up to one fifth of accidents on motorways and other monotonous types ofUp to one fifth of accidents on motorways and other monotonous types of
roads may be caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel.roads may be caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
•• 18 – 30 year old males are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel when driving18 – 30 year old males are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel when driving
late at night.late at night.
•• Modern life styles such as early morning starts, shift work, late and nightModern life styles such as early morning starts, shift work, late and night
socialising, often lead to excessive tiredness by interfering with adequatesocialising, often lead to excessive tiredness by interfering with adequate
rest.rest.
•• Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have a degree of warning.Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have a degree of warning.
•• Natural sleepiness/tiredness occurs after eating a large meal.Natural sleepiness/tiredness occurs after eating a large meal.
•• Changes in body rhythm produce a natural increased tendency to sleep atChanges in body rhythm produce a natural increased tendency to sleep at
two parts of the day;two parts of the day;
Midnight – 6amMidnight – 6am
2pm – 4pm2pm – 4pm
•• Although no one should drink and drive at any time, alcohol consumed in theAlthough no one should drink and drive at any time, alcohol consumed in the
afternoon may be twice as potent in terms of producing sleepiness andafternoon may be twice as potent in terms of producing sleepiness and
driving impairment as the same amount taken in the evening.11driving impairment as the same amount taken in the evening.11
•• Prescribed or over-the-counter medication can cause sleepiness as a sidePrescribed or over-the-counter medication can cause sleepiness as a side
effect. Always check the label if you intend to drive.effect. Always check the label if you intend to drive.

3. Conditions WhichConditions Which
Cause daytimeCause daytime
SleepinessSleepiness
 Sleep apnoeaSleep apnoea
 MS (multiple sclerosis)MS (multiple sclerosis)
 MND (motor neuron disease)MND (motor neuron disease)
 Parkinson’s diseaseParkinson’s disease
 NarcolepsyNarcolepsy
 Conditions which effect the centralConditions which effect the central
nervous systemnervous system

4. DVLA -DVLA - Obstructive SleepObstructive Sleep
Apnoea Syndrome and DrivingApnoea Syndrome and Driving
 You must tell DVLA if you have obstructiveYou must tell DVLA if you have obstructive
sleep apnoea syndrome or obstructive sleepsleep apnoea syndrome or obstructive sleep
apnoea (also known as sleep apnoea) withapnoea (also known as sleep apnoea) with
symptoms that affect your ability to drivesymptoms that affect your ability to drive
safely.safely.
 You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tellYou can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell
DVLA about a medical condition that affectsDVLA about a medical condition that affects
your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’reyour driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re
involved in an accident as a result.involved in an accident as a result.
 Ask your doctor or consultant if you’re not sureAsk your doctor or consultant if you’re not sure
how your condition affects your ability to drivehow your condition affects your ability to drive
safely.safely.

5. Sleepiness and DrivingSleepiness and Driving
 You must tell DVLA if you are veryYou must tell DVLA if you are very
sleepy during the day because of asleepy during the day because of a
medical condition.medical condition.
 You can be fined up to £1,000 if youYou can be fined up to £1,000 if you
don’t tell DVLA about a medical conditiondon’t tell DVLA about a medical condition
that affects your driving. You may bethat affects your driving. You may be
prosecuted if you’re involvedprosecuted if you’re involved

6. Cars and motorcyclesCars and motorcycles
(Group 1 entitlement)(Group 1 entitlement)
 Driving must stop if there is obstructiveDriving must stop if there is obstructive
sleep apnoea syndrome and symptomssleep apnoea syndrome and symptoms
including excessive daytime sleepinessincluding excessive daytime sleepiness
severe enough to impair safe driving.severe enough to impair safe driving.
Driving will again be permitted whenDriving will again be permitted when
satisfactory control of the symptoms hassatisfactory control of the symptoms has
been achievedbeen achieved

