do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1115/96 by Angela BILLINGHAM to the Commission. Driving licence directive
Date: 1996-04-25
Institutions: BILLINGHAM, European Parliament
Subjects: Council of the European Union, EC Directive, diabetes, driving licence, therapeutics, traffic regulations













EUR-Lex - 91996E1115 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E1115

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1115/96 by Angela BILLINGHAM to the Commission. Driving licence directive  


Official Journal C 322 , 28/10/1996 P. 0032 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1115/96 by Angela Billingham (PSE) to the Commission (25 April 1996)Subject: Driving licence directiveUnder Council Directive 91/439/EEC ((OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p.1. )), due to come into force on 1 July 1996, driving licences may be issued to drivers suffering from diabetes mellitus and requiring insulin treatment only in very exceptional cases. Although I welcome the Commission's policy of improving road safety standards and I recognize that diabetes can impose limitations on its sufferers, I have been informed that it can be managed effectively in almost all cases.In view of this, does the Commission not consider that this directive will unnecessarily further restrict the freedom of diabetes sufferers?What consultation did the Commission undertake during the drafting of the directive with the relevant interest groups? Could it produce evidence to show that this minimum standard of physical fitness is necessary to hold a driving licence?Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (28 May 1996)Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences provides that, as from 1 July 1996, driving licences may be issued or renewed only in very exceptional cases to applicants or drivers of heavy goods or passenger carrying vehicles suffering from diabetes mellitus and requiring insulin treatment and then only where duly justified by authorized medical opinion and subject to regular medical check-ups. For drivers of cars or motorbikes, the Directive provides that driving licences may be issued to applicants or renewed for drivers suffering from diabetes mellitus, subject to authorized medical opinion and regular medical check-ups appropriate to each case.These standards have been widely discussed with national medical experts and are more flexible than those specified in the first Council Directive (80/1263/EEC) on driving licences ((OJ L 375, 31.12.1980. )) which remains in force until 1 July 1996. The Commission reviewed these standards with national experts on 15 April 1996 and the conclusion was that the standards are appropriate.In the context of this consultation, the Commission has contacted the International diabetes federation to keep it informed.