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Prescription drugs and driving - Oz
I have just come to the end of 4 months of chemotherapy (thankfully with very promising results) but the following question occurs: the (oral) drugs in question are effective but severe, leading to anaemia, and thereby, to considerable fatigue (until corrected by transfusions which I have had regularly).
At such 'fatigue' times I have always used my judgement as to when I'm OK to drive, or not.
But is this enough? Is the mere fact of being on drugs which could have this effect, enough to make me culpable under the law, if I drive? Obviously an over-the-alcohol-limit driver has NO discretion to make the judgement "I'm OK to drive". Is there a difference?

Oz (as was)
Prescription drugs and driving - normd2
I would suggest your doctor is best placed to answer this one. But yes, there is an offence of driving whilst unfit through drugs and they don't just mean cocaine and heroin etc etc.
Prescription drugs and driving - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}
Yes- ask your GP. I'm assuming that you did not surrender your licence and want it renewing?

Due to my "drug habit" I have just renewed my licence for another 3 years. Had three goes at getting the questionnaire right.

Good luck for a full recovery.
Prescription drugs and driving - billy25
found this - dont know how relevent you may find it regarding your own case.

Speech by Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman to the Association of British Insurers conference. Delivered: 20 September 2006

The present system places a legal obligation on the individual to notify the DVLA of any medical condition affecting their driving abilities. And then the onus is on the DVLA to check fitness to drive. In fact, most people who make a declaration are able to continue driving. But in light of changing demographics, the DVLA commissioned a review of the current system. The recommendations for change have centred on improvements to identifying those who need to be formally assessed and monitored. Both the Department and the DVLA are now considering the recommendations in detail - and a public consultation will be launched later inthe year


Billy
Prescription drugs and driving - Dwight Van Driver

Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 4 as amended

Driving, or being in charge, when under influence of drink or drugs

(1) A person who, when driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs is guilty of an offence.
(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, a person who, when in charge of a motor vehicle which is on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs is guilty of an offence.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) above, a person shall be deemed not to have been in charge of a motor vehicle if he proves that at the material time the circumstances were such that there was no likelihood of his driving it so long as he remained unfit to drive through drink or drugs.
(5) For the purposes of this section, a person shall be taken to be unfit to drive if his ability to drive properly is for the time being impaired.

For the purposes of this section, a substance used as a medicine is a drug.

Obviously under these circs the smell and evidence of alcohol would be missing so instead of asking for a sample of breath, the officer, and only those authorised to do so, is empowered to carry out Preliminary Impairment Tests. The grounds for the requirement are similar to those in relation to drink drive.

The test itself:
www.tinyurl.com/3yrdky

Where prescribed drugs are concerned it is important to seek the advice of the Doctor, but even if he OK's then there could be an issue with incorrect or missed dosages beyond the scope of the Dr.

dvd
Prescription drugs and driving - doctorchris
Drugs that cause a side effect of anaemia which in turn causes fatigue would not really be considered drugs that impair your driving ability, so you would not be committing an offence of driving under the influence of drugs. The type of presription drugs that would impair your driving would be strong painkillers (Codeine, Tramadol, Buprenorphine, Fentanyl, Morphine, Diamorphine etc.), tranquilisers (Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam, sleeping tablets), Sedating antihistamines (eg Piriton), some antidepressants (eg Dosulepin, Amitriptyline) and antipsychotics (eg Haloperidol).
If you considered that your anaemia caused sufficient fatigue to impair your driving then informing DVLA would be wise and would give you a definite answer to relieve your worries. In my opinion, it is unlikely that in this scenario your driving would be impaired as you have the insight to refrain from driving if excessively fatigued, just as anyone sensible would avoid driving if fatigued.
Prescription drugs and driving - oilrag
I bet if everyone were `straight` with the DVLA, the weekday rush hour would be like Sunday morning ;)