DIABETES, DRIVING, AND THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER

The medical fitness of drivers who have diabetes is assessed primarily by general practitioners. A survey was made of the knowledge of driving and diabetes of 105 general practitioners in Glasgow. Ninety four (90%) knew that people who were insulin dependent were required by law to declare their condition to the driver and vehicle licensing centre in Swansea, but most were unaware that people with diabetes should not hold a "till 70" driving licence. Seventy one doctors (69%) claimed that patients were recalled individually for fitness to drive. The minimum visual activity for driving was stated correctly by 37 (35%). Only eight respondents knew that a hypoglycaemic diabetic driver can be charged with driving under the influence of a drug (Road Traffic Act 1972) and the practical advice that was given to patients about hypoglycaemia and driving was unsatisfactory. As a group the general practitioners showed deficiencies in knowledge regarding diabetes, suggesting a need for further postgraduate education. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00071447
• Corporate Authors:

  British Medical Association

  BMA House, Tavistock Square
  London WC1H 9JR,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Fisher, B M
  • Storer, A M
  • Frier, B M
• Publication Date: 1985-7-20

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 181
• Serial:
  • BMJ
  • Volume: 291
  • Issue Number: 6489
  • Publisher: British Medical Association
  • ISSN: 0959-8138
  • Serial URL: http://www.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Diabetes; Diabetics; Diseases and medical conditions; Driver licenses; Driver licensing; Drivers; Driving; Education; Errors; Human factors; Laws; Legislation; Personnel; Vision; Warning systems
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2115: Diabetes; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 1550: Driving licence; 6440: Error; 2257: Human factor; 1556: Legislation; 2154: Medical aspects; 102: Personnel; 8119: United Kingdom; 2066: Vision; 9113: Warning
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452131
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1986 12:00AM