Prosecutions for being unfit to drive surge in just three years

• Number of drivers receiving endorsements for being medically unfit to drive increases by 238% between 2022 and 2025

• Casualty numbers associated with illness remain stubbornly high since the turn of the decade

The number of drivers receiving endorsements on their licence for driving while medically unfit to do so has increased by more than 200% in the last four years, with the steepest increases among working age individuals.

DVLA data obtained and analysed by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart* shows that the number of motorists receiving endorsements for driving after a licence has been cancelled (revoked) or refused on medical grounds (LC50), driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence (LC30) and driving with uncorrected defective eyesight (MS70) increased from 198 in 2022 to 669 in 2025.

Most of the endorsements were for driving after licence revocation, with these accounting for 646 out of 669 of the three categories in 2025. Within this category, it is working age adults accounting for 84% of prosecutions, while those aged 65 and over account for 10%.

Separate DVLA data obtained** by IAM RoadSmart shows that between 2020 and 2022, the average time taken for drivers to receive a medical decision doubled from an average of 49 working days to 96 in 2022. However, measures taken by the DVLA since then has seen the average waiting time fall back to 45 days in 2025 – the lowest since the pandemic. In 2024, the number of decisions made by the DVLA’s assessment team was more than 900,000, resulting in just over 59,000 (or 7%) individuals having their driving entitlement revoked.

In 2025, the were 1,192 fatal and serious injuries on the road where defective eyesight or illness and/or disability were recorded as a factor in a collision. These numbers have been broadly stable since 2019.

Guidance states that you must tell the DVLA (GB) if you have a driving licence and

• Develop a notifiable medical condition or disability

• A condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence.

Those with a car or motorcycle licence can report a condition online. However, those with a bus, coach or lorry licence need to send a form or questionnaire to DVLA. There are different forms for different conditions and disabilities.

Drivers will need to surrender their licence to the DVLA in cases where:

• A doctor tells them to stop driving for 3 months or more

• A medical condition affects their ability to drive safely and lasts for 3 months or more

• They do not meet the required standards for driving because of the medical condition

Drivers can reapply for a licence if fitness once again reaches required standards. Failing to disclose a condition to the DVLA may result in a fine of up to £1,000, while driving after a medical revocation is an offence under section 87 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act. Meanwhile, points will be added to the licence if it is under review with the DVLA medical team.

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and External Communications, Nicholas Lyes said: “While the numbers are relatively low, they still equate to two people every day and the trend is heading in the wrong direction. Greater use of ANPR enforcement is likely to be the most plausible cause behind the increase, but it still paints a worrying picture of individuals that are unwilling to stop driving, despite being told not to.

“Having a medical condition that impacts on your driving is undoubtedly stressful for the individual because of the uncertainty and the potential loss of independence that comes with effectively surrendering or losing your licence. We also understand that waiting for a decision from medical experts can be frustrating.

However, drivers have a responsibility to keep everyone safe – themselves and others on the road and no matter how concerned you might be about needing to travel, driving when unfit to do so could cause serious injury or worse, both for you and others."

ENDS

Notes to editors