Irish and EU legislation requires that a driver should advise their driver licensing authority of any long-term or permanent injury or illness that may affect their safe driving ability.
Be a responsible driver
It is your responsibility as a driver to:
- take any prescribed medication and manage your condition(s)
- stop driving if any of the medications you are taking for your condition have any side effects that affect your ability to drive – for example drowsiness
- tell the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) and your insurance provider of any long-term or permanent injury or illness that may affect your ability to drive safely
- comply with the requirements of your licence as appropriate, including periodic medical reviews
- get professional advice on your medical fitness to drive if you develop a medical condition during the term of your licence
You are committing an offence if you carry on driving after you become aware that you are not fit to do so. “Awareness” can be your own awareness, that is, things you notice yourself without being diagnosed by a doctor. For example, dizziness, fainting and so on. Awareness can also be as a result of a warning not to drive from your doctor.
If, following consultation with your GP, your medical condition is one that must be notified to the NDLS, you will need to have a medical report form completed and make an application for a change of personal (medical) details. This can be done by applying online or booking an appointment at any NDLS centre.