Published on 5 May 2026
Making sure you’re eyesight and general fitness meet DVLA requirements is something everybody needs to do, regardless of age. It’s an important part of staying safe on the roads… but do you know how to check your driving fitness?
If you’re on medication or have any health issues, it’s important to take caution and check you're in a fit state to drive. And, if you’re over 70, you’ll need to renew your licence every three years.
- ● Check you’re fit to drive by getting your eyes tested regularly.
- ● Get in touch with the DVLA if you think a friend or family member may not be fit to drive.
- ● If you have a medical condition and don’t declare it to your insurer or the DVLA, you could receive a £1,000 fine or have your licence taken away.
What do we mean by ‘driving fitness’?
The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) have set certain medical requirements for drivers known as your ‘fitness to drive’. For example, can you read a number plate from 20 metres away? How’s your general health? Are you fit enough to be considered safe on the roads? This includes keeping to the laws concerning alcohol and drugs.
You’re also required to keep a valid driving licence and declare if there’s any change to your health.
How do I check if I’m fit to drive?
Your health is important and it can affect your driving. Here are some things you can do to check you’re safe to be on the road. Failing these checks could mean a fine and the possibility you’ll have your licence taken off you.
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Regular eye tests
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Check in with your local doctor
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Look out for side effects
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Know your limits
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Be honest
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Get assessed
Make sure your vision’s up to scratch with routine checks. If you need glasses or contacts to drive, you must be wearing them whenever you're in the driving seat.
If there’s a change in your medical condition or you have health concerns, ask your GP about it.
Read the labels on medication or speak to your pharmacist or GP. Some medications have possible side effects that may impact your fitness to drive.
Driving should never be attempted under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It’s highly dangerous and against the law, so keep under the legal limit and keep out of trouble.
Make a frank assessment of your own driving ability and reactions. If you don’t feel well, you’re tired or lack focus, it's better if you don’t drive.
If you're an older driver or you’ve recently experienced a change to your health, maybe it’s time to take an assessment to test your driving fitness.
Which health conditions can affect driving fitness?
You’re legally required to tell your car insurer of any medical condition, including diabetes, that could affect your driving ability. While diabetes may not make a difference to your car insurance, if you need to treat it with insulin it may affect your price.
Here’s a list of some of the common conditions drivers are required to declare on their car insurance and tell the DVLA.
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Changes to your eyesight
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Neurological conditions
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Physical conditions
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Blood sugar conditions
Conditions such as double vision or cataract symptoms could affect your ability to drive. It’s always best to get your doctor’s opinion.
If you have epilepsy, for example, you’re required to renew your driving licence more frequently. People with these types of conditions will need to have their medical condition reviewed regularly to test their driving fitness.
People modifying their car to help them drive with a physical disability need to tell their car insurer to make sure they get the right cover.
You must declare if you have insulin-treated diabetes or experience disabling hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar episodes) or you’re aware of your hypoglycaemia. You’ll also need to report if you develop complications (like issues with your vision) that affect your ability to drive safely.
GOV.UK is a good place to check to see if you need to declare a condition to the DVLA.
Avoid temptation to drive when you're tired
When it comes to staying safe on the road, it’s no surprise you should listen to the experts. They know what they’re talking about. Long drives can take a toll on your body and mind, so it's crucial to know when to take a break. When you’re tired, it affects your reaction times, reduces awareness and increases the likelihood of car accidents.
Here are some essential tips to help you stay alert and reduce the chance you’ll have an accident:
- Plan breaks on your road trip to relax and recharge.
- Take a 15-minute break every two hours when driving long distances.
- Stop for at least 45 minutes after every 4.5 hours of driving to help fight fatigue.
- Keep your daily driving limit to no more than 9 hours.
Before a long drive, you can plan your journey in advance to stop at services for a much-needed rest. Stopping on the hard shoulder is dangerous and should be avoided.
Everyone knows a lack of sleep leads to fatigue, which reduces our driving ability and puts everyone's safety at risk.
Watch out for the warning signs of being tired when driving, including:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Yawning
- Heavy eyelids
Lots of drivers still underestimate the danger of driving tired but award-winning driving safety expert, Paul Ripley, knows the risks: “Driving when you're tired isn’t just about feeling a little sluggish - it seriously affects your ability to react, make decisions and control your vehicle safely.”
To better understand the effects of driving when tired, we ran an experiment comparing tired drivers, who’d had less than 2-hours sleep, and non-tired drivers, who were rested as normal.
