MOTORISTS could face a £1,000 fine simply for suffering from one of 200 common ailments, from arthritis to lung cancer.
Medical conditions ranging from anorexia and agoraphobia to high blood pressure or kidney problems are among those that drivers are required by law to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about.
But motoring chiefs fear millions of Brits have failed to disclose their conditions, partly because some of them are so obscure.
The more bizarre include cataplexy, in which strong emotion or laughter causes sudden physical collapse, and deja vu, according to leading vehicle leasing firm Select Car Leasing.
The firm’s director Mark Tongue said it was vital drivers were aware of the health conditions they are required to tell the DVLA about by law.
He said: “These conditions have been identified so that the roads are kept as safe as possible.
“But many drivers may be somewhat surprised by how many medical conditions are notifiable and exactly which they are.
“Some are quite obvious, such as alcoholism, brain injury, strokes and various amputations.
“Others are less so and include some cancers, several hearing problems, arthritis and Asperger syndrome.
“I imagine many women would be surprised to know that having a Caesarean is also on the DVLA’s list. It comes under the category of surgical procedures, but it does not mean they will be stopped from driving."
“Most of the listed conditions can be taken on the road and driving engaged with perfectly safely.
“But motorists do need to be aware that if they develop a new medical condition they may have to inform the DVLA.”
Those who fail to disclose their condition face a £1,000 fine, may have their motoring insurance invalidated, and could be prosecuted if involved in a crash.
The list of notifiable conditions includes many that are less of a surprise, including muscle-wasting illness multiple sclerosis and brain haemorrhages.
Bipolar disorder, sleeping disorder narcolepsy, Syncope – a temporary loss of consciousness – and Parkinson’s disease, caused by degeneration of the nervous system, are included.
The list also extends to motor neurone disease, vertigo, tunnel vision, night blindness, seizures and depression.
People wishing to contact the DVLA about a medical condition can do so online or by post.
They will then be notified by the government’s driving authority of which restrictions, if any, they must abide by.
The DVLA can impose a restriction on driving of up to three years, with a re-examination then being required.
