News Beat
Full list of 14 common prescriptions that can see you BANNED from roads under DVLA rules
DRIVERS who take certain common medicines could be told to stop getting behind the wheel by the DVLA – as the drugs may impair alertness, judgement and reaction times.
One expert says the issue is not limited to prescription drugs as even widely used over‑the‑counter painkillers can sometimes be problematic, while stronger medicines such as antidepressants may pose a higher risk.
Greg Wilson of Quotezone said: “If you are on strong medications, it is likely that you will be recommended to avoid driving.
“Opioid painkillers, tranquillisers, and certain antidepressants are examples of medicines that can affect driving ability – as well as those that cause drowsiness or say ‘do not operate heavy machinery.’”
The nub of the problem is that if a medication is likely to cause drowsiness or carries warnings such as “do not operate heavy machinery”, drivers may be advised not to get behind the wheel.
According to previous GOV.UK guidance, prescription medicines can be as dangerous as illegal drugs when it comes to impairment, warning that drivers taking particular drugs should speak to a doctor before driving.
These include stimulant-type medicines, such as amphetamine-based medications, several benzodiazepines, including clonazepam, diazepam, flunitrazepam and lorazepam, as well as opioid-related drugs such as methadone, morphine, codeine, tramadol, fentanyl, as well as oxazepam and temazepam.
It is also illegal to drive with legal drugs in your system if they impair your driving, as well as an offence to be over specified blood limits for certain drugs if you have not been prescribed them.
What’s more, advice from The AA stresses that people should not stop taking medication without medical advice, but instead should check with a pharmacist or doctor if they are unsure whether it is safe to drive.
They also note that the legal limits for certain medicinal drugs are set higher than normal prescribed doses and that there can be a medical defence if someone has taken medication as directed.
14 common medicines that could see drivers told by DVLA to avoid the road
- Amphetamine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Selegiline
- Clonazepam
- Diazepam
- Flunitrazepam
- Lorazepam
- Methadone
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Tramadol
- Fentanyl
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
Elsewhere, a driver has been issued a fine after parking his car outside his home.
David Miller received the £35 penalty for parking outside his Chester home gate, which he had been doing for the past decade.
The 49-year-old has now brought in solicitors to fight the council after they turned down his appeal to cancel the fine.
David said: “I was shocked when I saw the ticket on the windshield.
“The car was well behind the yellow lines, it’s wasn’t impeding any pedestrians as the path is on the other side of the road.
“I had always assumed I could park there – I had done for ten years with no issues.
“I see it as a money-making exercise from the council – an excuse for them to pick on neighbourhoods for no reason.
“I have had neighbours get tickets for parking on similar tarmac outside their houses and they have been rescinded.
“Why is mine being treated differently?”
