This letter commented upon the evidence that diabetic drivers do not constitute an excess danger to other road users, which was provided in the survey of deaths of road users from natural causes (see IRRD 817227). Further evidence to vindicate diabetic drivers was also provided from a survey in edinburgh of a cohort of 250 insulin treated diabetic drivers from 1979 to 1987. This survey showed that diabetic drivers have no apparent excess risk of road traffic accidents when compared with the non-diabetic population. During the period of the survey some diabetic drivers suffered road traffic accidents attributable to hypoglycaemia, but no loss of life resulted. Only one person was killed in a road traffic accident, which occurred while he was cycling. Twenty four patients stopped driving, 13 of them for reasons related to their diabetes. In only one case had the licencing authority used its powers to revoke a licence. This suggested that most diabetic drivers recognised and responded responsibly to a deterioration in their health that might affect their driving ability.
Samenvatting