Sláinte agus Tiomáint, the new medical fitness to drive guidelines

Sláinte agus Tiomáint, the new medical fitness to drive guidelines, has been developed by the National Programme Office for Traffic Medicine in consultation with RCPI Working Group on Traffic Medicine, which represents 36 organisations, including the ICO and other medical professionals, patient organisations, driver licensing authority, industry and drivers.

Medical Guidelines

Medical guidelines Sláinte agus Tiomáint: Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines (Group 1&2)  for Group 1 licence categories AM, A, A1, A2, B, BE or W and Group 2 Categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 or D1E i.e. truck and bus (with or without trailer have recently been revised and updated taking into account legislative changes made in relation to the standards for eyesight, epilepsy and diabetes, as well as international best practice. 

Irish and EU legislation requires that a driver should advise their driver licensing authority of any long-term or permanent injury or illness that may affect their safe driving ability.  The guidelines outline the circumstances in which a medical report is required and the medical conditions that will preclude you from driving a motorised vehicle. 

The guidelines set out clear minimum medical requirements and all applicants presenting themselves for medical examination should be assessed on the basis of the minimum standards outlined.

As in the past Group 2 guidelines require a higher standard of physical and mental fitness on the part of these drivers in light of the duration of time they spend behind the wheel and the greater size and weight of their vehicles. The updated Group 2 guidelines have been drafted following a public consultation process, including associations representing Group 2 drivers.

Further information is available on the RSA website here

8^th April 2015