DVLA struggling to change diabetes law
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c.hris.tintlatt@rhi.co.uk THE UK RISKS BEING referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to introduce new laws overturning an outright ban on diabetes sufferers driving HGVs,
The DVLA admits it cannot guarantee it can change the law by the August deadline because it must first carry out a public consultation (CM 22 April).
However, it also says lit has not vet told the European Commission (EC) it is struggling to meet the deadline.
The news is a blow to professional drivers who had to give up their career due to their health and who have campaigned for a change in the law However, the EC says any member state
t, • that fails to introduce a directive in time can
be issued with a formal warning and deg mand for a swift resolution. Ultimately, the case can be referred to European law lords and the UK could even be fined.
An EC spokeswoman explains: "In case a member state fails to transpose a directive in time, an infringement procedure is launched by the EC for noncommunication. It starts with a letter of formal notice and may be followed by a reasoned opinion, possibly leading to the matter being brought to the attention of the ECJ."
Charity Diabetes UK has also waded into the row its director of care, information and advocacy, Simon O'Neill, says: "We would be extremely disappointed if they did not implement the changes in time and will follow up accordingly with a campaign if this was to be the case.
A DVLA spokesman denies that the forthcoming general election is delaying the introduction: "No, that's not the case. There's going to be a form of public consultation, but I can't give you a time scale."