DGT may require more medical examinations if are over 65, and certainly if you are 70 and over | Photo: SeventyFour / Shutterstock
The General Traffic Directorate (DGT) is now considering drivers’ health conditions before deciding whether their licences will be issued or renewed. And that’s because traffic authorities have this year decided to prohibit people from hopping into the driver’s seat if they suffer from certain illnesses.
As we have explained before, the DGT governs everything we do in our vehicles and on the roads, streets, and so on, so fasten your seatbelts correctly and think twice before overtaking a Guardia Civil or other police or military vehicle.
That was just a kind reminder. You need to watch out for many more rules, but here at Euro Weekly News, we have you covered. You can find most driving and vehicle rules by searching “DGT.” So, back to the sickness or other health conditions that could make the difference between getting your driver’s licence renewed or not.
It for your own safety and others on the road
As is logical and sensible, even for your own safety and that of any passengers that might be travelling with you, your health condition is very important before grabbing the steering wheel and shifting into gear.
Eyes and hearing are critical when driving, which is why we all should be very keyed into possible issues we may have that diminish our sight and hearing capabilities.
Driving regulations in Spain do not put any restrictions on drivers’ age, but from 65 years and forward, DGT might ask us to go for medical revisions more frequently to ensure we are fit for driving.
In Spain, over 4 million people over the age of 65 are licensed drivers. So, it’s in this respect that DGT’s general manager in charge of traffic, Pere Navarro, has recently stated that the relevant psychological and physical examinations will continue under ongoing review to ensure they are modified to the present circumstances for all drivers, not just the older ones.
DGT’s long list of health conditions
That said, the DGT will require older drivers to undergo more frequent and rigorous medical examinations to determine whose licences will not be renewed or issued.
Take a good look at the long list of illnesses that will bar you from getting a new licence or renewing the one you hold already.
- Dementia or anxiety disorder
- Depression
- Automatic defibrillator
- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
- Dissection
- Oncological diseases
- Heart disease
- Degenerative, neurological and chronic diseases
- Digestive diseases
- Endocrine diseases
- Neurological diseases
- Respiratory diseases
- Epilepsy
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Hypothyroidism and parathyroid
- Acute myocardial infarction
- Pacemaker
- Nephropathy with dialysis
- Parkinson
- Vascular problems
- Valve prostheses
- Kidney transplant
- Personality disorder
- Intellectual developmental disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Sleep disorders
- Oncohematic disorders.
The DGT aims to reduce road accidents, given that medical conditions can decrease people’s ability to drive and increase the risk of accidents if they do take the helm.
Furthermore, to ensure road safety for all those, not just the impaired, DGT will make psychophysical tests more difficult for those over 70. The test will assess vision, hearing, reflexes, and cognitive ability, which decrease with age, increasing the risk of having an accident.
