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Can my friend keep his HGV licence despite losing an eye?

A driver l know has lost an eye due to cancer. He was an HGV driver for 17 years. After losing his eye, he had his HGV taken from him. He asked the DVLA if he could still drive a 7.5-tonne vehicle and was told 'yes'. When he got his licence back they had removed the entitlement. When checking if this was correct he was told he could not drive a 7.5-tonne vehicle, but the thing is he is still allowed to drive a long wheelbase van and can tow a caravan. Is this correct?

Asked on 3 August 2010 by kev w

Answered by Alan Ross
The final decision on wether a person can hold a specific licence or not will always be with the DVLA. Having lost one eye it was normal for him to lose his C+E licence. I would suggest that he writes back to the DVLA and asks what criteria it sets for a 7.5-tonne licence holder,and what medical examination he would need to pass to hold such a licence.
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