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Mr. Drew: The problem is that medical intervention should kick that off. I argue that, very often, doctors will not take the initiative and they leave it up to the individual.
Dr. Ladyman: I understand my hon. Friend's concern and I will say in a moment how we might address that. The process of self-declaration and other issues affecting competence to drive are exactly the same for macular degeneration as they are for any other condition that affects a person's eyesight.
In addition to self-declaration, the DVLA frequently receives notification of potentially unfit drivers from third parties, particularly the police, doctors or concerned relatives or friends. If someone wants to inform us confidentially that someone is unfit to drive, we are happy to receive that information.
We also aim to ensure that doctors are well informed about the relevance of certain medical conditions to driving, and they obviously have a role in advising patients whether they should continue to drive. The DVLA issues guidance to all GPs for that purpose, which includes advising people who suffer from macular degeneration. In addition, the General Medical Council has issued guidelines to advise doctors to inform the DVLA about unfit patients who may have failed to declare themselves. In other words, the GMC expects doctors to do what my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud suggests, although doctors are not required to do so by law.
Present driver licensing arrangements are based on the second EU directive on driving licences—91/439/EEC, for those hon. Members who want to dig it out
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and read it for themselves—which sets minimum standards of medical fitness for driving, and on the advice of the Secretary of State's six honorary medical advisory panels. The panels comprise eminent medical practitioners and medical scientists who are acknowledged experts in their field.
Eyesight is, of course, a crucial element in medical fitness to drive. All drivers, of whatever age, are required to demonstrate their ability to read a number plate from a distance of 20.5 m and to inform the DVLA if they are no longer able to do so. That long-standing test has been effective in determining whether those who wish to drive have adequate vision. It is easy for the police to conduct and it complies with the current visual standard for driving set out in the second EU directive.
If, after an investigation by the DVLA's medical advisers, a driver is found to be unfit, or if co-operation is withheld, his or her licence may be revoked. In some cases, a driver may also be required to re-sit a driving test. Courts, too, have powers to require someone to take a driving test if, following a motoring offence, they have reason to doubt the individual's competence to drive. Those arrangements have, in general, been found to work satisfactorily.
Although there is no denying the potential danger posed by older drivers where they are unfit on our roads, there is no justification on road safety grounds for depriving older people of the right to drive, providing they can satisfy the DVLA that they are medically fit to do so. From time to time, there will be isolated cases where drivers evade those checks and endanger themselves and others by driving when they should not do so, but it is not clear at present that more stringent measures, such as compulsory medical examinations, eye tests or additional driving tests, would be the best way forward. The Government's overall aim is to maintain a balance between freedom of movement for older drivers and road safety for everyone.
As my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East said, in 2005 the DVLA appointed consultants to undertake a fundamental review of its medical driver licensing system. The review was commissioned because the current arrangements have been in place since the early 1970s and to take into account significant demographic changes, medical developments and changes in public expectation that have occurred since then. The review looked at all aspects of the process for declaring, evidencing and assessing medical fitness to drive across all age groups. Recommendations for change centred on better identifying those whose fitness to drive needs to be formally assessed by the DVLA and on improved assessment and monitoring of those cases.
In spite of press speculation about the possible introduction of cognitive and eyesight tests for drivers over the age of 75, as my hon. Friend has suggested again today, no decisions have yet been taken on the research findings. I can assure my hon. Friends that we will take account of their comments and views and the tragic case of Amicie when reaching those decisions. My
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hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East was correct to suggest that we have promised that, when we make those recommendations and decisions, there will be full consultation on them.
It is essential to find ways to help older people to drive safely for as long as they are fit to do so. That is being done in a number of ways, including with research into developing training, information, counselling and driving assessment and support tools for older drivers. The 16 mobility centres in the UK, which make up the Forum of Mobility Centres, provide invaluable advice for elderly and disabled motorists to enable them to make informed decisions about their mobility needs. Such information ranges from advice on car adaptations and vehicle access to the individual assessment of driving ability. The forum, which in England is grant funded by the Department for Transport, includes the Department's own mobility advice and vehicle information service. The mobility centres are also used by the DVLA to carry out assessments to inform medical fitness to drive decisions. I will also take into account the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East about the Motability scheme. I assure him that, when people approach the scheme, it gives them advice about whether they need to declare any particular medical condition. However, he makes some interesting suggestions about the range of vehicles that Motability provides.
A number of local authority schemes have been developed to improve older drivers' skills. The Driving Standards Agency's "Arrive Alive Classic" programme, which is aimed at older people's organisations, offers a wide range of relevant information for older drivers. We also encourage the establishment of refresher courses for older drivers who wish to brush up their driving skills.
Most recently, I was pleased to note the announcement by the Institute of Advanced Motorists of its intention to enter this market in 2006. I also welcome the institute's new advisory leaflet for older drivers "Staying Focused on Road Safety", which complements the Department's own "Drive On!" publication. The quality of information and variety of opportunities for assessment and training for older drivers are already quite impressive and expanding. As more drivers reach their later years and demand increases, I am sure that these services will make an even greater contribution to ensuring safe mobility for older drivers and improving road safety for the whole community.
My hon. Friend has raised some important issues that deserve close further examination. He has my assurance that I will ensure that his views are taken into account and that this issue is given the detailed examination that it deserves.
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