heart disease (and driving)

Last edited 12/2020 and last reviewed 12/2020

A licence holder is required by law to advise DVLA in the event of a relevant or prospective disability. Incapacity of less than 3 months is excluded.

Relevant conditions for private licence holders (Group 1 licence) include:

• angina - patient advised not to drive if occuring at rest or while driving
  • Must not drive when symptoms occur:
    • at rest
    • with emotion
    • at the wheel
  • Driving may resume after satisfactory symptom control
  • Need not notify the DVLA
    
    
• acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
  • defined as:
• 1. Unstable angina (symptoms at rest with ECG changes)
• 2. Non STEMI (non ST elevation myocardial infarction) with at least two of the following criteria
  • symptoms at rest
  • raised serum Troponin
  • ECG changes
• 3. STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) symptoms with ST elevation on ECG
• Must not drive but need not notify the DVLA
  
  
• Driving may resume 1 week after ACS if successful coronary intervention (PCI) and if all of the following are met:
  • no other urgent revascularisation planned (urgent means within 4 weeks of acute event)
  • LV ejection fraction is at least 40% before hospital discharge
  • there is no other disqualifying condition
    
    
• If not treated by successful coronary intervention or any of the above are not met, driving may resume only after 4 weeks from the acute event, provided there is no other disqualifying condition
  
  
• percutaneous coronary intervention (Angioplasty +/-stent) elective
  • patient must stop driving for at least 1/52
  • driving may recommence thereafter provided there is no other disqualifying condition
  • DVLA need not be notified.

Doctors are advised that they seek full guidance from the publication "At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive" and the website www.dvla.gov.uk.

Reference:

• (1) DVLA (March 2019). At a glance guide to the current medical standards of fitness to drive