7. Driving Lorries,Driving Lorries,
Minibuses or Buses –Minibuses or Buses –
(Group 2)(Group 2)
 Driving must stop if there is obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome andDriving must stop if there is obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and
symptoms including excessive daytime sleepiness severe enough tosymptoms including excessive daytime sleepiness severe enough to
likely impair safe driving. Driving will be permitted once satisfactorylikely impair safe driving. Driving will be permitted once satisfactory
control of the symptoms has been achieved, together with ongoingcontrol of the symptoms has been achieved, together with ongoing
compliance with treatment, confirmed by consultant/specialist opinioncompliance with treatment, confirmed by consultant/specialist opinion
 Driving licence renewal after 45: lorries, minibuses and busesDriving licence renewal after 45: lorries, minibuses and buses
 If you’re 45 or older, you’ll need to renew your licence to drive lorries,If you’re 45 or older, you’ll need to renew your licence to drive lorries,
minibuses or buses every 5 years. When you reach 65, you’ll need to renewminibuses or buses every 5 years. When you reach 65, you’ll need to renew
your licence every year.your licence every year.
 56 days before your driving licence runs out, you’ll receive 2 forms from56 days before your driving licence runs out, you’ll receive 2 forms from
DVLA:DVLA:
 an ‘application for renewal of lorry and bus entitlement’ (D47P)an ‘application for renewal of lorry and bus entitlement’ (D47P)
 a ‘medical examination report’ form (D4)a ‘medical examination report’ form (D4)

8. Reapplying for yourReapplying for your
Driving LicenceDriving Licence
 How to reapplyHow to reapply
 DVLA will send you a letter when your licenceDVLA will send you a letter when your licence
is taken away or surrendered, or if youris taken away or surrendered, or if your
application for a driving licence is refused. Thisapplication for a driving licence is refused. This
tells you if there’s a period of time you need totells you if there’s a period of time you need to
wait before getting a new licence.wait before getting a new licence.
 You can then reapply 8 weeks before the endYou can then reapply 8 weeks before the end
of this period.of this period.
 Check with your doctor that you can meet theCheck with your doctor that you can meet the
medical standards for driving before reapplyingmedical standards for driving before reapplying
for your licence.for your licence.

9. Driving before your licence isDriving before your licence is
returnedreturned
 Once DVLA has received your valid applicationOnce DVLA has received your valid application
you can drive before you receive your licenceyou can drive before you receive your licence
as long as you:as long as you:
 are qualified to drive - and haven’t beenare qualified to drive - and haven’t been
disqualifieddisqualified
 haven’t been refused a licence for medicalhaven’t been refused a licence for medical
reasons in the pastreasons in the past
 don’t expect to be refused a licence for medicaldon’t expect to be refused a licence for medical
reasons (if in doubt, check with your doctor)reasons (if in doubt, check with your doctor)
 keep to any special conditions which apply tokeep to any special conditions which apply to
the licencethe licence

10. Car InsuranceCar Insurance
 According to advice given by the Association for BritishAccording to advice given by the Association for British
Insurers (ABI), there should be no effect on insuranceInsurers (ABI), there should be no effect on insurance
premiums for drivers who have been diagnosed withpremiums for drivers who have been diagnosed with
OSAS where the symptoms are being controlledOSAS where the symptoms are being controlled
through treatment, providing you have informed thethrough treatment, providing you have informed the
DVLA and have been given permission to drive.DVLA and have been given permission to drive.
 However, your insurance company is entitled toHowever, your insurance company is entitled to
request medical details for any condition currentlyrequest medical details for any condition currently
under treatment, as are the police following severeunder treatment, as are the police following severe
accidents. If OSAS was undeclared, your insurer mayaccidents. If OSAS was undeclared, your insurer may
refuse to support any claimrefuse to support any claim

11. Last Word DVLALast Word DVLA
 You might still be able to drive with aYou might still be able to drive with a
notifiable condition. You’ll need tonotifiable condition. You’ll need to
answer questions about how youranswer questions about how your
condition affects you – your informationcondition affects you – your information
will stay confidential.will stay confidential.
 Speak to your doctor or specialist aboutSpeak to your doctor or specialist about
driving.driving.
Information from :- https://www.gov.uk/browse/drivingInformation from :- https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving