It’s a common condition that 1.5 million people in the UK suffer from, and anything that might affect their driving must be declared
Motorists throughout the UK have been issued a warning about undisclosed health conditions that could result in them losing their licence and facing a substantial fine.
It is essential that drivers notify DVLA about any health conditions as these could affect their ability to drive safely, with the government website cautioning that “you may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result”. Alongside the threat of licence removal, drivers could face fines of up to £1,000.
Nevertheless, there are numerous health conditions that motorists are unaware must be reported to DVLA, including a widespread one that impacts 1.5 million people in the country.
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Research conducted by Cinch, an online used car retailer, discovered that 1.5 million people across the UK are diagnosed with a condition called sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea is a serious medical condition that triggers repeated interruptions in breathing whilst sleeping. The most prevalent type is obstructive sleep apnoea, which occurs when the throat muscles relax and constrict the airway, creating a blockage of airflow, reports the Express.
Those suffering from this medical condition are advised to refrain from driving as it leads to extreme drowsiness that compromises your capacity to drive safely.
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Cinch, said: “With excessive sleepiness causing poor concentration and reaction times, effects of sleep apnoea can be very dangerous behind the wheel.”
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If you have a confirmed diagnosis of moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) with excessive sleepiness, either narcolepsy or cataplexy or both, or any other sleep condition that has caused excessive sleepiness for at least three months, it’s crucial to inform the DVLA.
Alongside significant daytime sleepiness, other symptoms of sleep apnoea include making gasping, snorting or choking noises, frequent waking, loud snoring, mood swings, and morning headaches.
The NHS advises that “it can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea” and suggests asking someone to stay with you while you sleep to monitor for the symptoms.
To discover which other conditions must be declared to the DVLA, you can visit the agency’s online checker page.