Doctors overlooking 'fitness to drive'

MOST health professionals are unable to distinguish reliably between medically unfit drivers, borderline drivers and fit drivers.

According to a government-commissioned report, doctors receive little training on the medical aspects of patients' fitness to drive (FTD) It was possible for a patient to "travel the care pathway without any of the healthcare professionals advising them of their FTD", the report said.

Most doctors were aware of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's medical standards on FTD but they showed poor knowledge of how the standards applied to specific conditions.

Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at insurance company Esure, said: "A car is potentially a lethal weapon in the hands of a driver who is unfit to drive for any reason. This problem has to be grasped and not left to chance."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We have already started to address the issues set out in this report."