CHSS Fact sheet Driving after a stroke - Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

FACTSHEETGRoup 2 LiCENCE HoLdERS – Lorries and busesThe medical standards are much stricter in this category because of the size and weightof the vehicles and also the length of time you may spend at the wheel in the course ofyour occupation.• The DVLA has to be notified and your licence will be revoked for at least 12 monthsfollowing a stroke or TIA.• You can be considered for licensing after this period provided that there is no barringresidual impairment likely to affect safe driving and there are no significant risk factors.• Licensing may be subject to satisfactory medical reports including exercise ECGtesting.TaxisThe Transport Select Committee in 1995recommended that local councils should applyGroup 2 medical standards to taxi drivers.Therefore you should check with your locallicensing council that you are still licensed todrive your taxi.When to contact the dVLAThe DVLA produces an information booklet ‘Car or motorcycle drivers who have had astroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)’. It states the following:You do not need to tell us about a TIA.If you have had a stroke you do need to tell us if any of the following apply:• One month after the stroke you are still suffering from weakness of the arms or legs,visual disturbance, or problems with co-ordination, memory or understanding.• You have had a seizure of any kind, other than within the 24 hours after the stroke.• You needed brain surgery as part of the treatment for the stroke.• You have had more than one stroke within the past three months.• Your doctors have said they are concerned about your ability to drive safely.