DVLA
Other
Noted
The DVLA acknowledges delays in processing the driving licence application but asserts the necessary and proportionate steps were taken. The most significant delay was when the GP did not receive the original request. (AI summary)
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Dear Ms Palfrey,
Thank you for your letter of 10 February 2025 on behalf of the area coroner, Joseph Turner, to the former Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), enclosing a Regulation 28 report following the inquest into the death of Mr Kenton Clete Beasley. I am responding as Chief Executive of the DVLA. Please accept my sincere apologies that a response was not sent sooner, this was unfortunately due to an oversight.
I was very sorry to learn of the circumstances that led to Mr Beasley’s death and would like to express my sincere condolences to his family. I have considered your report and its recommendations carefully and I can assure you that we take such matters very seriously.
The DVLA is responsible, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, for ensuring that only those who can meet the required medical standards are issued with a driving licence. The law places a legal obligation on a driver to tell the DVLA if a new medical condition develops or if an existing medical condition gets worse. When notified about a medical condition, the DVLA must assess whether the individual can meet the required medical standards for driving.
The medical standards are set out in the DVLA’s guidance: Assessing fitness to drive: a guide for medical professionals. The standards are based on legislative requirements and advice from the expert members of the Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panels. Reflecting the additional road safety risk, the medical standards are substantially higher for drivers of lorries and buses (Group 2) than for drivers of cars and motorcycles (Group 1), due to the size and weight of the vehicle and the length of time a professional driver typically spends at the wheel during the course of their occupation.
Medical investigations can range from the consideration of information provided by the driver or applicant to a more detailed investigation which can include information provided by medical professionals, reports or examinations. If the driver is found to be suffering from a relevant or prospective disability this can result in their licence being revoked, a long-term driving licence (valid until the licence holder reaches the age of 70) being issued or a short Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Chief Executive Longview Road Morriston Swansea SA6 7JL
Date: 24 October 2025
period licence being issued, so that drivers whose ongoing health needs to be monitored can be regularly reviewed. These arrangements are designed to be balanced and proportionate for all drivers, balancing road safety and allowing individuals to continue to drive while they remain well.
Any applications referred to the DVLA’s doctors are usually more complex and often involve multiple medical conditions. A reviewing DVLA doctor wishing to carry out a full assessment can decide to write to the nominated doctor to request any further information on the applicant’s health that they may consider relevant. The DVLA’s doctors take a holistic clinical view of each case and consider the impact that multiple medical conditions could have on a person’s fitness to drive.
Although Mr Beasley’s medical fitness to drive was first considered by the DVLA in 2002, his ongoing ability to meet the required standards had been regularly reviewed since 2018 when he notified us of a deterioration in his health. Mr Beasley applied to renew his licence in September 2023 and the DVLA followed the usual process of obtaining information from his GP.
Following a telephone call from Mr Beasley on 30 November 2023, a DVLA doctor reviewed the information received from his GP but we were unable to make a licensing decision based on the information received. Our doctor then asked for an examination to be undertaken by Mr Beasley’s GP and for copies of any clinically relevant letters from the previous three years.
Mr Beasley telephoned the DVLA on 11 December 2023 and one of our doctors reviewed the case but was not able to progress it as Mr Beasley had not had the required examination with his GP. On 16 January 2024, the DVLA received a letter from Mr Beasley’s MP enclosing an email that he had sent to them. From this letter, it was evident that the GP had unfortunately not received our original request from 30 November 2023. On 25 January 2024, the DVLA’s original request from 30 November 2023 was re-sent to the GP.
We received the completed examination report and supporting information from Mr Beasley’s GP on 21 February 2024 and a decision was made that he could have a one-year licence to drive both Group 1 and Group 2. However, when this licence was being produced it was discovered that the photograph, which must be renewed every 10 years, had expired so the actual licence could not be issued. We wrote to Mr Beasley on 22 February 2024 confirming that he would be issued with a licence when he renewed the photograph as required. This letter included the relevant forms to do this. Mr Beasley’s completed photocard renewal form was received at the DVLA on 8 March 2024 and his new licence issued on 11 March 2024.
Having considered the timeline and the DVLA’s actions during the time in question, I recognise that it took some time to complete medical enquiries in Mr Beasley’s case. However, I am sure you will appreciate that we must be satisfied that those who are issued with a driving licence can meet the required health standards and I am content that the steps taken in this case were necessary and proportionate. We always endeavour to deal with customers professionally and sensitively and our communications are tailored to the needs of the individual where appropriate. On both occasions Mr Beasley telephoned the DVLA, the call handlers escalated his case to a DVLA doctor to be reviewed.
Unfortunately, the most significant delay in processing Mr Beasley’s application was between November 2023 and January 2024 when the correspondence sent by the DVLA was not received by the GP.
