'Brits drive regardless of medical conditions'

Many Britons may be putting more at risk than a car insurance claim by getting in the driving seat with a medical condition.

A recent study by the AA showed almost a fifth of people know someone who has driven with an illness that has meant they should not get behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, research by the Department of Transport has also shown that motorists who suffer from medical complaints would like to receive advice on whether they are able to drive or not.

In a report entitled Fitness to drive, the department revealed that only a third of motorists who should have been given advice on whether they were fit to drive received such information from a medical professional without having to ask for it.

Three-quarters of people were not correctly advised with regards to the DVLA rules and the majority of patients felt they should be given information about their fitness behind the wheel.

AA President Edmund King commented that up to six million motorists may be driving when they know they should not be on medical grounds.

Drivers should beware the risks of doing this, which could extend past car and van insurance claims.

"The research for government also illustrates that much more needs to be done by the healthcare profession in terms of advising patients correctly when they should not drive," Mr King added.

Motorists may also find they suffer from sudden illnesses at the wheel, which can include ailments such as a seizure or stroke. In such cases a driver may be covered depending on their levels of insurance.

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The views expressed within the article are entirely those of Adfero Ltd and are not those of the BGL Group