Coroner criticises DVLA over diabetic driver checks

A coroner has called for tougher scrutiny for diabetic motorists when renewing licences following a fatal crash in East Yorkshire.

Motorcyclists Michael Midgley, 65, from Goole, and Geoffrey Toase, 64, from York, were killed when their bikes were hit by a car on Garrowby Hill on 3 August 2019.

An inquest into their deaths, which concluded last month in Hull, found the driver had suffered a hypoglycaemic episode.

Assistant coroner Jessica Swift has written to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to express her concerns. In response, a DVLA spokesperson said they were "carefully considering" the recommendations.

The inquest heard Mr Midgley and Mr Toase had been enjoying an afternoon ride when their motorcycles were hit head on by a car "wholly on the wrong side of the carriageway".

Both men died at the scene.

According to a prevention of future deaths report, the driver had a number of health-related conditions, including type 1 diabetes, controlled by insulin injection and had to reapply to the DVLA for a licence every three years.

The driver was not named in the report.

Ms Swift questioned why DVLA doctors were "not actively" asked to explore an applicant’s medical history or verify information contained in an application.

Ms Swift also said decisions made by doctors were not subject to any form of audit to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Concerns were raised about the forms sent to an applicant’s GP by the DVLA for the purpose of obtaining further information.

The coroner said they were largely "a tick box" exercise and did not provide sufficient scope for the GP to provide more detailed information.

"In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths," the coroner added.

The DVLA has a duty to respond to the report by 7 October.

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