I am grateful to you for bringing your concerns to my attention and I hope this reply explains the position.
Thank you for your letter of 10 February 2025 on behalf of the area coroner, Joseph Turner, to the former Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), enclosing a Regulation 28 report following the inquest into the death of Mr Kenton Clete Beasley. I am responding as Chief Executive of the DVLA. Please accept my sincere apologies that a response was not sent sooner, this was unfortunately due to an oversight.
I was very sorry to learn of the circumstances that led to Mr Beasley’s death and would like to express my sincere condolences to his family. I have considered your report and its recommendations carefully and I can assure you that we take such matters very seriously.
The DVLA is responsible, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, for ensuring that only those who can meet the required medical standards are issued with a driving licence. The law places a legal obligation on a driver to tell the DVLA if a new medical condition develops or if an existing medical condition gets worse. When notified about a medical condition, the DVLA must assess whether the individual can meet the required medical standards for driving.
The medical standards are set out in the DVLA’s guidance: Assessing fitness to drive: a guide for medical professionals. The standards are based on legislative requirements and advice from the expert members of the Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panels. Reflecting the additional road safety risk, the medical standards are substantially higher for drivers of lorries and buses (Group 2) than for drivers of cars and motorcycles (Group 1), due to the size and weight of the vehicle and the length of time a professional driver typically spends at the wheel during the course of their occupation.
Medical investigations can range from the consideration of information provided by the driver or applicant to a more detailed investigation which can include information provided by medical professionals, reports or examinations. If the driver is found to be suffering from a relevant or prospective disability this can result in their licence being revoked, a long-term driving licence (valid until the licence holder reaches the age of 70) being issued or a short Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Chief Executive Longview Road Morriston Swansea SA6 7JL
Date: 24 October 2025
period licence being issued, so that drivers whose ongoing health needs to be monitored can be regularly reviewed. These arrangements are designed to be balanced and proportionate for all drivers, balancing road safety and allowing individuals to continue to drive while they remain well.
Any applications referred to the DVLA’s doctors are usually more complex and often involve multiple medical conditions. A reviewing DVLA doctor wishing to carry out a full assessment can decide to write to the nominated doctor to request any further information on the applicant’s health that they may consider relevant. The DVLA’s doctors take a holistic clinical view of each case and consider the impact that multiple medical conditions could have on a person’s fitness to drive.
Although Mr Beasley’s medical fitness to drive was first considered by the DVLA in 2002, his ongoing ability to meet the required standards had been regularly reviewed since 2018 when he notified us of a deterioration in his health. Mr Beasley applied to renew his licence in September 2023 and the DVLA followed the usual process of obtaining information from his GP.
Following a telephone call from Mr Beasley on 30 November 2023, a DVLA doctor reviewed the information received from his GP but we were unable to make a licensing decision based on the information received. Our doctor then asked for an examination to be undertaken by Mr Beasley’s GP and for copies of any clinically relevant letters from the previous three years.
Mr Beasley telephoned the DVLA on 11 December 2023 and one of our doctors reviewed the case but was not able to progress it as Mr Beasley had not had the required examination with his GP. On 16 January 2024, the DVLA received a letter from Mr Beasley’s MP enclosing an email that he had sent to them. From this letter, it was evident that the GP had unfortunately not received our original request from 30 November 2023. On 25 January 2024, the DVLA’s original request from 30 November 2023 was re-sent to the GP.
We received the completed examination report and supporting information from Mr Beasley’s GP on 21 February 2024 and a decision was made that he could have a one-year licence to drive both Group 1 and Group 2. However, when this licence was being produced it was discovered that the photograph, which must be renewed every 10 years, had expired so the actual licence could not be issued. We wrote to Mr Beasley on 22 February 2024 confirming that he would be issued with a licence when he renewed the photograph as required. This letter included the relevant forms to do this. Mr Beasley’s completed photocard renewal form was received at the DVLA on 8 March 2024 and his new licence issued on 11 March 2024.
Having considered the timeline and the DVLA’s actions during the time in question, I recognise that it took some time to complete medical enquiries in Mr Beasley’s case. However, I am sure you will appreciate that we must be satisfied that those who are issued with a driving licence can meet the required health standards and I am content that the steps taken in this case were necessary and proportionate. We always endeavour to deal with customers professionally and sensitively and our communications are tailored to the needs of the individual where appropriate. On both occasions Mr Beasley telephoned the DVLA, the call handlers escalated his case to a DVLA doctor to be reviewed.
Unfortunately, the most significant delay in processing Mr Beasley’s application was between November 2023 and January 2024 when the correspondence sent by the DVLA was not received by the GP.
I am grateful to you for bringing your concerns to my attention and I hope this reply explains the position.