Our participants completed four driving tasks under controlled conditions. The results revealed clear evidence that driving while fatigued is a serious hazard.
After reviewing the results and discussing with expert instructors, Paul observed that drivers from various age groups and experience levels all showed a decline in performance when fatigued.
He noted that tired drivers often made critical errors in judgement, particularly in quick decision-making scenarios. For instance, during a hazard recognition test, some drivers turned in the wrong direction, despite clear instructions, highlighting the dangers of fatigue.
The overall test results showed the tired drivers made twice as many mistakes as those that were well-rested. Paul concluded that our “experiment shows a lack of sleep can make you a danger on the road.”
The test results for each exercise showed the difference in ability between the two control groups:
- Emergency braking – tired drivers took longer to stop (3.87s vs 3.69s), increasing the risk of a collision when driving.
- Parallel parking – fatigued drivers took longer (42s vs 37.5s) and made more errors (8 vs 4).
- Slalom exercise – tired drivers were slower (26s vs 23s) and less precise (7 errors vs 4).
- Real-world course – fatigued drivers scored lower (71% vs 77%) and made more minor errors (21 vs 10).
Our data shows that fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, reduced focus and less control at the wheel.
In the UK, fatigue is tied to 10-20% of crashes. Our claims data also shows most serious accidents happen in the early hours of the morning. At 1.30am, over half (54%) of accidents lead to vehicles being written off, compared to just 23% at 6pm.
The average claim in 2023 at 1.30am was nearly £8,000, while late afternoon accidents cost around £5,700. As the night wears on, costs soar, with 4am claims averaging over £20,000 in 2023, and a staggering £50,000 in 2022.
Despite these risks, 80% of drivers admit their skills and safety drop when they're tired, yet one in four can't recognise the signs of fatigue.
Driving tired is a serious concern and it’s crucial you make sure you’re covered by a suitable level of car insurance in the event of an accident.
Tips for drivers and how to avoid tired driving
It may be a worrying issue but there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of driving when you’re tired.
We’ve put together some useful practical tips on how to drive safely and keep your focus sharp:
- Talk to your doctor about any sleep issues that may affect your ability to stay alert.
- Make sure you get 7-8 hours’ sleep before hitting the road and take breaks every two hours to stay fresh.
- Ride with a friend who can drive, so you can take turns behind the wheel.
- Have caffeinated drinks before you leave and be sure to set off at a reasonable time.
- Be aware of medications that can cause drowsiness and know their effects before driving.
Taking these tips into account and being aware of high-risk times like early morning (2am-6am) and afternoon (2pm-4pm), you should prioritise your safety and others on the road and help keep the tiredness at bay.
Driving while tired is a serious risk. By listening to the expert’s warnings and taking the necessary precautions and breaks, you can protect yourself and other road-users.
But even the safest drivers need backup. Make sure you’re covered with car insurance, so you can drive with peace of mind, no matter the situation.
What if I think someone’s not fit to be driving?
Knowing how to approach the subject will help if you want to talk to someone you know, like an older driver, about potentially hanging up the keys. Unless the DVLA needs to get involved, it’s ultimately up to the driver but it’s vital you talk to them if you think they’re no longer fit to drive or you have any safety concerns (for them or other road users).
Listen to what they have to say first – it’s a tough decision that may mean a sacrifice in terms of their mobility, freedom and self-sufficiency. Have a think before you arrange the chat and research different ways they’ll still be able to get about.
Here are a few things you might like to mention when discussing the topic of giving up driving:
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Alternative means of travel
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Modifications
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Getting assessed
Could they use public transport? Look over any buses or trains that may be available to them. Are they eligible for a discount? Your help could make it feel less daunting.
Could they adapt their driving technique? Modifying their car with features such as hand controls or power steering cushions (which improve steering performance) could increase their fitness to drive.
If they feel they’re still fit to drive, would they be willing to take a driving assessment to prove it? They could also ask their GP to give them a ‘fit to drive’ test. At the very least it might put your minds at ease.
Remember to tread carefully and demonstrate a level of understanding when you approach this topic, though. You’d forgive them for reacting defensively when you first mention giving up driving. If they get angry or upset, be patient. Take a breather or have a cup of tea before trying again. They may be glad to have your support.
If you're worried about someone that’s still absolutely against taking themselves off the road, you can get in touch with the DVLA. But take a minute to think about how else you might encourage them to stop driving before taking this step, as it could affect your relationship in the long term.
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