(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend regulation 14 (disabilities) of the Motor Vehicles (Taxi Drivers’ Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991 (“the 1991 Regulations”) which prescribes the conditions for the granting of a licence to drive a taxi by a person suffering from a relevant disability.
Regulation 14(1)(b)(iv) of the 1991 Regulations prescribed insulin treated diabetes as a prescribed disability but permitted an exception for applicants suffering from diabetes requiring insulin treatment who held an existing licence to drive a taxi on 21st October 1991 and the Department knew of the disability before 1st January 1991. These amending Regulations remove that exception and all drivers with insulin treated diabetes can now be considered for a licence.
The Department may grant a licence to an applicant who has diabetes, which has been treated with insulin for over 4 weeks, and is not prevented by the disability from obtaining a licence if there is full awareness of hypoglycaemia, there has been no severe hypoglycaemic attack for a year, and the other conditions concerning diabetes are met (regulation 14(1)(b)(iv), (2) and (3)). Applicants on any other medication carrying a risk of inducing hypoglycaemia, who likewise have full awareness of hypoglycaemia and have been without a severe hypoglycaemic attack for a year, will also not be prevented from obtaining a licence if prescribed conditions are met (regulation 14(1)(b)(iv), (2) and (4)).
The Motor Vehicles (Taxi Drivers’ Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 are revoked as a consequence of these Regulations.
An Explanatory Memorandum has been produced and is available from Road Safety and Vehicle Regulation Division, Department of the Environment, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8GB or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.