Medical requirements for the acquisition of a driving licence in Malta were in line with the relative EU directive, Transport Malta said this evening.
TM’s statement came after the lawyers of a driver in a tragedy in Sliema a few days ago said he had suffered from a condition which could cause blackouts that could last between three and five seconds.
The lawyer argued that his client was never informed that his condition precluded him from driving but said it might be the right time for Transport Malta to reconsider the conditions attached to driving licences.
The regulations, TM said, were explained over seven pages, varied depending on the type of vehicle being driven and included details on eyesight, hearing, locomotor disabilities, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases, epilepsy, mental disorders, alcohol, drugs and medicinal products and renal disorders.
It said the same regulations also specified the need for every new applicant to submit a medical certificate confirming that the applicant was medically fit to drive and that if the applicant developed a medical condition the licence was issued, he had to inform Transport Malta, which could request further medical assessments.
An applicant was again required to declare that there was no change in his or her medical condition since the issuing of the driving licence on renewal of the licence.
Specific groups of driving licence holders were required to submit further medical certificates when they renewed their licence.
Transport Malta said it acknowledged that medical fitness to drive was a very serious matter when it came to road safety.
In fact, in October, it set up a working group of professionals to develop and publish a set of guidelines to explain the complexities relating to the certification of new and existing drivers as medically fit to drive. These guidelines, aimed at the medical profession, were at an advanced stage and the aim was to have them published by the second quarter of this year.
Transport Malta said it was also developing an online system that would enable persons to apply for their driving licence online.
This included a requirement for medical practitioners to certify an applicant either as fit drive or not fit to drive online enabling the authority to keep track of all assessments and limit the risk of applicants changing doctors to obtain a positive certificate.
This system, it said, was to be made available this year.