CPC Driver Health & Conduct 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under what obligation must a professional driver notify DVLA of a medical condition?
- Only if the employer requires it
- When a condition is likely to affect safe driving — notifiable conditions include epilepsy, severe sleep apnoea, insulin-treated diabetes and cardiac conditions (Correct answer)
- Only upon licence renewal
- Only if they cause a collision attributed to the condition
Correct answer: When a condition is likely to affect safe driving — notifiable conditions include epilepsy, severe sleep apnoea, insulin-treated diabetes and cardiac conditions
Under s.94 Road Traffic Act 1988, drivers have a legal duty to inform DVLA of any relevant medical condition that may affect their fitness to drive safely; failure to do so risks prosecution and licence revocation.
Question 2: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is particularly relevant to professional drivers because:
- It is a minor condition with no driving implications
- It causes excessive daytime sleepiness significantly increasing the risk of falling asleep at the wheel, requiring treatment and DVLA notification (Correct answer)
- It only affects night shift workers
- Treatment resolves the driving risk without any DVLA requirement
Correct answer: It causes excessive daytime sleepiness significantly increasing the risk of falling asleep at the wheel, requiring treatment and DVLA notification
Untreated OSA is a major cause of driver fatigue and has been linked to multiple fatal HGV collisions; it is a DVLA-notifiable condition and drivers must be symptom-free or treated before returning to driving.
Question 3: What is the legal requirement for a professional driver's eyesight standard?
- 6/6 unaided vision in each eye
- Must meet Group 2 licence standard: at least 6/7.5 in the better eye and 6/60 in the other, with a specified visual field (Correct answer)
- Any vision correctable with spectacles
- Same as the standard private driver eyesight standard
Correct answer: Must meet Group 2 licence standard: at least 6/7.5 in the better eye and 6/60 in the other, with a specified visual field
Group 2 (professional) licence holders must meet stricter DVLA visual acuity standards: 6/7.5 in the better eye, 6/60 in the worse, with no conditions affecting visual fields.
Question 4: Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Road Traffic Act 1988, what is the legal limit for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, cannabis) in blood for a driver?
- 2 µg/L (Correct answer)
- 5 µg/L
- 10 µg/L
- Zero tolerance only
Correct answer: 2 µg/L
The legal limit for THC in blood is 2 micrograms per litre; this very low threshold reflects a near-zero tolerance approach to illegal drug driving in England and Wales.
Question 5: What must a driver do if they feel dangerously fatigued while on a motorway?
- Continue to the next services however far away
- Stop on the hard shoulder if no services are immediately available, take a short nap of 10-20 minutes and have a caffeinated drink (Correct answer)
- Open the window and turn the radio up
- Call the employer to report the problem and continue driving
Correct answer: Stop on the hard shoulder if no services are immediately available, take a short nap of 10-20 minutes and have a caffeinated drink
On a motorway with no services immediately accessible, stopping on the hard shoulder — although not ideal — may be necessary to prevent falling asleep at the wheel; a short nap combined with caffeine restores alertness temporarily.
Question 6: What guidance does the Highway Code give professional drivers regarding their conduct towards other road users?
- Professional drivers have special priority over private motorists
- Professional drivers should drive courteously, be aware of the intimidation their vehicle size can cause and not bully or intimidate other road users (Correct answer)
- Speed limits do not apply to professional drivers on delivery schedules
- Professional drivers may use horn freely to clear traffic
Correct answer: Professional drivers should drive courteously, be aware of the intimidation their vehicle size can cause and not bully or intimidate other road users
The Highway Code specifically expects professional drivers to exercise particular care and courtesy; the size and mass of their vehicles mean they can cause fear and danger to other road users, requiring higher standards of conduct.
CPC Driver Health & Conduct 1
Under what obligation must a professional driver notify DVLA of a medical condition?