Taxi Driver Online

The local hackney carriage organisation was the only dissenting voice against implementing the Diabetic C1 standards. The local private hire association were in favour. The council decided to retain their current policy on Diabetic drivers.
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MEETING LICENSING & REGULATORY COMMITTEE

DATE 1 SEPTEMBER 2006

8. REVISED MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR LICENSED TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS

Members considered a report that examined the current medical standards for licensed taxi and private hire drivers with particular interest to diabetes. The Authority had previously adopted the group 2 standards as its medical requirement for licensed drivers, and this standard precluded those who were insulin dependant diabetics from driving public carriage vehicles.

The report also detailed the requirements for drivers holding a C1 licence which permitted insulin dependant persons to drive certain vehicles subject to stricter monitoring and annual medical assessment.

Following consultation with various interested bodies, the report highlighted that both the CYC Occupational Health Advisor and a Consultant Physician in Diabetes & Endocrinology, supported the proposal to relax the standards for the licensing of insulin dependant drivers, in line with those relating to C1 drivers and subject to strict medical monitoring.

Members were informed that the European Driver Licensing Committee had met in February 2006 but a report from the Diabetes working group which would provide specific advice with regard to the medical standards applied to taxi drivers had yet to be produced. Also, that the licensing authority was currently involved in an appeal in the Magistrates Court in relation to the Council’s current policy on the issue. Members were asked to consider two options:

• To retain the existing standards in relation to the application of the full Group 2 medical standards in line with that for public carriage vehicles for licensed taxi and PHV drivers which precludes licensing drivers with insulin dependent diabetes until further advice is received from the DVLA.

• Apply the C1 exemption in line with the policy now applied by the Public Carriage Office which allows those drivers who are insulin dependent to be licensed as taxi/PHV drivers subject to strict medical monitoring.

RECOMMENDED: That Option 1 be approved.

REASON: To ensure the safety of the general public.
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Medical Conditions have got to be considered and rulings will obviously threaten the livelihood of some people suffering long term illnesses.

However their rights to work have got to be weighed against the safety of the public they carry.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out .............. I will be checking my own areas policy on this subject.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

What a bunch of tossers.

Typical of why councils don't know best.

The professionals say relaxing will be fine with proper monitoring, yet the amateurs say it's not safe.

As I said, bunch of tossers.

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IDFIMH

Right on Sussex,this adequately demonstrates the neccessity of controlling the Politicians.in London MY branch finally nailed this issue,diabetes properly managed is no threat to safe driving.If any organisation anywhere needs help to nail this.we offer our help contact us this irrariational discrimination must be stopped,and NO you would not have to be a member or become one.We could talk about it though.
ORGANISE EDUCATE EDUCATE!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Just heard this on the grapevine, magistrates agreed with Council that its not safe, didn't know of an appeal going through.

Typical of most LO and otherbodies, lets not change anything in case something goes wrong and then we get the blame, lets put it to bed by saying we are 'waiting for clarification from XYZ'